As a child, Adam Shanno was fascinated with computers.
“I have built them, taken them apart and worked on them,” he said. “I have always loved the amazing things that people can do with them.”
Adam Shanno, center, with his brother, Kyle, and fiancée, Ashley, at Messa Rink in December.
The allure of the computer continued into Shanno’s adult life, leading him to a digital forensics degree in 2022 from the University at Albany.
After a brief stint as an IT technician for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, he joined Union nearly two years ago. He is a client services support analyst for Information Technology Services (ITS).
“I evaluate and troubleshoot issues that relate to computer systems, and maintain current documentation of all operational and configuration procedures,” he said. “I also work with my team (Carlos Nieves, Gabriel Leifer and Mike Dardas) to handle large projects, like upgrading the campus to Windows 11.”
When not dissecting the intricacies of a computer, Shanno enjoys watching sports. He counts the Union men’s hockey team, the Boston Bruins and the Las Vegas Raiders among his favorites.
Shanno got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Ashley, last week. The couple lives in Rotterdam with their three dogs, Amber, Quest and Princess.
FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:
Discord, usually to check to see what messages my friends sent me or to see what I missed.
GO-TO BREAKFAST:
YoCrunch Oreo Yogurt. It gets me going for the morning, especially during the slow hours.
WHAT’S THE LAST GREAT BOOK YOU READ?
“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson. It details the great mind of one of the smartest technology billionaires of our time.
BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:
My late grandfather told me a great quote that is used by many. Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm, meaning don't put all of your priorities below anyone else's, and make sure to take time for yourself or you'll crumble quickly.
FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Messa Rink. The energy, especially during playoff time, is amazing. Watching hockey is one of my favorite pastimes. Whenever I troubleshoot any of the issues there, the coaches are always amazing and thankful for my time. It's also an area that I sometimes drop by during some calm hours to watch the teams practice or see the rink one more time.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW:
“The Rookie” on Hulu. My fiancée got me into the show and now I cannot stop watching it.
ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:
Database administration, more specifically on the Structured Query Language side. I've always wanted to learn how databases work on the programming end and how they match up with the data that we produce.
THREE DINNER PARTY GUESTS (living or deceased):
Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins, actor Jim Carrey and the late basketball player Kobe Bryant. Brad is one of my favorite players, and I have always dreamt of meeting him since I saw him raise the Stanley Cup in Boston in 2011. Jim Carrey is my favorite actor, and his comedic style would be a great addition to the table. Kobe Bryant was an amazing basketball player with a great work ethic, and I want to understand what drove him to work so hard toward his achievements.
FIRST CONCERT:
The Chainsmokers in 2017 at what is now the MVP Arena in Albany. Best concert that I have ever been to.
LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU:
I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under two minutes. I have been able to do this since I was 13, thanks to some friends who taught me algorithms that let me solve it quicker.