Interview with Jerry Zheng, VP Web Operations

Last modified on April 23rd, 2018
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Jerry Zheng, AppFolio VP Web OperationsJerry runs the group that designs and builds the AppFolio database infrastructure. His team figures out how to migrate data into AppFolio Property Manager from many different types of property management software, and make it easy too!

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I moved to the U.S. from China in 1984 after being awarded a United Nation Education and Academic Exchange Scholarship. I studied computer science at the University of Minnesota where I also met my wife Charlene. We moved to Santa Barbara, where I attended UCSB and earned my Ph.D. Together we have two daughters, Sophia and Kally. On the weekends we enjoy swimming and hiking, especially a great 6-7 mile trek up to Inspiration Point.

How does one get awarded a U.N. Scholarship?
The United Nations and United States have a foreign exchange program awarding scholarships to the top academic students in the International Community. I was one of only two people at my University to receive the award.

What are some things you can do in the U.S. that you could never do in China?
There are many things you can’t do in China that you can do here. One thing that stands out is, you can own your own property and have no limit to the amount of property you own. In China, there are laws that prohibit you from owning property.

What do you miss most about China?
My family – my parents, cousins, uncles and aunts are all still in China. Of course, the food, there is nothing comparable to the food from China. I sometimes go to China Town in Los Angles for a quick fix.

Did you always know you wanted to be a data architect?
I always knew I would do something in the computer science arena, for me it was a gradual process finding my niche. Being a data architect is like being a detective. You can find your way to an answer, one clue at a time.

What is the best part of your job at AppFolio?
I like that AppFolio’s engineering department work in small teams, you’re able to recognize the goals you’ve accomplished through the amount of effort you and your team put into each project.

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Aimee was Chief Marketing Officer for AppFolio from 2009-2022. Aimee led the marketing strategy and programs that drives awareness, demand, and customer engagement for AppFolio. Aimee joined the AppFolio team in 2009 as the Vice President of Marketing for AppFolio. Prior to AppFolio, she was the Sr. Director of Field Marketing at Citrix Online (merged with LogMeIn, Inc.), leading the planning and implementation of all corporate demand generation activities for the global sales organization. At Citrix Online, she also served as Director of Key Account Management, where she created the customized marketing and management program for strategic customers. Previously, Aimee also held marketing and product management roles at Digital Island (purchased by Cable and Wireless) throughout the company's high-growth years. Aimee received a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a California native and enjoys spending time outside in the beautiful Santa Barbara climate.

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1 comment

  1. Tracy Lu Guillen

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    It’s refreshing to see fellow UCSB Gauchos having success. I know that the computer science program at UCSB is top notch.

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