About

Self-portrait

I’m a jack of many trades. I’m a self-confessed Web addict, I love taking pictures, I love writing, and I have an undying thirst for knowledge. I do a little bit of everything and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Variety is the spice of life, isn’t it?

I’m currently a student at the University of Missouri–Columbia, on track for a degree in Information Technology, with a minor in Journalism.

I’m a Web developer at the Spokesman-Review, based in Spokane, Washington. My current work revolves around a complete overhaul of the newspaper’s Web presence: from creating a brand new backend system in Django, to importing legacy data, to rebranding the Web site to reflect an improved user-centric product. Most recently, I’ve been working on integrated search functionality — utilizing full-text indexing in PostgreSQL — and GIS integration with GeoDjango, PostGIS and Google Maps.

I formerly worked for Plus1 Media, a Columbia, Missouri-based search-engine optimization/e-marketing firm and winners of two Inc. 500 (Fastest Growing Private Companies) awards.

I’ve also been involved in development work with the Maneater Student Newspaper — the official student newspaper at the University of Missouri — and the National Newspaper Association, a trade organization for small community newspapers.