Yesterday, we interviewed Nick Dunkman, RentJuice Engineer. He shared his RentJuice journey from New York City to his first day in San Francisco. By his side was his partner in crime, Summer the Golden Retriever. She also joined the team in 2009, leaving no toy left undestroyed.

We got to know about some of Summer’s RentJuice favorites as the company’s first canine companion.

Q: Do you like coming to the RentJuice office? 

I love it!

I always know I’m going to work when dad has his bag on and grabs the leash. I’ve know that when he does that specifically in that order, I’m going to the office.

Q: Who’s your favorite person at RentJuice, other than your dad?

Mike Flores. He always takes care of me when my dad is out of town. Every time we hang out, he takes me to Moulin Pooch pet store and lets me pick out a toy!

Q: What’s working at a startup like? 

My coworkers and I have a strong “work hard, play hard” mentality. I take the “play hard” aspect very seriously.

Q: What’s your favorite toy?

My favorite toy is a stuffed beaver toy. Sometimes, I bring it to work with me to get my coworkers to play tug-o-war with me. I usually win.

Q: What do you do on your days off?

Dad takes me to Duboce Park on the weekends, where we get to play fetch. On my water breaks, I try to network with as many people as possible. I love it when I meet nice people who give me belly rubs.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do at work?

When dad is focused on his work, I like to run between the two rooms in the office. They say that in an office environment, you need to stretch your legs a little bit. Nothing beats an in-office trot.

 Q: Who’s your best dog friend at work?

Charlie the Yorkshire terrier. I always look forward to seeing him at work. Despite our differences in stature, it’s fun when we hang out.

Q: What’s your favorite snack? 

Sometimes dad brings me rawhide bones. On special days, he gives me Red Vines from the office kitchen.

Nick Dunkman’s plane touched down at noon at the San Francisco International Airport on Halloween, 2009. He walked off the plane grasping a black nylon leash with his Golden Retriever, Summer, anxiously tugging forward at the other end. They walked to the security gate, where they were greeted by RentJuice CEO David Vivero and CTO Kunal Shah.

Dunkman joined the RentJuice team that day. It was his first time ever setting foot in San Francisco.

We interviewed Dunkman, RentJuice Engineer, and asked him about his early experiences with the company.

Q: How did you start working at RentJuice?

I worked with Kunal in New York City. I really enjoyed working with him, and I knew he moved to San Francisco to start a company. I really wanted to try the startup life.

I was really impressed by Kunal and David and figured that whatever they were doing had a good chance of succeeding. It was always difficult finding an apartment in a place like New York City. I liked the idea of getting involved with something that made that process easier.

Q: What do you love about your job?

There are so many new features we’re building all the time and we’re growing pretty fast, so scaling the app to handle that is a big challenge. Our app can have a big impact on our customers’ lives. Those two things create passion for what we’re building, so there are many of us who are here working 12 hours just about every day. Having a job where you aren’t watching the clock at the end of the day is a huge plus.

Q: What’s it like working at a startup company?

Everybody here works really hard. There’s a lot of passion for what you’re building.

The excitement of taking a project from the beginning to end, helping a company grow and feeling that you’re a big part of it is a really cool feeling.

Q: Since the day you moved to San Francisco was the first time you ever visited the city, what was the first thing you did? 

David and Kunal drove me back into the city. We went to In and Out Burger and I ordered a cheeseburger meal. The three of us ate in the car with Summer.

Q: What’s your favorite video game to play at work?

FIFA Soccer 12

Q: What team do you play?

Either Real Madrid or Manchester United.

Read the Special Edition RentJuice Insider on Summer Dunkman, the RentJuice dog. 

You never know who you’re going to meet, especially on a wine tour of Napa. That’s how Mike Flores met RentJuice CEO, David Vivero.

Vivero unfolded the story of RentJuice over glasses of carefully swirled Cabernet Sauvignon. Inspired by the product and eager to join the team, Flores was onboard in a matter of days, and became one of the first account executives on the team.

Get to know Flores in a recent interview we had with him:

Q: What makes working at RentJuice different than previous places you’ve worked?

RentJuice is truly an open forum. If you have something to say, you’re heard. If you have an idea, you always have the opportunity to step up.

Q: What keeps you coming into work everyday?

There’s always a new challenge. There’s always a new direction that we’re going, and that’s just the nature of our market. You don’t want the exact same thing everyday. That’s why I love sales; you’re meeting brand new people every single day.

 Q: What do you think about the RentJuice product?

Selling our solution is unique because it has a lot of different uses and functions. No two clients use our product in the same way. It’s extremely flexible. It’s fits any  rental company’s structure.

Q: What’s it like working in San Francisco?

I’ve worked in New York before, so in contrast to there, it’s very relaxed. I truly believe that when you’re comfortable at work, you’re going to do good work.

Q: What’s your favorite Pandora radio station?

Tom Petty radio

Q: What’s your favorite lunchtime meal?

Chipotle’s carnitas burrito with everything. I also get  a side of sour cream and a side of hot sauce for my burrito.

Q: So, do you stir in the hot sauce into your sour cream? 

Stir? No! The sour cream and hot sauce is shaken, not stirred.