Things that I can do

Programming

I started learning Basic and C code in high school but I quickly moved into HTML during my time at the Artwork Institute. Later my work lead me to SQL, Java, and PHP for creating dynamic web content. Eventually abandoning custom CMS web development I dove into the WordPress environment and have never turned back.

Hardware programming became a necessary skill for me as an artist wanting to add an electronic and interactive element to sculpture and fashion. Limitations in technology access limited my entry into hardware programming until 2013 when I found out about the Raspberry Pi foundation and Adafruit Industries. I quickly moved form basic Arduino programming to robotics coding, IOT infrastructure, and gesture activated wearable code.

I am now proficient with C++ in the Arduino environment, MQTT, Python, circuitPython, Linux environment, JSON, XML, YAML , SQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, Javascript and some Java.

Hardware development

The same limitations that held back my experience with firmware programming also made it necessary to lead how to assemble logic using analog electronics. This gave me valuable understanding of how the newer digital ICs worked once they became more accessible. Since 2013 I have worked on many hardware development projects for artists and educators. One such project was aimed at developing a robust and inexpensive educational robotics platform called Hack-E-Bot. This would lead to a close relationship with Adafruit Industries and the beginning of my ongoing tech education development with many local schools and organizations.

When I am not developing tech centered curriculum, I spend time researching emerging technology and strive to help develop standards and early prototypes. The most recent of these projects involve localized Internet of Things networking using MQTT, ESP8266, the Raspberry Pi, and open source software. I am also working with a few groups on using sensors in wearable technology to interpret gestures for event triggers. Other projects aim to get people involved in developing advanced networking hardware that can add video game style mechanics to real world objects. The hope is that the same systems that can be developed for entertainment can be repurposed to collect critical data for research studies, medical tracking, and large scale agriculture.

Most of this work was accomplished at the SoDo MakerSpace where I was a project lead and currently at the Living Computers Museum + Labs as a trainer, developer, fabricator, and instructor for technology centered education projects. My relationships with organizations like Adafruit, TAF Academy, STEM Paths, SoDo MakerSpace, The Northwest School, and Makerologist have made it possible for me to not only use existing tools and hardware, but also to develop some new electronics and be a real part of shaping the future of how we use technology.

Graphic Design

My experience with Adobe products for print and web output is extensive and has prepared me to tackle any task involving printed media, product design, and  photo manipulation and optimization. HTML, CSS and web standards have been a large part of my work for many years and in a broad range of projects. I actively engage in work involving content management systems like SharePoint, Drupal, MediaWiki, and WordPress. Studying SQL, Ajax, PHP, Javascript, and Python has given me a well-rounded understanding about how these systems work and how they can be improved.

I am a very organized and self-motivated worker. I enjoy working on as part of a team as well as independently. In team assignments, I am committed to putting the team’s successful and timely project completion first, whether I’m the team leader or a team member. Working for large companies like Humongous Entertainment, Cobalt Group, Direct Marketing Solutions, and Xerox has enabled me to feel quite at home in a fast paced / high turnover environment. My work experience with small businesses involved taking an active role in shaping the development of company infrastructure and I am always up for the challenge. I have taken the lead in company projects ranging from implementing more extensive project tracking for Digicolor, creating powerful new sales tools for Direct Marketing Solutions and Stickny Research that allowed easier access to client and asset information for Xerox and SoDo Makerspace.