The Perceptics team is small but mighty. Each team member brings unique talents and experiences to their roles, often taking on multiple responsibilities. “Perceptics People” is an initiative to showcase our outstanding team members, not only for the work they do but also for who they are as individuals.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re excited to highlight Julie Stropp. Julie is a valued team member who has been with Perceptics for not merely years but decades. In this brief Q&A, she shares how her contributions make an impact at Perceptics, how she navigates working in a male-dominated field, and how she brings a little more beauty to the world in her personal life!
Who:
Julie Stropp, Lead Ground Truther at Perceptics
How long have you worked with Perceptics?
26 years this April
Can you describe the work you do at Perceptics in layman’s terms?
I use software to review license plate images to ensure the state and plate were read correctly. Ground truthing is an important process to help train our AI engines for accuracy, and we perform it for each new deployment. The plates can be on passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and/or commercial vehicles.
What compelled you to work in the vehicle recognition field?
It actually happened by chance. I worked for a staffing company that introduced me to Perceptics. I did three weeks of work in three days, which was more consistent with the LPR system and what the engineering team needed.
What do you like most about your work?
I’ve always thought what we [Perceptics] do is important, like on the borders, for instance. Any safety we can provide at the borders and on the roads is important – especially now with technology being so distracting.
You’re a woman working in a heavily male-dominated field. What are some of the challenges and/or benefits that come with that?
It can make you feel out of sorts at times, but having a personality that gets along with most people has helped me. I think women can put a different perspective on things and help bring problem-solving to the table. We’ve come a long way in the workforce, and I’m proud of that.
What do you do outside of work?
I’ve been an artist of sorts all my life. In my 20s, I got my first camera and fell in love. I love shooting wildlife, landscapes, and micro images the best. Sometimes, I’ll put a creative spin on my photos, like using a crystal ball to capture some cool shots.
For the last four years now, I’ve been painting using the Bob Ross style of wet-on-wet oil paints. In 2021, I was able to fill a bucket list item that I didn’t even know I had. I painted with Bob’s son, Steve Ross, in Townsend for the first time. I was able to paint with him one other time since. It was amazing to see him paint in person and even more amazing when he walked around helping everyone!
Wow! Do you think that artistic eye for detail has helped you with ground truthing?
I honestly think it does help! I can usually spot differences pretty quickly.
Do you have any advice for women who might be at the start of their careers?
Just give your best and at the end of the day, leave work at work. Having a strong work ethic is great, but you also NEED to balance life and work as much as you can. Enjoy your time at home, outside or whatever you love to do. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, but to stay healthy, everyone needs a break and sunshine in their face.
