A Brief Note:
The difference between this page and the homepage of the site is due to a retooling of this content that is underway. The note on the homepage explains it all. Read it if you haven't, or read it again—I love to have fans!
Estée Lauder Companies
Internal Training Program
Developed CSS/XHTML and JavaScript as part of a distributed team implementing a new training program, using a Flash-based CMS, for Estée Lauder Companies' employees. Integrated and extended the CMS with custom made, standalone HTML pages. The design and functionality of the site were revised throughout the project, based on user feedback. Developed in conjunction with Macquarium.
Slightly more information
Development of the CSS/XHTML for multiple aspects of the training program, including new login, sign-up process, landing page, and course index pages. This meant working closely with the technical lead, UX team, and vendor to integrate with, and extend, the CMS to deliver an end product that met everyone's expectations and standards-especially the client's. Integration of Flash with HTML content, JavaScript.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery), Photoshop
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Designer, Web Team to modify designs and content as needed.
- Entering and tracking bugs in company bug-tracking system
- Deliver daily status reports on work progress. Lead technical team meetings as needed, delivering notes to technical lead.
- Development of hand-coded CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript
Orkin
http://www.orkin.com/
Developed new CSS/XHTML templates for rebranding of Orkin's commercial site. New templates for their careers site, and international franchising information, bring these areas up-to-date with the main Orkin Web site. Lastly, a redesigned schedule service form was also built and handed off to the Orkin web staff. Developed in conjunction with Think, Inc.
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Development of the CSS/XHTML for the new Commercial, Careers, and Franchising sections meant integrating with, and extension of, pre-existing templates, file naming conventions, and CSS. The homepage and jQuery/CSS/XHTML drop-down main navigation for the Commercial site were both new. An international franchise map, built using standards-compliant CSS/XHTML, allows it to be easily updated by Orkin staff and degrade gracefully in browsers without JavaScript support. Lastly, a contact form—used by both residential and commercial customers—rebuilt in valid CSS/XHTML updates this important page with the new look of Orkin's sites.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery), Photoshop
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Project Manager and Site Designer to modify designs and content as needed.
- Entering and tracking bugs in company bug-tracking system
- Development of hand-coded CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript
Presentations, Interviews, and Committees
Having been involved with Web technologies professionally since 1997, I've learned a few things along the way. As such, a variety of organizations and publications have requested my contributions to their events. I've been all too happy to oblige.
Talking, &c.
- Panel Discussion: Buffalo Macromedia User Group (BMMUG) 2006 on Web Standards
- Interview: Podcasting, 2006 Collegewebeditor.com, University Business Magazine
- Presentation: HighEdWebDev 2005 on Podcasting
- Presentation: BMMUG 2005 on CSS
- Interview: Cover story on CMS migration, 2004, Ragan's Web Content Report
- Presentation: Web Communications and Strategies conference 2004 on CMS Implementation
- Consultant to on-campus Technology and Application Support Collaboration (TASC) Group
- Drafted job descriptions and conducted interviews as both member and organizer of various job search committees
Windstream Communications
http://www.windstream.com/
The Residential Broadband section was rebuilt with an eye towards Web Standards as part of a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. Successful, the homepage was also recreated for SEO. Ad- and Audience-based-ad-rotation features were also enhanced and expanded. Seven new region-targeted templates were created, based on existing site CSS/XHTML, developing new CSS to address their unique formatting needs. As a new CMS was rolled out, I helped troubleshoot design and XSLT formatting issues, while developing the main navigation for the CMS. Managing promotion-based banner updates on the homepage was also a regular part of this project. Developed in conjunction with Think, Inc.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery, SWFObject), Photoshop, XSLT, TortoiseSVN, Visual Web Developer
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Project Manager and Web Developers to ensure changes to designs and content were to specifications.
- Entering and tracking bugs in company bug-tracking system
- Development of hand-coded CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript
Buffalo State College
http://www.buffalostate.edu/
Newest design implemented in fall 2008. Development of buffalostate.edu has been an ongoing responsibility since 2001. In that time I have been involved with user interaction, site content, naming conventions—essentially every aspect of the site, in one way or another. This refresh required a significant overhaul of our previous (2004) content and CMS architecture. I built three primary XSLT templates for the main site, the News and Events section, and My BuffState. These templates help buffalostate.edu in fulfilling its outreach to first-time visitors, prospective students and their parents, alumni, and the Buffalo State community.
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All three templates share common XSLT template pieces for headers and footers. Content is switched on or off via schema detection in XSLT or via site-specific CSS. Code sharing eases site maintenance for all involved.
Assuring the flexibility of the new design to fulfill content needs was a major goal during development. New XML Schemas were developed that allow pages to be changed between one, two, or three column layouts as needed. Highlights, with several different layouts, may also be placed at the tops and/or bottoms of pages. Existing XML schemas were updated (via grep) to add these new features without having to recreate pages and content—saving many hours of work for the Web team.
The new buffalostate.edu also features Flash/SlideShow Pro integration into the homepage and section index pages. The featured news item on the homepage is mirrored across multiple pages within the site, making important information easier to distribute and maintain, especially in emergency situations.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, ASP, JavaScript (scriptaculous, prototype, SWFObject), Microformats
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Web Designer and the Web Content Editor to modify designs and content as needed.
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Modifying and/or managing the development of new or existing ASP-driven database content
- Partial list of technologies added since 2001: Podcasts, RSS feeds, .ics/iCal events listings, microformats, The Daily HTML e-newsletter, Google Mini-powered search, Ingeniux CMS, dynamic page generation
- Award Sampling: Three Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awards, category of institutional websites (2006 Bronze Award, 2004 Silver Award, 2002 Bronze Award); Winner, 2005 Award of Excellence, from the University and College Designers Association (UCDA) (See complete list)
My BuffState
http://www.buffalostate.edu/mybuffstate.xml
Launched in fall 2008. My BuffState expanded a previously faculty/staff-focused page to include resources for students. The Web team developed this section to fill community needs ahead of portal launch.
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During intake meetings, the index page began to duplicate our News and Events index page, mostly to fill space. If you're duplicating content to fill a hypothetical rather than actual need, you should re-examine your approach. We did, and the two-button design has been a success. Our V.P. was supportive, if initially skeptical. Upon revealing the design to a test group of students, they loved it.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, PHP, ASP, JavaScript (scriptaculous/jQuery)
- Integration of forum posts from bulletin board systems, via RSS
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Web Designer and the Web Content Editor to modify designs and content as needed.
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Modifying and/or managing the development of new or existing ASP-driven database content
Buffalo State News and Events
http://www.buffalostate.edu/newsandevents.xml
Launched in fall 2008. The previous (2004) site iteration removed News and Events from the main navigation, ultimately reducing the usefulness of this resource. Restored and expanded, News and Events uses Buffalo State's community-focused tools and publications to showcase what's happening on campus in a one page overview.
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The News and Events section is really the heart of the buffalostate.edu, cataloging activities across campus with a variety of custom applications. Some new or significantly revamped features include:
Increased RSS feed visibility
Latest content from podcasts, blogs, and the campus-wide photo gallery are included via RSS.
Targeted, content-specific searches for news, events, podcasts, and the HTML email newsletter, powered by Google Mini
Integration of AddThis for social bookmarking/sharing, metric tracking
Headlines from publications produced by College Relations are updated via RSS. Collapsible feeds allow users the option of scanning headlines, while using a minimum amount of screen real estate.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, ASP, PHP, JavaScript (scriptaculous, Prototype), Movable Type, IP.Board, Gallery
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Web Designer and the Web Content Editor to modify designs and content as needed.
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Modifying and/or managing the development of new or existing ASP-driven database content
Buffalo State Bulletin
http://www.buffalostate.edu/bulletin/
Implemented in summer 2007. Previously a static one page site reporting policy updates and official announcements, the President of the college wanted the Bulletin to handle a greater role in campus communication. To handle expanded content—such as feature stories, faculty profiles, and achievements—a new site, and a custom PHP/MySQL admin panel to manage creating site content, were developed.
Slightly more information
Although the application was going to live on our unix servers, the final URL still needed to appear as www.buffalostate.edu/bulletin. After exploring several options, we decided to have the application output XML, which would then be routed through our CMS, and transformed via XSLT. This difficult process needed to be revised several times due to our CMS.
The admin panel for the back-end was another site to develop. A totally new and custom application, I transformed the Web application developer's PHP code into valid XHTML, inserting it into the CSS/XHTML template I developed. During this process, I worked to preserve usability, functionality, and overall best practices in the final product.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, PHP
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Award: 2007, CASE District II, gold award (category: "Web site Magazines")
Buffalo State Graduate School
http://www.buffalostate.edu/graduateschool/
Implemented in 2007. This redesign united their two separate sites for the Graduate School and Graduate Admissions. The old sites were XHTML/CSS-based, and the new site continues that tradition, while placing them into a campus-wide CMS. The CMS allows users to swap out Flash homepage pieces, as well as the homepage highlight text and featured items. Other niceties: Integration with the Buffalo State events calendar.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, ASP, JavaScript (SWFObject)
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Web Designer and the Web Content Editor to modify designs and content as needed.
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Award: 2007 SUNY Council for University Affairs and Development, Best in Category/Student Recruitment Web site
Buffalo State Undergraduate Admissions
http://www.buffalostate.edu/admissions/
Implemented in 2006. A redesign of their formerly XHTML Strict site, and placed into a campus-wide CMS. CSS-only banners allow quick creation of ads for promotions, using pre-loaded photos and user-inputted text. Other niceties: Integration with the Buffalo State events calendar, and a targeted Admissions-only search feature, powered by Google Mini.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, CMS, XML, XSLT, ASP
- Transform Photoshop comps to working Web pages. Work with Web Designer and the Web Content Editor to modify designs and content as needed.
- Development of multiple hand-coded XML schemas and XSLT templates
- Development of hand-coded CSS and XHTML
- Customization of XML-based CMS back-end
- Integration with existing ASP-driven database content. Creation of new ASP code.
- Award: 2007 Admissions Marketing Report, merit award
Buffalo State Blog Central
http://blog.buffalostate.edu/
Implemented in 2005. I spearheaded the college's blogging initiative using Movable Type (plus some very helpful plug-ins) as the underlying system. This main blog serves as the front end to our campus blogs, pulling posts from the College Relations and Fashion Technology blogs, among others.
Technical information, &c.
- Includes: XHTML, CSS, PHP, Movable Type
- Blogging for the College Relations Web team
- Provided strategic planning for back-end maintenance
- Provided training and support for faculty/staff moderators as well as student bloggers