Optigo Networks is excited to welcome a new face to the team: Corey Noakes, Quality Assurance Lead.
Corey is a technology expert with over 17 years of experience in high-tech, ranging from product design to test system development, manufacturing, project management, and engineering consulting. As Quality Assurance Lead, Corey heads the team responsible for ensuring Optigo’s continued reputation for quality and reliability.
“Corey brings expertise in surveillance and security to Optigo and will lead efforts to drive quality across our product lines,” said Dan Ronald, Optigo’s VP Product Management. “We are excited to have Corey join the team as we go down the path of continuous improvement with the goal of driving a fabulous installer and end user experience for Optigo customers.”
We sat down with Corey to chat about his experience, what he’ll bring to Optigo, and what keeps him busy outside of work.
Monica McMahen (MM): What drew you to the industry?
Corey Noakes (CN): I’ve always had the ‘maker’ mindset, which is what drew me to engineering in general, and computer control specifically, so the IoT industry is a natural fit for me.
MM: You bring 17 years of experience in the tech-industry. Where did you work before joining Optigo?
CN: I worked at Silent Witness, a manufacturer of video surveillance equipment, in hardware design, automated test design, and manufacturing engineering. Then, when Silent Witness was purchased by Honeywell, I worked in a number of roles there, ranging from automated test design, hardware design, and as engineering project lead for a number of Honeywell’s cameras, DVRs, NVRs, and hybrids. I’ve also worked on a number of interesting consulting jobs, including an iPhone app, a talent-facing display system for television studios, and a remote access control system for apartment buildings.
MM: Wow, that sounds like a lot of different roles at Honeywell. Can you elaborate on your work related to building automation and security?
CN: I was the team leader of the Customer Resolution Action Board (CRAB), for both the Video and Access Control divisions. This involved coordinating resources to solve serious problems that were, or had the potential to be, very costly for the company.
MM: We are very excited to have you on board with your vast experience. Can you elaborate on the insights and knowledge you are bringing to your role at Optigo?
CN: I’ve worked in a number of engineering roles within the product life-cycle and the experience I’ve gained in these different areas has been invaluable. My time in manufacturing and test engineering, for instance, has had a big impact on how I think about product design. Working closely with sales, product management, and tech support has also given me a keen understanding of how important it is to create products that are reliable and easy to use. I’m a firm believer that cutting corners never really pays off and almost always ends up costing more in the long run.
MM: What excites you about working for Optigo Networks?
CN: Optigo’s vision of how OT should be done is what drew me to the company. You have it right, and I recognized that immediately, so I knew I had to work here. On top of that, the creative and collaborative atmosphere at Optigo is really energizing and makes coming to work each day a pleasure.
MM: What keeps you busy outside of work?
CN: I enjoy travelling, playing guitar, home improvements, and working on automation projects.
