It brings me joy to be learning new ways to build websites and create better online experiences! With 20 years of web experience, I'm able to offer a variety of skills. I have also contributed design and strategy for many projects I've worked on.
I first got started as a web developer by volunteering for local organizing collectives. I taught myself how to use the design software that the previous owner had installed on a used computer I bought, and soon started exploring and experimenting with open source platforms. This gave me enough confidence to offer to volunteer to help student organizations with their websites, such as the Women's Center on campus, leading to work opportunities from here. I started at my first full time job as a Drupal developer in 2007.
I started as a front end developer primarily. I did do some web design initially, but transitioned early on to be a back-end Drupal developer role. But front end development has come a long way since then, to say the least. With so much going on in the world, it might be easy to forget how much front end development has come along in the past few years! There is so much room for creativity with all the amazing new CSS features! And I love how it allows us to lower the carbon footprint on websites as well as it is more performant than JavaScript to achieve similar effects/behavior.
After working with so many different teams over the years, I am able to consider different approaches and understand that there is no one way to build a Drupal website. This perspective gives me flexibility to adapt to various team's expectations and needs, as well as offer suggestions to improve existing processes.
I also have experience working in worker-owned cooperatives, including a cooperative that I started more than 10 years ago.