Meet Michelle O’Neal, our Director of Operations & HR

From master problem solver to HR honcho—Michelle wears a plethora of hats around the Comit office to ensure our crew has the resources we need to initiate smooth website launches and beyond. When she’s not busy being the guardian of our galaxy, you can find her flexing her many creative skills at home with the family! Who doesn’t love a good arts and crafts project, right?

How long have you worked in your industry?

I’ve worked in various roles within the web development industry for about 15 years. Just call me a long-hauler!

What are some of your responsibilities?

People management, employee training and development, human resources (everything from employee onboarding to benefits management), you name it. When it comes to creating efficiencies or resolving any internal or external conflicts that may arise, I’m your girl.

What are some of your unofficial responsibilities?

I tend to jump in where I’m needed. I’ve helped in creating quotes, making site updates, project management, website training, copywriting, invoicing and more. I also proofread every website that goes out our door. We can thank my undergrad degree in Journalism for that one!

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me isn’t typical at all. It changes day-to-day based on work and family commitments. It usually starts with getting the kids ready for school—be it in-person or remote. After I get my morning coffee fix in, I organize my day in my daily planner. The rest of it goes by in a blur—broken up with intermediate breaks to help my daughter with her virtual school lessons. Then we top off each day with some sort of activity for my kids; gymnastics, dance class, tee-ball, piano lessons, Cub Scouts, etc. After dinner, baths and putting the kids to bed, I work on my master’s degree at ULL through their online MBA program. It may seem like a lot, but we make it happen!

What made you go into web design?

I graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s in journalism and quickly realized that the hectic schedule of a reporter was not for me, so I found other ways to utilize my skills. I still had a passion for writing so I got into content development; writing biographies for an online vanity publishing company. I was then promoted to website manager and started learning how to utilize content management systems, blogging platforms and social media networks. At that point I picked up the basics of HTML and CSS. Since then, I’ve stayed in the web industry in various roles–project manager, operations, and now HR.

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

My favorite part about my job is announcing a site launch to the entire team and recognizing the people that worked hard to make it happen. I love human resources because I have always been someone who wants the best for everyone (and that includes not just the team but the company too); if you give me a problem I will try to find a solution to help you improve your workflow, your knowledge, or your general well-being. The most proud moments are when I get to witness personal and professional growth in my employees because that means I’ve done my job well.

Do you have any hobbies or interests you’d like to share?

Traveling, arts & crafts of any kind, reading, gaming and learning new things.

Why should businesses choose Comit Developers?

We have an experienced team with a well-defined process that is genuinely committed to helping every client we take on be successful in what they do. 

Would you rather be the first person to explore a planet or be the inventor of a drug that cures a deadly disease?

Everyone deserves a chance at life and to be the best they can be. Unfortunately, some people are not  even given a fighting chance when they are faced with a deadly disease. When I was 25, I lost my fiance at the time to a brain tumor in the blink of an eye. It crept up on us and there was no chance to treat it. If I had the ability to create a cure for a deadly disease; especially one that primarily affects children, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Contact Michelle and the Comit team today to learn how we can help you meet all of your website and hosting needs.