PrintAbout
I started my career in journalism. As newspapers began focusing more and more on digital products, my interest in technology grew. Most recently, I served as Digital Content Editor for a business publication. I decided to officially make a career switch and attend The Iron Yard Academy in summer 2013, an intensive, 13-week coding school. There, I learned the ins and outs of front-end engineering. I'm currently looking for an exciting opportunity to continue developing my skills. I'm willing to relocate for the right position.
Skills
I'm most proud of my final project, a social application that allows users to share or search for local food and produce stands. It was built using Backbone.js and Parse as the back-end. Check it out on GitHub.
HTML5/CSS3
I can mark up any website design, pixel-perfect. I also can create responsive sites and have experience with cross-browser compatibility.
- Sass
- Compass
- Modernizr
Javascript
I started out using vanilla Javascript at The Iron Yard Academy. Toward the end of semester, most of my projects were being developed with Backbone.js, jQuery and Underscore.js. I also have experience using jQuery plugins.
- Backbone.js
- jQuery
- Underscore.js
- Moment.js
- Isotope
- JSON/JSONP
- Chosen
Parse
I used Parse as a back-end for most of my projects. I've touched the surface of mongoDB.
Scaffolding tools
- Yeoman, Grunt, Bower
- HTML5 Boilerplate
- jQuery Boilerplate
- Bootstrap
- Skeleton
Testing tools
Projects at The Iron Yard Academy were required to be fully unit tested.
- Jasmine
- Mocha
Previous work experience
Before becoming a front-end developer, I worked for several publications as a reporter, writer and editor. I have experience working in deadline-driven environments that require accuracy, a keen sense for detail and strong communication skills.
Digital Content Editor at SC Biz News
November 2011 to August 2013
- Initially served as Copy Editor and was promoted to Digital Content Editor.
- Edited online editorial content for the publication's Greenville, Charleston and Columbia markets as well as content for a biweekly print newspaper, GSA Business.
- Managed six daily e-newsletters in a deadline-driven environment.
- Served as leader of SC Biz's digital team, which strategized ways to improve the company's digital presence.
- Managed the flow of editorial content across the publication's three websites.
- Proofread advertisement and promotional materials.
- Reported and wrote articles with a business-to-business focus.
- Technologies used: HTML, Windows Live Writer, Microsoft Office, Dropbox, Adobe InCopy, Mad Mimi.
Weekend & Features Editor at The Evening Sun
July 2010 to November 2011
- Initially served as Reporter and was promoted to Weekend & Features Editor.
- Edited content for the front page and local section of the newspaper three days a week.
- Managed content of the newspaper's weekly entertainment publication, as well as the newspaper's lifestyle section.
- Managed the flow of editorial content across the publication's website.
- Managed a team of reporters, photographers and freelance writers.
- Oversaw the newspaper's social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
- Technologies used: HTML, Merlin Picture Desk System, Dashboard Content Management System, Harris Publishing Platform, Adobe Photoshop.
Staff Writer & Film Critic at College Times
February 2009 to July 2010
- Initially served as an intern and was asked to join the company as Staff Writer & Film Critic.
- Attended film screenings and reviewed and critiqued those films.
- Conducted interviews with celebrities and wrote feature stories.
Education
The Iron Yard Academy
August 2013 to November 2013
The Iron Yard Academy is an intensive, 13-week front-end engineering program in Greenville, S.C., taught by developer-pro Mason Stewart.
Arizona State University
August 2006 to December 2009
I earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism & Mass Communication. I graduated with a 3.5 cumulative GPA.