Meet Joshua Hoppes, Server Support Technician

 

Joshua Hoppes is one of the latest additions to Server Support Technicians team at FastServers.Net. Currently attending the University of Northern Iowa, Joshua has plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Joshua said he really enjoys the friendly atmosphere at FastServers.Net. "Each one of my co-workers is someone whom I can easily approach and talk to about work related as well as outside interests." When he's not at the office monitoring the status of servers and the FastServers.Net network, you can find Joshua playing some of his favorite first person shooter games.

"I am an avid gamer with a passion for the first person shooter type of gaming." Some of his favorite titles are from id Software such as Doom, Quake, and the Wolfenstein series. He does remember playing Commander Keen a few times, but ultimately remains partial to his favorites. "I have been attending QuakeCon since 2004 and I really enjoy the convention each and every time I visit." Joshua said his passion for computers started as a child when he was as young as four years old. "I used to play a golf game on the computers where my father worked at the time. As I grew up I became interested in how computers were assembled and operated. Eventually I began to build my own computers, while helping friends and family diagnose any computer issues they had at the time."

Joshua's passion for computers led him to Hawkeye Community College where he earned a CCNA. After receiving his CCNA, he then went on to start studying at UNI. If you are from Iowa, you call the University of Northern Iowa, UNI. During his free time, Joshua reads science fiction and fantasy books. "A couple of my favorite books are Enders Game and the parallel, Enders Shadow." He claims his favorite parts of the books relate to the characters and how they approach obstacles placed in front of them throughout the story. "Also, the concept of writing two books that take place at the same time, but through the prospective of two different characters, is a unique concept that has turned out very well for the Enders series." Joshua said the second book, Enders Shadow, provides readers ideas of what is happening that may not have been given in the previous book, Enders Game.

In his free time, you can find Joshua listening to his favorite musical groups, Fear Factory and Nine Inch Nails. He said he's been a fan of Fear Factory because of their style - keeping a fast beat and flowing sound. "As for Nine Inch Nails, I have been a fan since my dad listened to it way back when I just a child. I believe it's their unique sound, from the mix of instruments and sources of music they use to develop their songs, that I enjoy listening to the most. And the subject matter is very interesting as well." Occasionally Joshua has the radio tuned to Rock 108, jamming out to rock and metal. "The main reason I like Rock 108 is they are one of the only rock music stations that plays the music I like." He also told us there are a few good DJs that try to have fun and get listeners involved.

When he's not listening to his favorite music, Joshua sometimes likes to break out an old, but classic film, the original Transformers 1984 animated movie, or Serenity, a fairly new release. "Transformers is one of those movies that I saw as a kid. It has stuck with me ever since." Recently Joshua purchased the Transformers 25th anniversary edition, which includes the original wide screen format. He said the movie has a unique appeal, making it worth watching, even if you are all grown up. "As for Serenity, I found the story line unique and the characters are very strange, yet understandable." If you are a Transformers fan, the next time you talk to Joshua, be sure you tell him your favorite Transformer!

Back in high school, at Northern University High School, Joshua played on both the defensive and offensive lines for the football team. He also played several seasons on the NUHS basketball team. Unfortunately, due to many hours building and monitoring servers, Joshua can no longer remember which position he played on the NUHS basketball team. Hey Joshua, do what you do best - keep those servers running! He did tell us about his favorite sports team, as most FastServers.Net do on a daily basis. "My favorite sports team has to be the UNI Panthers, since much of my family has history with the school." Both his grandfather and great grandfather taught at UNI (in different fields). And both became emeritus faculty. "My grandfather taught earth sciences, mostly meteorology, and my great grandfather taught educational psychology."