about

…me professionally

~ square one ~

After surviving Y2K, I found myself yearning for a career change in the year 2000. Though I had been doing manual labor, I knew that my true calling lay in something that could tap into my creative abilities and passion… and to be totally transparent, I really wanted to work in a place that was air-conditioned. So, I set out to explore my options and figure out the best path forward, putting the prospect of doomsday on the back burner for now.

“the end of the world would have to wait.”

My passion for computers, technology, freehand drafting, architecture, and graphic art had always been a driving force in my career exploration. I embarked on a search to find a career that would marry some, if not all, of my interests and bring me genuine enjoyment. After careful consideration, I settled on graphic and web design as the perfect option.

“don’t burst my ‘dot-com’ bubble.”

However, the job market wasn’t as favorable at the time due to the recent burst of the dot-com bubble. Despite this, I took a leap of faith and enrolled in a 2-year program to acquire the necessary skills. The program provided me with a foundational understanding of HTML and Photoshop, but was it enough to help me become a top-notch website designer and developer?

I graduated in 2002, filled with confidence that I had all the skills to create amazing websites, but my enthusiasm was misplaced. I quickly realized that there was more to learn and that my journey was only beginning.

~ my first gig ~

Freshly graduated and eager to start my career, I faced a daunting question: where do I begin? With few companies in South Jersey offering the type of ‘digital design’ work I was interested in, I felt discouraged. Unsure of what to do, I did the only thing I could think of, I opened the Yellow Pages. To my surprise, I found one local company offering graphic design and digital marketing services. Summoning my courage, I reached out to them and made my pitch.

“let my fingers do the… talking?”

Although I don’t recall exactly what I said, it was enough to earn me an interview despite my lack of experience, portfolio, clients, or industry knowledge. Armed only with my drive and ambition, I wondered if it would be enough to land me the job. It was a small business, run by a talented designer and photographer who mainly provided print services but had also taken on website design work due to client demands. Despite the business being a one-man shop, the owner was too busy to handle much of the development work and decided to take a chance on me, hiring me on the spot. While the compensation wasn’t great, I was thrilled to be doing what I loved and eagerly took on every project he gave me.

“nothing like learning on the job.”

Working under him was an invaluable learning experience. I gained more knowledge and skills in one year on the job than I ever did in school. He taught me advanced techniques in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver, as well as other applications for designing logos, brochures, labels, billboards, and convention displays. I also learned about web design, print design, magazine layouts, and product photography, soaking up as much knowledge as I could during my two years there. He was not just an employer, but a true mentor to me.

~ should i go it alone? ~

As my skills and experience grew, I took on clients of my own and eventually established a small business. Starting with simple projects such as logo and brochure designs, I soon found myself creating entire marketing campaigns, including some intense website development projects. However, with the rapid changes in technology and digital marketing, I realized that I needed to stay ahead of the curve. This led me to part ways with my former employer and set out on my own.

“a true mentor when I needed one.”

As a freelancer, I enjoyed the freedom of taking on projects for small to medium-sized businesses, but after about five years, I began turning down more advanced web development projects due to my heavy workload. Despite my eagerness to continue learning and growing, I was unable to do so at that time. Faced with this challenge, I knew I needed to make another important decision about my career.

~ it took an agency ~

In 2007, after 5 years of freelancing, I made the decision to shift my career trajectory. I set out to find an agency to partner with, aiming to offer clients a “one-stop shop” for all their marketing needs, including print, web, and advanced development. After pitching my ideas to several agencies, I eventually joined forces with a development company that also dabbled in print design.

“I found my dream team!”

With a team of developers at my side, I had the opportunity to learn full-stack development and enhance my skills even further. I was finally able to take on more advanced web development projects and explore new avenues in the digital world. Additionally, I decided to go back to school to further my education, earn my Bachelor’s Degree, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry.

Working with a diverse team of professionals allowed us to pool our skills and expertise, resulting in a remarkable portfolio of work that we were all proud of.

~ building my wheelhouse ~

Over the course of my decade-long tenure with the agency, I honed my skills in developing scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes. Working alongside a talented team of professionals, I relished the opportunity to collaborate with clients, vendors, writers, SEO specialists, software developers, artists, and designers. As a Project Manager, I was responsible for overseeing multiple project life cycles from start to finish, ensuring that all parties were aligned in their vision of creating high-quality marketing materials. I look back on those days fondly.

“WordPress!”

Throughout my time at the agency, I gained extensive experience in WordPress development, including the creation of custom themes and plugins. As a result, I now have over 10 years of experience utilizing this powerful platform to create dynamic and effective websites for a wide range of clients.

~ professional trajectory ~

After seriously contemplating my career path for the next two decades, I concluded that teaching web development would be a fulfilling path for me. Although it will require a slight career shift, I discovered that sharing my knowledge brings me joy, and I have been fortunate enough to incorporate this passion into my current work.

“those who can do can also teach”

After gaining experience in the field, I felt that transitioning into higher education was a natural progression. I took advantage of an opportunity to teach a WordPress course aimed at helping small business owners establish an online presence. This experience was fulfilling and motivated me to continue pursuing opportunities in the education sector.

“paying it forward”

In 2019 I was offered a position as a senior web developer in the Marketing Division of the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia. In addition to my web development responsibilities, I also supervise the student workers and have the chance to share my knowledge and skills by assisting and teaching them.

I frequently reflect on my initial employment and the influence of my mentor. It is now my turn to be the mentor, thus completing a full circle.

~ what’s on the horizon? ~

I am always seeking new projects to work on. I truly love what I do and am eager to assist you in any way possible. Please don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be of service.