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COOKIE POLICY
Ever wondered what a day in the life of one of our consultants looks like? This series dives into the details! Today, we’re spotlighting Zach Showalter, a Senior Data Consultant based in Richmond, VA. Here’s a glimpse into his typical day.
I typically start my mornings with a cup of coffee—I’m not much of a breakfast person. Since I work remotely most days, I dive right into work once I’m settled in.
Mornings are when I’m most productive, especially for problem-solving, so I use this time to focus on deep work and catch up on emails. My current projects range from large retail clients to state agencies, each with unique constraints and requirements.
A majority of my work involves performance testing and optimization to ensure we provide a product that surpasses our clients’ previous software, ultimately leading to the realization of their actual gains—such as faster and more efficient data capture and retrieval. Currently, I’m assisting a client in modernizing their data pipeline by migrating to a cloud-based platform in a cost-effective manner.
To support the migration, I leaned into one of UDig’s internal learning programs and completed Microsoft Azure training. I quickly put those skills into practice by integrating Azure Data Factory with the client’s on-premises SQL Server, delivering a hybrid solution. This upgrade has already resulted in a data pipeline that inputs twice the data in half the time—an overall fourfold efficiency gain.
Lunch, for me, is usually a solo affair. If a lot of people are in the office, or someone I want to catch up and connect with is also there, I’ll go out to lunch to spend some face-to-face time with them. It depends on the day! Tomorrow, during lunch, I’ll be presenting at a Lunch and Learn session, which will be a great time to share new information with the team.
Afternoons are often filled with collaborative work—whether that’s project delivery meetings, client estimates, or internal planning sessions. Most of my meetings are remote, but if there’s a key in-person session or a chance to work face-to-face with others, I’ll head into the office for the full day to make the most of that time.
In many cases, I’m helping draft project proposals or estimate upcoming work, drawing on my past experiences and lessons learned across clients. When new engagements begin, I work closely with the team to divide responsibilities and set a strong foundation for delivery. Whether I’m laying the groundwork solo or teaming up with other members of the data team, I find it incredibly rewarding to collaborate and bring tangible results to life.
Things don’t slow down after work; if anything, they speed up. I’m really active, participating in activities such as fencing, boxing, and even Lindy Hop swing dancing. I usually don’t wrap up my day until 8:30 PM because I like to fill every single weeknight. Therefore, ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m eating a late dinner.
I love to cook, so I’ll either enjoy my meal prep if I have time to make it during my lunch break, or I’ll try a new recipe. Once dinner is all cleaned up, I get ready for bed and wind down with some video games or YouTube videos. Nighttime is when I gain inspiration from content creators on meals to try, but I save the more extensive ones for the weekends. Then, I go to bed and do it all over again.
Working at UDig has taught me that not only do I love variety in my personal life, but also in my professional life. Being able to work with a diverse client base and wear many hats has been the most enjoyable part of working at UDig. The nature of the company always keeps me on my toes, requiring me to learn and adapt. I’ve learned and picked up many things to make a positive impact in the workplace. Always have an open mind and be comfortable with the uncomfortable.