Welcome Adrianna Guevarra To The VFS Team!

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Welcome Adrianna Guevarra to the VFS Team!

Hey everyone! We're super excited to introduce the newest member of our VFS team, Adrianna Guevarra! Let's give her a warm welcome and make her feel right at home. This article provides all the essential details about Adrianna, her role, and the initial steps she's taking to get started with us. So, let's dive in and get to know Adrianna!

Meet Adrianna Guevarra

  • Name: Adrianna Guevarra
  • Pronouns: She / Her
  • Role: Senior Software Engineer
  • Email: adriannaestelleguevarra@gmail.com
  • GitHub handle: adrianna157
  • Start date: 11/3/2025
  • VFS team: Disability Benefits Experience

Adrianna is joining us as a Senior Software Engineer and will be working with the Disability Benefits Experience team. We're thrilled to have her on board and are looking forward to her contributions. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to improve and enhance the services we provide to our veterans. Make sure to reach out and say hello! We’re all about collaboration and making new team members feel supported, so don’t hesitate to introduce yourselves and offer any help she might need. Getting to know your colleagues is a great way to build a strong and cohesive team. Welcome aboard, Adrianna! We’re excited to have you with us and can't wait to see the awesome things you'll bring to the Disability Benefits Experience team!

Initial Tasks for Adrianna

To ensure a smooth onboarding process, Adrianna has a few tasks to complete. Let's walk through them to ensure she's all set up and ready to go. These steps are crucial for integrating into the team and gaining access to the necessary tools and resources.

General Onboarding Tasks

  • [x] Add your name to the ticket title: This helps with tracking and organization.
  • [x] Update your Slack profile: Keep your Slack profile updated so everyone knows who you are and what you do.
  • [x] Request access to tools: Make sure you have access to all the tools you need for your role.
  • [x] Confirm that you have access to the VA GitHub Organization.
  • [x] Opt out of Google Analytics on all of your browsers on your work machines, personal machines (if you are not a Veteran yourself using the site for your own applications), and mobile devices: This is an important step to protect user privacy.
  • [x] Are you a Veteran? Consider adding your name to the Veterans willing to help VA teams with product testing document: Your insights as a Veteran can be invaluable.
  • [x] Complete educational tasks: Familiarize yourself with our processes and best practices through these educational tasks. Make sure to take the time to go through each of these resources. It’s all about getting you up to speed and comfortable with our way of doing things.

Tasks for Front-end and Back-end Engineers

Tasks for Product Managers & Delivery Managers

  • [ ] Schedule a PM intro via Calendly with Shira Goodman (Platform Governance Team PM).
  • [ ] If your team is new, please complete the New VFS Team ticket. If you're joining an existing team, you can skip this step.

Tasks for Platform

  • [ ] New VFS team member has been added to the VFS Team Roster located in Atlas
  • [ ] New VFS team member has been added to the vets.gov-write GitHub team

Deep Dive into Onboarding Tasks

Let's elaborate on why each of these tasks is important for Adrianna and for the team as a whole. Understanding the purpose behind these steps can make the onboarding process more meaningful and efficient.

Updating Slack Profile

Having an updated Slack profile might seem like a small thing, but it’s incredibly useful. A clear profile picture and accurate job title help everyone quickly identify Adrianna in channels and direct messages. This is especially important in a large organization where many people might share similar names. A good profile also encourages interaction and helps build a sense of community. Plus, it’s just good digital etiquette! So, Adrianna, make sure to upload a friendly photo and add your role to your Slack profile. This simple step makes it easier for everyone to connect with you and understand your role within the team. Don't forget to add your pronouns as well, which promotes inclusivity and respect in our communications.

Requesting Access to Tools

Access to the right tools is essential for Adrianna to perform her job effectively. This includes everything from project management software to code repositories and communication platforms. Without these tools, it would be impossible for her to collaborate with the team, contribute to projects, and stay informed about important updates. The request process ensures that Adrianna gets the specific permissions and access levels required for her role, while also maintaining security and compliance. It’s important to complete this step as soon as possible to avoid any delays in her work. The IT and support teams are there to help with any technical issues, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you encounter any problems during this process. Remember, having the right tools at your disposal is a game-changer for productivity and efficiency!

Accessing the VA GitHub Organization

As a Senior Software Engineer, access to the VA GitHub Organization is critical for Adrianna. GitHub is where the team collaborates on code, tracks changes, and manages projects. Having access allows her to contribute to the codebase, review other team members' work, and stay up-to-date with the latest developments. This access also ensures that Adrianna can follow best practices for version control and collaboration, which are essential for maintaining the quality and stability of our software. If she encounters any issues with access, the team is always ready to help troubleshoot and ensure she’s fully connected. So, Adrianna, make sure you can log in and navigate the GitHub repository. This is your digital workspace for all things code!

Opting Out of Google Analytics

Protecting user privacy is a top priority for the VA, and opting out of Google Analytics is an important step in that direction. Google Analytics collects data about how users interact with our websites, which can be valuable for improving user experience. However, it’s also important to give individuals the option to control their own data. By opting out, Adrianna ensures that her browsing activity on VA websites is not tracked, which helps maintain privacy and security. This is especially important for team members who may be accessing sensitive information or working on projects related to veteran data. It’s a simple step, but it demonstrates our commitment to ethical data practices and respect for user privacy. Plus, it’s a good reminder for all of us to be mindful of our digital footprint.

Educational Tasks

Completing the educational tasks is a great way for Adrianna to get up to speed on the VA's processes, tools, and best practices. These tasks cover a wide range of topics, from security protocols to coding standards, and are designed to ensure that everyone on the team has a solid foundation of knowledge. By completing these tasks, Adrianna will be better prepared to contribute to projects, collaborate with colleagues, and make informed decisions. The educational resources are regularly updated to reflect the latest changes and improvements, so it’s a good idea to revisit them periodically. Think of these tasks as your onboarding curriculum – a structured way to learn the ropes and set yourself up for success. And remember, learning is a continuous process, so always be open to new information and opportunities to expand your knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Once again, a big welcome to Adrianna Guevarra! We’re all looking forward to working with you and seeing the great things you’ll accomplish with the Disability Benefits Experience team. Make sure to complete these initial tasks to get fully integrated, and don't hesitate to reach out to anyone on the team if you need help or have questions. Let’s work together to continue providing the best possible service to our veterans. Welcome to the team, Adrianna! We're thrilled to have you join us on this journey.