Grace Under Pressure: Calm Like Federer, Sharp Like a Serve
If there’s one figure Jimmy Baquiro looks to as a model of excellence, it’s Roger Federer. The Swiss tennis icon famous for his smooth footwork, icy composure, and consistent excellence has long inspired Jimmy, and the comparison fits well.
“I admire people who stay cool in high-pressure situations,” Jimmy says. “Even when Federer was two sets down or facing tough opponents, he never lost his composure. He stayed mentally strong, and found ways to fight back.”
As a WordPress International Support Representative, Jimmy handles daily customer and technical challenges: caching conflicts, plugin issues, server load, and more. Every case is different, requiring a balance of speed, strategy, and finesse. Like Federer returning a 130 mph serve, Jimmy stays grounded and adapts mid-play to find a solution.
Growth Fueled by Mentorship and Curiosity
Jimmy didn’t enter tech support through a traditional path. In fact, just over two years ago, he moved from a general role at Google into DreamHost, bringing with him a foundation in email, DNS, and hosting.
“I knew some basics, but this role pushed me to go deeper, understanding DNS in detail, how servers actually work.”
For Jimmy, his growth was motivated by mentorship and his own hunger to learn.
“Christian Sanclemente helped me understand the support mindset,” Jimmy says. “Greg Valoff’s tools piqued my curiosity about servers. And Zack Huntsinger on the DreamPress team, his knowledge is just next-level.”
Now focused on TechOps, Jimmy works closely with mentor Dan Lizarazo, who’s known for both infrastructure expertise and lightning-fast typing. “It’s hard to keep up with his speed, navigating between different cases and tabs without pausing.” Jimmy says. “But more importantly, he’s teaching me how to think systematically.”
Through all of it, Jimmy brings the “Swiss Maestro” mindset: not just skill, but discipline, patience, and mental toughness. Like a seasoned pro adjusting mid-match, he meets each new tool and tricky case with calm focus and thoughtful care.
One day, Jimmy hopes to transition into a developer role, inspired by a genuine curiosity for how backend systems and infrastructure work behind the scenes. “I’m currently learning more about server performance and gaining a deeper understanding of how our infrastructure operates on a server’s backend,” he says.
Bogotá Life, Rescue Pets & a Love for the Greats
Outside of work, Jimmy’s life is lively, and a little wild, in the best way. He lives in Bogotá, Colombia with his wife Geraldine (also a DreamHoster) as well as a not-so-small army of rescue animals that could nearly field a soccer or American football starting lineup: six cats and four dogs.
The pet roster includes Tony the elder Labrador, Lenny, Lucio, and Antonia on Team Dog; and Michi, Giro, Ramona, Thomas, Bruno, and Nina on Team Cat.
“It’s a second job,” Jimmy jokes. “You never have peace of mind. Training puppies while cats climb shelves? It gets hectic.”
But amidst the chaos of parenting their own petting zoo, Jimmy and Geraldine find their own calm. They watch movies, walk in the park, cook, and drive around (traffic permitting).
Jimmy’s also a huge sports fan: soccer, UFC, NBA, NHL, NFL, curling (he’s not joking!), and of course, tennis.
Besides Federer, Jimmy looks up to another sports legend: Peyton Manning. “He defined leadership: he’s incredibly smart on the field, adaptable, composed. I even became a temporary [Denver] Broncos fan just to root for him.”
A former slackliner, Jimmy once practiced balance, literally. “It’s surprisingly peaceful… once you stop face-planting,” he says. Slacklining is about stillness, not force. Kind of like tech support. The key isn’t rushing, it’s control.
Match Point: Composure in Tech and in Life
Looking back, Jimmy’s proudest growth since joining DreamHost isn’t just technical, it’s personal. He credits the work and his mentors with shaping how he thinks and approaches life.
“I troubleshoot differently now, more structured thinking. I handle stress better. Honestly, I think I’m a better husband, too.”
That kind of self-awareness and calm under pressure has made Jimmy an invaluable part of the DreamHost team. He may not be chasing Grand Slams, but he’s always honing his craft: focused, composed, and helping others, both customers and coworkers, do the same.
Like Federer in a five-set match, Jimmy doesn’t let the pressure define him. He adapts, breathes, and hits the next shot.
And if DreamHost ever gave out trophies for grace under fire? Jimmy Baquiro would be walking away with one—no tie-break needed.
Want to be part of the DreamHost team? We’re looking for enthusiastic and curious people who are eager to learn and help others develop. Check out our careers site to see available positions and learn more about DreamHost! 👀 Keep an eye out for our next Tech Support spotlight, where we’ll reveal the secret to a happy tech support career. Discover her journey, her love for reality TV, and her impressive linguistic skills in this exclusive interview!