How to Get Your Technology Product Started

Sam led the web engineering team at Change.org during a time of intense growth and change. He helped us to switch from an ad-hoc software development process to a Kanban process. He educated the team in the ways of lean software development. We continue to use the lessons Sam taught us on a regular basis, and it makes our engineering process much more effective and predictable.

As technical founder of a fast-growing start-up company, I have a lot to thank Sam McAfee for. He helped me get started in software by seeing my potential and hiring me for my first real development work. I quickly rose to project management under his mentorship, learning a great deal from him about everything from software engineering, to leading and managing, to the subtle human side of working with clients.

Were it not for Sam, I'm not sure I'd be in the fantastic position I am today.

More important, he is simply a wonderful, great person. He may be the most fair-minded individual I've ever met. He's responsible, forceful when necessary (as leaders must sometimes be), yet in his heart he is fundamentally a gentle, loving soul.

Count yourself lucky if you ever have the chance to work with Sam McAfee.

I worked for Sam for three years at Radical Fusion, and from the very beginning he was incredibly trusting, supportive, and collaborative.
He mentored me throughout either by showing me, explaining, sitting down and working with me, or suggesting books/articles.
He wanted all employees to continue growing and that included him. He has a passion for software and I haven't met anyone else in my career who reads as much as he does about software development, languages, software business, methodologies, etc. and everyone on the team benefits.

Sam hired me as a project manager at RadicalFusion and basically took me under his wing. Not only do I owe him for giving me the opportunity to learn the technical side of being a project manager but for teaching me how to embrace agile methodologies. He's made a convert out of me and I appreciate his passions for business and technology.

I have worked through the years with several company owners and Sam is, by far, the most pleasant and treasured of them all. His constant encouragement, gratitude, patience and guidance has made me a better person and employee.

A mentor asked me to write down a list of the ideal situation for writing code. Sam's company, RadicalFusion, hit every item on that list. At RadicalFusion coders are very well treated and well-mentored. They do TDD projects with 100% test coverage. They do pair programming so that knowledge is shared within groups. Also, because of the flat hierarchy at RadicalFusion every coder feels empowered. It is simply the best place I have worked. Sam brings leadership to the table through vision, using the latest lean and agile practices, and through example. He still codes, too. He manages by telling coders what to do and not micromanaging the "how." If you are lucky to have him as a client, he goes the extra mile to make sure your product is delivered to perfection. If there are any issues they are dealt with immediately and transparently. Every step of the way because of the process Sam put in place you know where your application is going. Apps developed at RadicalFusion have easily gone on to secure more funding. One great example is TeeSpy, the Groupon of Golf.

I have known Sam since 2007 and have worked on several interesting and challenging software projects with him. In fact, I developed my first real PHP application while working with him, which was extremely fortunate: he launched me straight into Object-Oriented PHP, PHP Frameworks, TDD and Scrum. Sam is very forward-thinking with an excellent knowledge of software, architecture and methodologies. In addition, he is a great person with amazing people skills. Oh, and he gets sole credit for truly demonstrating the value that TDD and CI adds when truly practiced. I would gladly work with him again.

I could have easily picked all of the attributes to describe Sam and his business partner. Great Results, Personable, Expert, Good Value,On time, High Integrity, and Creative. It is with mixed emotions that I recommend him and his company. I want them all to myself.

Sam has shown a great deal of dedication to his craft and is all about working with his clients to really get down to what it is they want and have the ability to deliver.

He is not your average "developer". He leads his team as a technology strategist and values the feedback of his clients every step of the way.

I am glad to be working with a Radical Fusion and Sam's excellent work ethic on current and future projects.

I have worked with Sam on a few database web development projects and he always get the job done right and exceeds my expectations.