Staff Spotlight: Meet Ariel De La Rosa
What do motorcycles, reef tanks, and a good cup of coffee have in common? Ariel De La Rosa, our self-professed Technopreneur (but let’s face it, he wears many hats).
Ariel works on the principle of finding and utilizing the right tool for the job. It’s not an intuitive process; it requires an understanding of the core of the options under consideration to address a specific issue to balance out the possible outcomes in the short and long term.
That, coupled with his passion for technology and how it leverages human efforts, while identifying and resolving business problems with software solutions, has made him a valuable team member at OCTO® Safety Devices.
That passion led him to develop a tool that helped us market our first versions of the OCTO® Respirator Mask (ORM). The device needed to efficiently deposit the right amount of silicone adhesive to provide a perfect seal between the ORM Skirt and the ORM Front Section. He clearly succeeded —and named it OCTO® Paster.
It’s our people and their curiosity and desire to create a product to keep us all safe that drives us each day. People like Ariel.
What do you do for fun?
I am blessed with lots of activities that are fun and bring me joy, and the most enjoyable is spending time with my family. I have been riding motorcycles my entire life and still enjoy it as much as I did when I first hopped on one. More recently, I discovered my passion for fish and coral. Aside from a few bumps in the road, taking care of a reef tank has been a challenging and rewarding experience and plenty of fun at the end.
What path got you to OCTO®?
Tobias Franoszek was involved in a mask project which I did not know much about. In February 2020 I came onboard and discovered a few technological challenges where I felt I could accelerate the evolution of the product. It was fascinating to tap into an industry that was ultimately new to me and with technology that hadn’t had any improvements for decades. Helping to develop a game-changing product like the ORM that can positively impact the lives of so many people is an inspiration.
What is your current state of mind?
Positive and motivated technological evangelist.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Awesome!
What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty.
Describe a typical day at OCTO®.
If I’m going to simplify it: a rollercoaster ride, a very fun rollercoaster ride! Each day is different, with a fresh set of challenges and opportunities. From R&D to IT, production, planning, software development and tooling, I try to swap hats as fast as possible.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Enjoying my good health, sharing time with family and friends and a good cup of coffee. I also enjoy a good challenge, and the time to resolve it. If I can get a bike ride in there on a nice day, it really brings it all together.