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Professional Profile

Senior TypeScript, React, REST API, and Database Developer with vast experience building full-stack web applications. I’m passionate about User Experience, Responsive Design, and Web Accessibility.

Technical Skills

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Career History

Everbridge

Responsible for developing both internal and client-facing SaaS applications, dashboards, and visualizations for business-critical decision making. Reported to Director of Data Analytics in the role of Chief Frontend Engineer for the Analytics, Usage Reporting, and Business Process Intelligence teams.

• Usage Dashboards – Increased profitability by creating internal BI analytics web application to measure company costs and set product pricing.
  Built using React, TypeScript, Ant Design, Vite, Looker, Python for REST API
• Resilience Insights – Collaborated on development of SaaS application to provide real-time Risk Analysis resulting in new revenue stream.
  Built using React, TypeScript, Styled Components, Google Maps, Zustand, Webpack.
• Location Risk Analytics – Developed interactive mapping solution to visualize location-based risk events and assist in critical decision-making allowing customers to maximize business operations security.
  Built using React, TypeScript, Redux, Google Maps, Bing Maps, Java.
• EB Suite Usage Reporting – Created visualization and reporting system to provide customer usage and consumption forecasting resulting in faster contract renewal rates.
  Built using React, TypeScript, Bootstrap, Recharts, Styled Components, Webpack, module federation for micro-frontend design.

Self-Employed / Technical Training

Completed two years of full-time technical training related to web and mobile development. This was done through Udacity, an industry leading technology educator that offers programs created by Google, IBM, Amazon, AT&T, and Facebook.

Velodea

Served as technology lead and .NET expert for a digital marketing agency. Had the opportunity to contribute to hundreds of website solutions across a wide variety of platforms, technologies, and programming languages for such clients as:

Notable projects include:

• Beechcraft Corporation (beechcraft.com) – As a direct extension of Beechcraft IT, duties included web application development, database design and content management. Responsible for building and maintaining entire Beechcraft corporate website as well as many applications to support the Sales and Marketing process.
  Technologies Used: ASP.NET, VB.NET, C#, database design, SQL Server, stored procs, Bootstrap, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery

• Flex Ed (flexed.com) – Designed and developed a large-scale Learning Management System (LMS) to handle line-of-business functions including course creation, scheduling, enrollment, and reporting as well as many other work-flow automation tasks. The system currently tracks progress of 85,000 students, handles scheduling for over 100 hospitals, and employs modules for instructors and coordinators to manage rosters and certifications.
  Technologies Used: Linux/Apache, PHP/MySQL, HTML, CSS, jQuery, stored procedures, triggers, MySQL functions

• Shell Eco-marathon Live Event (shell.com/eco-marathon) – The project involved the creation of a social & streaming media website to serve as a hub for coverage of Shell’s multi-national Eco-marathon event. The site provided twitter feeds, event video, on-line polls, and contest standings. The event was streamed live through our CDN utilizing real-time encoding.
  Technologies Used: PHP/My SQL, Live Video Streaming, JavaScript APIs (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr). HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery

• REZA Investment Group (rezacompanies.com) – Approached by REZA companies to build a custom SalesForce implementation and website frontend to automate the sales process of high-end real-estate listings. This involved extending SalesForce through custom programming and exchanging information through extensive use of web APIs.
  Technologies Used: PHP/My SQL, Live Video Streaming, JavaScript APIs (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr). HTML, CSS, jQuery

• J. Walter Thompson – Responsible for developing an interactive Flash site to promote Shell’s Passionate Experts campaign. The project incorporated use of various ActionScript 3 libraries, streaming video, keyed green screen footage and programmatic Flash animation as well as customized H.264 video encodings.
  Technologies Used: Flash, ActionScript, FMS streaming, AfterEffects, 3D Studio Max, Media Encoder, F4V H.264 encoding

• ABC Studios Live Stream - ABC Studios engaged Velodea to design and build a streaming media system that would allow executives and other stakeholders the ability to tap into camera feeds at each remote sound stage location to view filming of various shows in real-time. The system developed was a custom combination of hardware and software encoders that could transcode to both Windows Media and Flash Media video which could be accessed through a secured website.
  Technologies Used: ASP.NET, C#, Flash, ActionScript, FMS & WMS streaming, Flash Live & Windows Media Encoders, F4V & WMV format encoding

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devAware Technology Solutions

devAware specialized in .NET & Windows DNA application development for the web and desktop. As founder and lead developer, my role was that of information architect, systems designer & application developer. Some notable projects include:

• Sony VIAO Kiosk - Contracted to create a custom installation for all Sony VIAO display models at Best Buy, Circuit City, Good Guys and Fry’s Electronics stores. The system locked down the OS through registry and group policy modifications while still allowing customer interaction with the desktop and Sony apps. Usage statistics were logged, uploaded and accessed through secure login.
  Technologies Used: ASP.NET, ADO.NET, VB.NET, Win32, VB COM objects, SQL Server, IIS, Windows registry customization

• Xtreme Desktops Applications - Engaged to develop an application framework for a series of Flash-based desktop experiences. Components consisted of .NET HTTP server applications to gather usage statistics for upload to a centralized analytics server. Responsible for custom built analytics system and test lab with IIS, ASP.NET, and SQL Server. Over 50 applications were created to promote the following major motion picture & television brands:

Technologies Used: VB.NET, ADO.NET, VB COM objects, InstallShield scripting, IIS, SQL Server, testing lab methodologies

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The Velodea Group and Bleu22 Studios

As lead developer and director of The Velodea Group’s Velotek division, job responsibilities spanned an array of IT related areas including web application development, systems architecture and network infrastructure. Velotek’s primary role consisted of developing web-based product offerings and creating technical solutions for clients.

• VeloTrack (Site Management and Behavioral Analysis System) – VeloTrack was a custom-built solution that integrated seamlessly with websites to offer behavioral tracking, email list management, registration, surveying, and demographic-based site usage reporting. VeloTrack boasted the ability to capture millions of page views per day in a manner completely transparent to the end user. The system was designed to be highly customizable as well as intuitive in order to allow non-technical clients the ability to generate reports as well as create surveys and construct email marketing campaigns. All data was also available through HTTP as a Web API for integration into client applications.
  This was a modularized system developed over two years which consisted of equal parts Google Analytics, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp, WordPress & Salesforce before those systems came into being.

• VeloTeam (Asset Management Extranet System) – Velodea’s extranet system managed all documents and materials related to a project while facilitating communication and collaboration between project teams and clients. Highly customizable document repositories organized and managed all project-based assets. Additionally, the system managed user accounts, tracked incident resolutions and sent automated email notification to the team when new material was made available to the site. Use of this system had reduced cost and dramatically increased productivity by shortening the development life cycle of Velodea’s projects. Over 100 customized instances were rolled out for clients such as Sony, Miramax, Qualcomm, and Toshiba.
  This was a system that provided the capabilities of Basecamp, DropBox, JIRA, and GitHub. It offered project management, document sharing, version control, bug tracking/issue resolution & client communications at a time when those services didn’t exist out in the wild.

Technologies Used: ASP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, VB, COM, XML; DevOps for Windows Server, Exchange Server & SQL Server platforms & Active Directory Networks.

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Microsoft Corporation

As a key member of Microsoft’s Product Release team, responsibilities included application development, system design and project management for release of Microsoft product to the marketplace. Projects driven and developed by myself included:

• Release To Web System (RTW) - This suite of applications was the primary release mechanism for product delivery to Microsoft.com worldwide. The system boasted an average of 1000 releases per month and tracked workflow, sign-off, QA, and virus scan. All released bits were vaulted to a centralized repository within the Software Release Labs. The application was designed entirely from the ground up to fulfill Microsoft’s need to release product in less than 3 hours.

• PIRS University - Product Information Release Services (PIRS) University was an online training center that provided company-wide services and computer-based training related to product release. This site provided some of the following capabilities: automated content publication for non-technical business process owners, hierarchical management of heterogeneous data and online training registration for course offerings. This site provided centralized management for what was previously a fragmented information base.

• Media Shipment Tracking System (ShipInfo) - The ShipInfo system gathered and tracked all software media shipments made to Microsoft’s third-party manufacturers. This allowed manufacturing facilities to plan production cycles as well as track the progress of any shipment. The system consisted of multiple SQL Server databases in each of Microsoft’s regions of operation. These databases received shipment information through a web-based front end from each of the release labs. The data was then warehoused three times daily to coincide with the close of business at Microsoft’s American, European and Asian operating centers. The warehoused data was then made available through the corporate extranet to vendors and manufacturers.

Each system was developed according to multi-tier design architecture standards and were built using HTML, ASP, Visual Basic, JavaScript, VBScript, CSS, and SQL stored procedures. Where possible, MTS COM objects were created for re-usability and programming practices followed a component-based object model. Additional responsibilities ranged from systems analysis to solution implementation and included such things as application prototyping, database design, user-interface design and technical, functional, and user documentation.

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Phillips Research Laboratory

Hired as Lead Intranet Developer for the U.S. Air Force’s Phillips Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base. Job functions involved design and implementation of all web-based client/server applications as well as systems analysis, database programming and graphic design. Technologies used included ASP, SQL, Java and ActiveX development. Also responsible for NT, IIS, and SQL Server administration and configuration.

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Intel Corporation

Contracted to design and develop a web-based reporting system responsible for generating statistical information for Intel University. Utilized ASP, SQL, and custom developed ActiveX DLLs. The system was implemented worldwide upon its completion.

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Portfolio

Mobile Flashcards App June 2019	Triathlon Fitness Tracker May 2019	Would You Rather Game April 2019
Restaurant Review App December 2018	CSS Grid Learning App June 2018	Weather Forecast App March 2018
Random Quote Generator September 2017	SpyCats Portfolio Site August 2017	JavaScript Array Methods July 2017

Mobile Flashcards App

	June 2019
GitHub | Live Demo Code Notes | Code Sample	Mobile Flashcards is an iOS and Android app was built with React Native & Redux. Users can create decks & add cards Uses AsyncStorage to persist user data Quizzes can be taken and a score is given at the end

Triathlon Fitness Tracker

	May 2019
The Triathlon Fitness Tracker was built for iOS and Android using React Native. Allows users to track Run, Bike, Swim, Sleep, & Eat categories on a daily basis Provides activity history and notification reminders Uses Geolocation to track direction, speed, & altitude	GitHub | Live Demo Code Notes | Code Sample

Would You Rather Game

	April 2019
GitHub | Live Demo Code Notes | Code Sample	Would You Rather is a polling game that presents users a series of questions to answer. It is built with React/Redux & is fully responsive Allows users to create and answer questions Utilizes account login, tracks answered/unanswered questions, & provides leaderboard scores

Restaurant Review App

	December 2018
This mobile-optimized Progressive Web App is Fully responsive and ARIA compliant Uses Service Worker, IndexedDB, & Cache API for a seamless offline experience Synchronizes when a connection is available and notifies the user when offline	GitHub | Live Demo Code Notes | Code Sample

CSS Grid Learning App

	June 2018
GitHub | Live Demo CodePen | Code Sample	This JavaScript SPA was built as a proof-of-concept. It teaches CSS Grid as a series of lessons Is built with vanilla JavaScript, CSS transitions, & extensive use of RegEx Includes an in-page code editor built from scratch

Weather Forecast App

	March 2018
This SPA was written to demonstrate JAMStack architecture. It is written from scratch and is fully responsive Uses Ajax, JSON, Geolocation, & embedded SVG Semantic-UI framework, CSS animations, & transitions	GitHub | Live Demo CodePen | Code Sample

Random Quote Generator

	September 2017
GitHub | Live Demo CodePen | Code Sample	This app was built to satisfy a Front End certification requirement. It uses JavaScript, jQuery, & Ajax for API requests CSS transitions to dynamically display famous quotes Embedded SVG & FontAwesome for icons and background

SpyCats Portfolio Site

	August 2017
This site was written to satisfy a Front End certification requirement. It uses Bootstrap, jQuery, HTML5 Forms It incorporates scroll navigation & semantic HTML Is fully responsive and scales across devices	GitHub | Live Demo CodePen | Code Sample

JavaScript Array Methods

	July 2017
GitHub | Live Demo Code Sample	This app was built as part of my Microsoft Developer Certification study. It uses Object Oriented ES5 JavaScript QUnit and TDD (Test-Driven Development) methodology It dynamically builds an interface that models various JavaScript Array methods

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Documentation

• React Nanodegree Project Notes
  Step-by-step walk-through of how I built each of my React Nanodegree capstone projects.
  • Project 3 - Mobile Flashcards App
    Mobile Flashcards is a React Native app for iOS and Android that allows users to create decks, add cards, and quiz themselves. It uses React Native, Expo, Redux, & React Navigation.
  • Project 2 - Would You Rather App
    Would You Rather is a polling game that presents the user with a series of questions that can be answered one of two ways. It’s built with React, Redux, React Router, & Redux Thunk.
  • Project 1 - MyReads App
    MyReads App allows users to search from a catalog of books and save choices to various books shelves. It’s built with React & React Router.
• React Nanodegree Course Notes
  Course Notes from the React Nanodegree course list.
  • React Nanodegree Notes - Table of Contents
  • Section 1 - React Fundamentals
  • Section 2 - React & Redux
  • Section 3 - React Native
• Mobile Web Nanodegree Project Notes
  Step-by-step walk-through of how I built my capstone project. This is a fully responsive Restaurant Review Progressive Web App (PWA) with database, caching, & offline capabilities.
  • Table of Contents - Restaurant Review App Code Notes
  • Stage 1 - Building a fully responsive & accessible web app
  • Stage 2 - Offline capability with Service Worker, Cache API, & IndexedDB
  • Stage 3 - Designing HTML5 forms, offline request queue, & performance tuning
  • Stage 4 - Launching live site with back end data services & front end build process
• 100 Days of Code Log
  Tasks, challenges, and work samples related to web development over the last 18 months.
  • Log Round 1 - June 2017 - January 2018
  • Log Round 2 - January 2018 - May 2018
  • Log Round 3 - May 2018 - October 2018
  • Log Round 4 - October 2018 - February 2019
  • Log Round 5 - February 2019 - present
• Microsoft Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 Study Notes
  Notes related to my studies for the MS 70-480 certification exam.
  • Chapter 6 - JavaScript Objects
  • Chapter 10 - WebSocket Communications
  • Chapter 11 - HTML5 Media
  • Chapter 12 - HTML5 Canvas
  • Chapter 13 - HTML5 Drag and Drop
  • Chapter 14 - HTML5 Geolocation
  • Chapter 15 - Web Storage
  • Chapter 16 - Offline Web Applications
  • Chapter 16 - WebSQL
  • Chapter 16 - IndexedDB
• Grow With Google Scholarship Challenge Course Notes
  Course notes from the Offline First & ES6 JavaScript Improved courses.
  • Table of Contents - Mobile Web Specialist Phase 1 Course Notes
  • Offline First (1) - Introducing the Service Worker
  • Offline First (2) - IndexedDB and Caching
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (1) - Syntax
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (2) - Functions
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (2.5) - Classes
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (3) - Built-ins
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (3.5) - Built-ins-Pt2
  • ES6 JavaScript Improved (4) - Professional Developer-fu
• Mobile Web Nanodegree Course Notes
  Course Notes from the Nanodegree course list.
  • Table of Contents - Mobile Web Specialist Phase 2 Course Notes
  • Accessible & Responsive Web Apps - Responsive Web Design Fundamentals
  • Accessible & Responsive Web Apps - Responsive Images
  • Accessible & Responsive Web Apps - Web Accessibility
  • Dynamic & Offline Capable Web Apps - Asynchronous JavaScript Requests
  • Dynamic & Offline Capable Web Apps - Web Tooling and Automation
  • Performant Web Apps - Client-Server Communications
• Other Course Notes
  Notes from other key courses I’ve taken.
  • Pragrim Technologies - Object Oriented JavaScript
  • Udacity - JavaScript Promises

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Education

Computer Science degree with a focus on the following.

• Software Engineering
• Web Application Development
• Database Management.

Core languages taught are Java, C#, and JavaScript.

This 6-month program prepares developers to build declarative user interfaces for the web as well as iOS and Android devices. It covers developing:

• JavaScript ES6
• React/Redux
• React Native

This 6-month program prepares developers to be job-ready for Mobile Web Development roles. It covers developing:

• Accessible and Responsive Web Apps
• Offline capable Web Apps
• Optimized and Performant Web Apps

This 3-month intensive program served as a precursor to the formal Mobile Web Specialist Nanodegree by Google program offered by Udacity. It focuses on Responsive Design, Web Accessibility & Offline-first Architecture.

This represents roughly 300 hours of course work. It covers JavaScript, ES6, Regular Expressions, Debugging, Data Structure, Algorithm Scripting, Object Oriented Programming, & Functional Programming.

This represents roughly 300 hours of course work. It covers all aspects of modern web design including HTML, CSS, Visual Design, Accessibility, Responsive Web Design Principles, Flexbox, & CSS Grid.

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Certifications

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Training

Starting in April 2017, I began a full-time program of online study related to web & mobile development.

I’ve completed more than 45 courses from providers such as Udacity, Pluralsight, Code School, Microsoft Virtual Academy, & freeCodeCamp.

Prior Training

Following are some notable courses take prior to 2017

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Achievements

These are links to various postings and online communities I take part in.

• Twitter (@james_priest1)
  I’m very active in the Front End & JavaScript development communities on Twitter. I’ve built up a following of 2,000+ developers and coding enthusiasts since opening my account in May of 2017. I tweet about web development, training, and personal achievements specifically around the #100DaysOfCode hashtag.
• 100DaysOfCode Challenge (Code Log)
  I code and write about my progress related to web development. I’ve been doing this since June of 2017 and tweet about my progress and lessons learned.
• Free Code Camp: https://www.freecodecamp.com/james-priest
  Online program focused on Front End, Back End and Data Visualization training and certification.

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My Story

A brief timeline of my development career written as a narrative.

1994-1997 • DeVry University • Pomona, CA

- Bright-eyed and Bushy Tailed -

Schooled at DeVry University in technology, programming, and information systems. Graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BSc CIS) degree.

1997-1998 • Kirtland AFB • Albuquerque, NM

- Proving Myself -

Worked at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM - Underwent FBI background check and was granted secret clearance to work on web-based collaboration applications dealing with guidance systems and other technologies relevant to our armed forces.

1998 - 2000 • ✨ Microsoft ✨ • Redmond, WA

- The Promised Land -

Worked at Microsoft as a Release Program Manager writing web-based applications to manage the cataloging, scanning, workflow, and distribution of all Microsoft's downloadable content to microsoft.com's Download Center. This was a wonderful example of the kind of dynamic, creative, and engaging company culture I thrived in and am looking to join once again.

2000 - 2002 • Velodea • Milan, Italy

- Going International -

Left Microsoft to join The Velodea Group - Became employee number seven of this dotcom startup. It was here I experienced a new level of intensity and self-determination. I traveled frequently between Los Angeles and Milan offices and served as the head of technology and lead developer for many corporate projects, both internal and external.

2002 - 2006 • devAware Technology Solutions • Los Angeles, CA

- Opportunities at Home -

Wanting to settle down locally, I transitioned to the role of independent contractor and freelance developer under my own company umbrella. This was liberating, stressful, and intensely time consuming. It helped me realize I love coding, development, and technology but am less excited with administration, payroll, and collections. I did learn to wear many hats while working with such companies as Sony, Fox Studios and Xtreme Desktops.

2006 - 2017 • Velodea • Pasadena, CA

- New Opportunities with Old Friends -

In 2006 I was invited to return to Velodea to help lift the company out of a financial deficit. Together with the Managing Director we streamlined operations with smaller dev teams, tighter turn-arounds, and more effective project management.

Within a year the company was able to pay off $200k worth of corporate debt and begin to turn a profit once again.

The success of these efforts assured another ten years of fulfilling and prosperous work before the untimely passing of our CEO and Managing Director.

2017 - 2019 • Education, Certification & Training • Los Angeles, CA

- Back to School -

Not wanting to rest on my laurels, I set out to master today's most in-demand technologies and front end frameworks. In that process I earned multiple certifications including a Mobile Web Specialist Nanodegree & React Nanodegree.

2019 - 2024 • Everbridge • Pasadena, CA

- Analytics, Dashboard, and Data, Oh my! -

Hired as Chief Frontend Engineer for the Data Analytics division, I set to work on delivering data-based visualization, dashboards, and mapping solutions. In this role I helped develop a new SaaS product for the Everbridge Suite, increased revenue, and provided tools to assist in mission-critical decision making.

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