Work Experience
My professional web industry work experience and cyber journey began in 1997. The roaring 90s!
There is no limit to what we can dream up organically, and put to effective use electronically.
Technical Background and Education
My actual first Internet work experience was when I was asked to be a channel moderator for CompuServe in
1994, helping moderate a couple chat forums on there. This experience intrigued
me to learn more about computers and pursue a career with the web. Soon after , I decided to enroll in Silicon Valley College in 1995,
the only tech school at the time with specialized combined training in
computer graphic design, video editing, multimedia and HTML classes. The web job market was starting to take
off, employers were scouting the school because there were not many people with
specific web work experience. I created my first personal website in 1995 using notepad (That's right, it was
horrible) and then using one of the first GUI web browsers, Spry Mosaic, offered by CompuServe. This site was better, I included some of my Bryce 3D renderings (Anyone remember Kai's Power Tools?).
Is it pronounced JIF or GIF? I always said JIF, because that's how Steve Wilhite pronounced it. Go figure... or more appropriately, Jo fijure!
Job Experience
In '96 I pursued work in creating websites and any graphic design related projects. Some of the
companies I contracted for were ProVista Intl., March Instruments, Tegal Scientific,
GB Products, and other orgs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In the Fall of 1997, I was hired on with ZapMe! Corporation, as their web developer.
ZapMe! provided a bundled product that included satellite Internet connectivity,
a 5 to 15 computer network for the school library, a custom web browser and a custom
educational website called the ZapMe! Netspace. As one of the initial 7 people who
started with the company, they grew to over 250 people in mid 2000. My roles included
being the corporate webmaster (designer, web developer), project manager of 3rd party content integrations
and microsite developer. For the most part since the beginning, I was in charge
of the ZapMe! Netspace, which included over 5000 pages of educational content, news
stories, 3rd party content integration & a Yahoo! style index guide of over 10,000
best of the best educational websites. As I quickly grew with the company and more people were hired, I supervised
and trained a team of content editors who contributed to the ZapMe! Netspace. The interest in ZapMe!
exploded nationwide, with well over 15,000 high schools involved.
Some of ZapMe!'s partners and advertisers included Ford, Toshiba, DELL, Levi's,
The Gap, Shick, Clairol, U.S Army, and many more. The critical contributions I made early on for this
company, particularly with the many high impact demos I created of the ZapMe!
Netspace, significantly helped them obtain the VC funding they needed to expand
nationwide and ramp up their IPO.
In the fall of 2000 to late 2002, I have worked as the Web Services Manager for
rStar Networks, a spin off company from ZapMe!, based in San Ramon, California.
rStar's focus was marketing a product offering including satellite internet connectivity,
computer networks, a custom browser and websites for vertical markets, such as pharmacies, agricultural, and the auto industry. My contributions included being corporate
webmaster, developing web-based product demos, Intranet development, and 3rd party
product integration.
rStar's last vertical, AutoNetworks, was to provide the collision repair industry
with Internet connectivity, a computer network, a custom toolbar, and an Intranet/portal
that enables all the shops to connect with their vendors for payroll, data distribution
via satellite multicast, product purchasing, and distance training for their employees
utilizing video and remote conferencing software.
In 2002, after rStar was taken over by their parent company, Gilat, their operations moved
to Florida and at that point I pursued contract web work in the Bay Area. I developed
web presences for the Cat Cay Yacht Club (for CEO from ZapMe!), Cathedral Basilica in San Jose, AlcorSolar.com and AccuSpace.com. These sites included CMS driven frameworks that included DotNetNuke and then Wordpress, which are browser-based editing capable.
In the fall of 2003 I was hired on as Webmaster for MedicAlert Foundation, the worlds biggest non-profit organization, at its peak. The genesis
of MedicAlert was founded by a doctor in 1956. MedicAlert was instantly made famous worldwide by their
ubiquitous ID medical bracelet to alert first responders about any conditions a member
would have in emergency situations. I revamped their entire website front-end in ASP.NET, created many Flash-based demos, created the worlds first USB medical PHR (personal health record) called the E-HealthKey for the Sandisk U3 usb platform, and maintained their website up until the fall of 2007.
In late 2007 I was hired on with Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA as their web developer to
build and maintain their websites and other digital projects to this day. Over the years I have worked on many digital projects encompassing their desktop and mobile websites, mobile apps, SharePoint intranet, and events database (Tessitura). I also designed and developed very effective
e-Marketing campaigns, created high definition TV video spots for Comcast and gas station visual media, and programmed and mantain software that presents slide media for the 20x30 foot LED exterior building marquee sign. The Center
is a beautiful building located in downtown Modesto, and I am “jazzed”
to work as such a great place.