The Basics
 
More About Me
I have over a decade of experience with "back-end" development for web sites and customer service systems. While I never realized my dream of writing operating systems for a living, I have created tools that made it easier for people to do their jobs and run their businesses.

Over the years, I've developed a passion for Human/Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX). My technical comp. sci. background has been blended with skills in design and various "front-end" development tools.

Currently obsessed with: Compass/Sass, Responsive design
Experience
Lead Developer
@Straight North
• Build Drupal websites and WordPress blogs
• Maintain a set of Drupal modules & server software for tracking sales leads
• Bulit & maintain an API and accompanying server, plus a sales lead management app leveraging the API
• Maintain custom framework for landing pages
• Write blog posts & short articles on web development & technologies we use
• Occasional LAMP server administration
Location
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Dates
Jun. 2010 - Present
Website
http://www.straightnorth.com
Online Media Director
@Cat Guardians
• Maintain cat shelter website and landing pages
• Engage community and donors through social media
• Design & source printed materials (brochures, fundraising calendars)
• Video production
• PPC advertising
• Internal IT support
• Compile reports on site performance for the board of directors.
• Attend monthly board meetings with voting privileges.
• Help with shelter maintenance and cat care.
Location
Lombard, IL
Dates
May. 2010 - Present
Website
http://www.catguardians.org
Organizer
@Suburban Chicago PHP & Web Development Meetup
• Organized monthly meetings & arranged speakers
• Presented on PHP, MySQL, and software development topics
Location
Lombard, IL
Dates
Apr. 2007 - Jul. 2010
Website
http://www.meetup.com/suburbanchicagowebdev/
Lead Developer
@Xeno Media
• Developed web sites and web-based applications in PHP using WordPress, Drupal, jQuery, and internally-developed frameworks
• Contributed to estimates and proposals
• Usability analysis
• Mentored junior developers
• Administered four Linux servers and two Windows servers
Location
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Dates
Nov. 2006 - Jun. 2010
Website
http://www.xenomedia.com
Software Developer
@DriveItAway, Inc.
• Maintained PHP/MySQL car e-commerce site
• Developed Java/Oracle version of the site
• Optimized processes & platforms to shorten development time, including replacing Crystal Reports with the iText PDF library for sales form printing
• Light system administration
Location
Chicago, IL
Dates
May. 2005 - Oct. 2006
Website
http://driveitaway.com/
Software Engineer
@FTD
• Developed web app for internal users and partners
• Maintained & enhanced legacy "green screen" apps
• Provided 24/7/365 support for all software and systems
• Wrote technical specs for enhancing legacy apps, including interfaces between obsolete technologies and web services
• Documented formats & protocols for integration of new apps into a mixed environment
• Developed automated customer service system for automating common requests
Dates
Mar. 2001 - Apr. 2005
Website
http://www.ftd.com
Sr. Programmer Analyst
@GoMembers, Inc.
• Met with clients to document business requirements
• Wrote technical specs
• Led teams customizing the company's flagship software package
Location
Downers Grove, IL
Dates
Jul. 1999 - Mar. 2001
Website
http://gomembers.com/
Education
Bachelor of Computer Science (Systems)
@Roosevelt University
• Coursework included networking protocols, operating system architecture, assembly language programming, and databases
• Bachelor's thesis on the need for digital identity systems and how to address Cameron's Laws of Identity in a practical system
• Graduated with honors.
Fields
Computer Science
Location
Schaumburg, IL
Dates
Jan. 2002 - Dec. 2005