As Utilibill’s first-ever employee, Rick Carson has a long history with the company. In his new role as Senior Java Developer, he applies his programming skills to support Utilibill’s developers and write code that stands the test of time.
Rick Carson is the kind of person that invents mental programs to solve Rubik’s Cubes, rather than memorising patterns. It was this aptitude for problem-solving that got him a job at Utilibill, back when it began in 2005.
As a contractor, Rick assisted founders Igor Green and Morgan Duncan in building the company’s earliest systems. Twelve years later, employee number one has returned to take up the mantle of Senior Java Developer.
Having spent time working at numerous startups, Rick is the first to recognise and appreciate when business leaders have a real knowledge of their industry.
“One of the great things about working at Utilibill is that Igor and Morgan are both very savvy about technology and the business of billing, so you’re reporting to people who know what they’re talking about — which for a programmer is an absolute godsend,” Rick said.
“I can honestly report that Igor and Morgan both have the same level of passion and enthusiasm that they did twelve years ago.”
While Rick’s role extends beyond Javascript — often acting as Utilibill’s de facto digital architect — his average day sees him helping developers build a comprehensive understanding of each system.
“There is also a pleasure in coming back to the seed that you sowed twelve years ago and seeing that it has grown into a mighty tree,” Rick said.
“It’s nice to know that some of the code you wrote long ago has stood up to redesigns and refactorings, providing ongoing value.”
Rick is equally accomplished outside of work. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, chess, and other board, tabletop and computer games. He has written a series of fantasy novellas set in the late Bronze Age and is working on another set in a more modern era. If that’s not enough, he’s also considering writing non-fiction, including a book about how to be a good programmer.