Senior Software Developer
20+ years of IT experience – software, hardware, and leadership
Education
B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007)
While at South Milwaukee High School I was able to get college credits for a couple courses:
Cisco Networking Academy Graduate from Milwaukee Area Technical College (2000)
C++ at Milwaukee School of Engineering (2001)
Languages
English
(native)
Russian
3 years
2007-2010: one semester class at UW-Madison and 3 years living in Russia
Spanish
4 years
2 years at South Milwaukee High School, 2 years at UW-Madison
Work History
Senior Software Developer @ Alley
2019-2026
- Architecting and building performant enterprise-grade solutions for REST API integrations, Gutenberg blocks, homepage story curation, site migration, and redesign
- Coaching developers by providing feedback, offering advice, and supporting their professional development efforts
- Optimizing developer experience through code abstraction, testing, improving CI pipelines, and refactoring legacy code
- Led effort to encourage a more collaborative development environment through office hours and scheduled swarms including writing an article about it
- Notable partners: NewsCorp (New York Post, Page Six, The Sun, Decider)
Senior WordPress Engineer @ XWP
2016-2019
- Architecting solutions for clients with enterprise scale WordPress websites.
- Developing extensible WordPress themes and plugins for Gutenberg, dynamic AMP, content personalization, WordPress VIP, API integrations, code performance enhancements, and advertising systems.
- Contributing to open source projects including the official AMP for WordPress plugin and Stream.
- Notable partners: Google, Penske Media, Chive Media Group, BigCommerce, Heavy Inc
Web developer @ Theme Fusion
2015
- Fusion Gallery (image and video gallery plugin for WordPress)
- Developed several different layout types including masonry (Pinterest) style layout
- Made plugin extendable by adding WordPress filters and actions so add-ons could be developed
- Created videos add-on to allow self-hosted, Youtube, and Vimeo videos in a gallery
- Created layouts add-on for adding extra layouts
- Converted plugin CSS to LESS and re-organized stylesheet structure
- Added build automation using Gulp for minimizing files, auto-prefixing CSS, etc
- Re-factored large class files from previous developer using class extensions
- Implemented PhotoSwipe popup gallery integrating all its options and custom slideshow functionality
Web developer @ Abeo
2014-2016
- Surveys WordPress Plugins – Frontend and Database plugins
- Custom surveys plugin with JavaScript (jQuery + jQuery UI) frontend and PHP / MySQL backend
- Custom database tables to hold survey questions and results
- Custom algorithm to determine survey results including archetype calculation
- Custom algorithm to determine a centroid for a multiple user spider graph
- PDF reporting of survey results with Google Charts created into images by using PhantomJS
- WP Image Editor usage to crop images for usage in PDF
- Pseudo cron events for creation of PDFs in background
- Cron job for automatic cleanup of old PDFs
- Modifications to the WordPress LMS Plugin by LearnDash
- Including additional WordPress and BuddyPress fields in Course and Quiz exports
- Fixing incorrect quiz titles issue
- Force export of all users
- Force export of all instances of quizzes taken (if they take quiz more than once)
- Aloha Users Sync – Custom WordPress plugin
- Monitoring folder for changes via WordPress Cron and WordPress option with MD5 of file list
- Import and Update Users from a CSV file into WordPress
- Updating log file on server with changes, updating specific email addresses if a problem arises
- Import info from the CSV file into BuddyPress xprofile fields and BuddyPress groups
- Creating Windows command line script to schedule a task, convert DBF file to CSV file, and FTP the file to a server
Web developer @ EventsWork
2013-2014
- Customized search functionality for Jobroller theme
- Addtional fields for job submissions in the Jobroller theme
- Coupon functionality for the Jobroller theme
- Autocomplete cities selection for job listing and search in Jobroller theme
- Fix applied to WordPress importer plugin for duplicate categories in custom post types
- Server and domain migration
- Responsive theme updates
- CSS style enhancements and fixes
Web developer @ Proactive Accountant
2013
- DirectoryPress responsive theme migration
- DirectoryPress theme customizations
Web developer @ Creative Round
2013
- Customizing WordPress Petitions Plugin and Theme
- BuddyPress custom emails and notifications plugin
- Parallax Signup Page
- Social Widget Plugin
- Subscribe to column plugin
- Gravity Forms – WYSIJA integration plugin
- Disqus Multisite plugin
- BuddyPress to WordPress profile transfer plugin
Web developer @ Worlds Factory
2013
- Creating Levels / Rankings with progress bar for Achievements for WordPress plugin
- Customized achievements for Achievements for WordPress plugin
- BBPress report reply functionality
- BuddyPress custom notifications
- BuddyPress profile customizations
Web developer and Marketing @ Dancing Bear Tours
2011-2017 St.Petersburg, Russia
- Custom WordPress theme
- Online booking form plugin
- WordPress message board plugin
- SEO and customer support on-going
Web developer and Marketing @ Hotel Vera
2010-2017 St.Petersburg, Russia
- Developed responsive, mobile ready, custom WordPress theme
- Utilized WordPress custom post types for hotel rooms and prices pages
- Designed new SEO friendly website
- Increased organic search traffic by over 30%
Web developer and Marketing @ TJ Travel
2010-2016 St.Petersburg, Russia
- Setup on dedicated server
- Created custom contact form plugin
- Custom WordPress plugin for the message board
- SEO and customer support on-going
Success Networking Team Facilitator @ National Society of Leadership and Success
2006-2007 MADISON, WI USA
- Setting up meetings and adapting to conflicts
- Leading and coordinating meetings to include all necessary content and feedback
Web developer @ ASM (Associated Students of Madison)
2005-2007 Madison, WI USA
- Creating web pages for ASM website
- Inputting course evaluation information
- Expanding participation in the course evaluations program
Loan application processor @ Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation
2005 MADISON, WI
- Data entry of loan information
- Verification and correction of loan applicant’s information
Relay Operator @ MCI
2004-2005 MADISON, WI USA
- Voiced and typed conversations for the deaf and hard of hearing community
Customer Service @ Big Mikes Super Subs
2004-2005 MADISON, WI USA
- Cash register, making food, and cleaning
Public Relations Officer @ Collaborative Leadership Club of UW-Madison
2002-2003 MADISON, WI USA
- Responsible for overseeing all aspects of the club and gaining outside supporters
- Co-writer of club’s vision for the future
Student Assistant @ UW-Madison College Library Computer and Media Center
2003 Madison, WI USA
- Answer computer related questions from patrons (all Microsoft Office products, all Adobe products, Mac OS X, etc)
- Maintenance of computers and printers
- Circulation duties including checkout of laptops and camera equipment
- Operation and assistance with digital video equipment (Imovie, Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro, digital video readers)
Network Administrator @ UW-Madison Genetics Dept. – Blattner Laboratory
2002 Madison, WI
- Managed network of about 20 computers
- Updated and configured most network computers to Windows 2000
- Initiated automatic downloads of updates for virus scan and operating system
- Kept network updated with newest windows patches and virus updates
- First responder to issues with the network and software used on client stations
Network Administrator @ Maxnetwork
2000-2001 Milwaukee, WI
- Head of technical support- responding to phone and email requests for support with software, networks, websites, internet connections, and e-mail
- Network Administrator of Maxnetwork Windows NT LAN- maintenance, upgrading, and troubleshooting servers and workstations
- Network Setup/Troubleshooting for clients- installation of workstations, servers, networking equipment, and software
Worked at Summerfest (Milwaukee World Festival) as my first job at 13 years old taking tickets and checking bags. Worked for Milwaukee County Parks in Grant Park for 3 summers working my way up to Park Park Worker level 3 while cutting grass, money managing at a concessions stand, and other misc jobs.
Personal Projects
WordPress plugin that generates AI images from prompts and saves them as a core image block.
WordPress plugin I created for RusKey Biz to show jQuery UI tabs using BuddyPress profile groups for the BuddyPress profile pages.
Toolbar Remixed
WordPress plugin that customizes and controls the WordPress toolbar. Created free and paid version hosted on Codecanyon.