Meet the Team – Juan

Our latest Meet the Team series features our newest member of the team, Juan. Juan brings over a decade of experience to CoApp and has been hitting the ground running. We’re incredibly grateful to have him and are super excited to see how he pushes our team and products forward.

How did you get into your current role? 

I served in the Marine Corps as a communication electronics technician (MOS 2847), where I was fortunate to work alongside mentors who introduced me to Linux and cybersecurity. This exposure, combined with movies like Antitrust, sparked my curiosity about software development and technology.

I started by studying game programming, but a key mentor encouraged me to explore app development instead. A trip to Silicon Valley opened my eyes even further – meeting developers there inspired me to focus on web applications. Through contracting work, I got to experience various tech specialties, which led to roles at Arcules, where we developed video surveillance solutions, and later at Toyota through a long-term contract where we worked on their website. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to the medical industry because of the meaningful impact technology can have on healthcare, which is what brought me here.

What’s your personal work philosophy? 

I’m a passionate advocate of Kaizen – the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. As a software engineer, I apply this mindset to everything from optimizing code to enhancing user experiences. What excites me about Kaizen is how it transforms small, thoughtful improvements into significant long-term gains. Whether I’m streamlining a codebase, enhancing product features, or finding new ways to delight our customers, this approach helps me consistently build better solutions

What’s your favorite thing about working with this team? 

I love how everyone on the team is intelligent, friendly, and intellectually curious. This combination creates such an energizing environment where we constantly learn from each other and push ourselves to grow. It’s incredibly motivating to work alongside people who are not only skilled but also genuinely excited to explore new ideas and approaches

What’s something unique you bring to the team? 

I bring a deep passion for security, with a bit of an unconventional background that gives me a unique perspective on finding vulnerabilities. I’ve always enjoyed exploring software to uncover potential flaws and bugs – it’s like solving complex puzzles. But what really drives me is knowing that behind every security fix, there are real users whose data and privacy we’re protecting. This combination of technical curiosity and genuine care for user protection helps me anticipate and prevent security issues before they can impact our users

How do you approach giving or receiving feedback? 

I believe in making feedback a natural, collaborative conversation. I’ve found that building trust and professional relationships is key – when people know you’re genuinely invested in their success, they’re more likely to embrace and act on your suggestions. This approach has helped me establish a reputation where colleagues actively seek out my input. As for receiving feedback, I’m always eager to learn and grow, so I welcome clear, actionable advice from anyone willing to share their insights. It’s all about creating an environment where feedback flows both ways and drives continuous improvement.

What’s a professional goal you’re currently working toward? 

I’m currently pursuing advanced security certifications to deepen my expertise in cybersecurity. With the increasing sophistication of threats, protecting user data has never been more critical

How do you like to unwind after a long day at work? 

I stay active with powerlifting and rucking (hiking with a weighted backpack for an extra challenge). When I want to shift gears, I dive into PC games like Rust or spend time tinkering with my collection of vintage and modern computers

How do you stay curious and keep learning? 

I love exploring used bookstores and people’s personal libraries – just don’t invite me over unless you’re ready to have some books mysteriously ‘borrowed’! Between my various learning platform subscriptions and constant hunt for interesting books, there’s always something new to discover

What’s a hobby or interest that you’re passionate about? 

I’m very passionate about electronics, especially breathing new life into old computers. I love taking vintage machines and repurposing them for specialized workstations – whether it’s setting up a dedicated coding environment, a retro gaming station, or a custom security testing lab. 

What’s a book, podcast, or movie that’s had a big impact on you? 

Atomic Habits by James Clear has been incredibly influential for me. It fundamentally changed how I view personal growth by showing that success isn’t about dramatic changes, but rather about small, consistent improvements that compound over time. The book helped me develop the daily habits that have become the foundation of my long-term success

What’s your guilty pleasure snack? 

Sour candy

What’s your go-to karaoke song? 

“Africa” by Toto

 Coffee or tea?

Coffee

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl

Mountains or beaches? 

Mountains

Where do you see yourself in five years? 

I see myself continuing to grow in web application security, diving deeper into advanced techniques and emerging threats. 

What’s a trend or innovation in your field you’re keeping an eye on? 

I’m really excited about the integration of AI tools to streamline medical office workflows. 

If you could shape one big project for the company, what would it be?

I would focus on making our browser extension smarter by adding AI capabilities.