I read an article about those NSA data mining programs that can handle a bazillion phone calls or emails simultaneously. It's mind boggleing! I guess Dave owns LESS than 1.2% of the company;)

When you go to his building, it's fairly tight security. IIRC, you have to show the guard your ID and he types out your name on the computer, which makes a name tag. I believe they put the person down that you are visiting too. Then that person has to meet you down at the lobby to escort you to wherever.

It's been over a year since I've been there, but I think that's how it went.

Yo d, how the hell did you get that job there anyway?

I'm living in the '70s apparently.

(not the disco 70s. I would be living in the Hard Rock 70s. My Columbia House Record Club membership even said so.)

The funny thing is, security is tighter now, and this is our "lax" building. I'd have to do a whole hell of a lot more to get you in to the "Towers" they mention in the article (those are right across the parking lot from me - they have a better cafeteria).

It's a pretty great company to work for. The benefits are awesome and the environment is very cool. The people here are some of the best I've met.

How I got the job is a long story, but basically, they got my resumé and my skills sold me. There was a long day of interviewing (like four, five hours) and then they made me an offer for about four times what I was making at the time. I was like "uh, yeah, I guess I'll accept."

90s? hmmm... 1790s maybe...


Petes company is privately owned as well. There is something about the culture of the business that makes people more professsional and dedicated than the larger publicly traded companies. They seem to take more responsibility for their work.

Yeah, I think it's a good idea. It keeps most of us common folk from being super millionaires, but by the same token, it's more evenly distributed. I probably won't make myself $200 million working here, but I'll almost certainly retire a millionaire many times over and probably early.

One of the cool things we do is stock is awarded based upon performance. So, anyone can buy up to a certain amount of stock, but after that, it needs to get approved. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than most, I think.

And like the article said, the biggest shareholder, our CEO, owns a whopping <b>1.2 percent</b> of the company. His salary is actually relatively small for a CEO, as well. I obviously don't know exact details, but I know the ballpark, and it's not close to these people running comparable companies.

I like it a lot.

Can I be your friend?:beer:

Are you hiring???

Yes. We have 1,282 openings in VA, 186 in DC, 357 in MD, 37 in PA, 41 in NJ. And of course, tons of openings elsewhere.

Bruce - You can do it too! Just start early!

Er.... :)

(Basically everyone that's been here 15+ years is a millionaire.)

well...now waitaminnit. They must need somebody with a liberal arts degree to clean the place, and I can make coffee too!

How long have you worked there d?

Going on 2.5 years.

Congratulations; you must be a hundredaire by now!

Who saw the SNL episode where Ben Affleck is the Ten-Thousandaire?

I told her that's what I was doing. She didn't buy it.:rolleyes: