I'm enthralled by big ideas, collaboration and killer concepts — obsessed with engaging, uplifting user experience. That means intuitive websites that make sense, load fast, are fun to use, and inspire an audience your message.
Here's a few a examples:
Austin Movement Studio
A great yoga session should be refreshing, invigorating and inspiring, and AMS knew those qualities should be essential to their brand experience. Calm, soothing colors, stunning photography (by the talented Wylie Maercklein), and a simple, open interface make the site as welcoming as their studio.
I was responsible for branding (logo, etc), UI, design, development (HTML, CSS, javascript) and content management.
America's Most Stylish Blogger
StyleList.com was partnering with BlueFly to find the most fashionable blogger in the US, and they needed a simple way for potential contestants to enter.
I handled UI and development (HTML, CSS, javascript), working off a logo designed by Bluefly's in-house team.
See the SiteWarpstar Sexysquad
Promo material for a over-the-top, sci-fi, action-adventure musical send up of every space saga from Star Wars to Star Trek to Flash Gordon and anything in between.
Rumor has it is the show was pretty funny. (Production photo on the right by Wylie Maercklein).
My Site
Graphics were created in Illustrator, and the build included HTML, CSS, jQuery, and a little AJAX and PHP.
If you're using a modern web browser like Firefox 3+, Safari 3+, or Chrome you'll notice some CSS3 techniques, like rounded corners, drop shadows, gradient backgrounds, non-standard fonts, and a few other whiz-bang features. The site is still fully accessible to users with older browsers (like IE7 and below) that don't support these techniques — just a little less fun.
As a new media veteran I've managed sites that earned tens of millions of monthly page views, and built large, multi-media programming teams designed to quickly and effectively produce a wide variety of content. As a writer and editor I care about connotative differences between words like "anomalous," "miraculous" and "awesome," and fret over the rhythm of my sentences like a drummer tracking 16th notes in a samba. I'm an expert in content strategy, blogging best practices, social media marketing, and optimizing websites for search engine wins.
GreenDaily // Former Editor, Content Manager
Responsible for content strategy, editorial planning and execution &mdash central to building an online presence for AOL's green channel.
StyleList Blog // Former Editor, Content Manager
Grew site to a peak of over 9MM monthly page views, managing an international staff of freelance contributors.
AOL Living // Features Editor, Programming Manager
Spearheaded efforts across AOL's lifestyle blogs to build community, cultivate best practices for user engagement, and increase company presence in social media.
I've contributed to the Austin-American Statesman, Austinist, BeingSavvy Austin, ParentDish, Gadling, Holidash, That's Fit, and MamaPop — writing about everything from holiday party etiquette to live performance to unfortunate fitness endeavors.
With experience in every aspect of web production, from content creation and visual design to information architecture and development, I'm comfortable working across multiple disciplines and leading diverse teams in building beautiful, robust and useable websites.
StyleList
As Lead Developer for the Internet's highest ranked fashion and beauty destination, I was oversaw all front end development (CSS, HTML, JS/jQuery), participated in designing the site's information architecture, and wrote significant modifications to AOL's proprietary Content Management System to give the programming team easy access and full control over how their massive amount of ultra-fabulous content was created, collected and promoted.
AOL Living
As a Programming Manager for AOL Living, I build products, implement new features, optimize site performance, debug CSS and Javascript and serve as go-to problem solver for the company's lifestyle properties — including industry leaders like That's Fit, ParentDish, Paw Nation and Slashfood.
Training and Management
As resident expert on AOL's proprietary Content Management System, I was responsible for developing best practices and training hundreds of new users — in person, via teleconference, and through the creation of custom written and video tutorials.
With extensive experience in every aspect of online content production, I know how to break a system down and walk you through what you need to know — in a language you can understand.
I'd love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. (* indicates a required field)
Reared on Reading Rainbow, Saved by the Bell, sports, and the 1990s, I grew up coveting Zach-Morris-like social omniscience, plotted Ken-Griffey-inspired greatness, and reveled in the invention of "electronic mail". I will not admit publicly to owning a pair of Hammer pants.
These days I'm a father of one, husband of one, dog owner of two and employee of AOL.
I have a decent jump shot and am good at the Internet.