Let's Pretend!

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy your stay.

"Let's Pretend" refers to the demo sites that were the centerpiece of this site; they allow the user to take on different roles: user/customer, webmaster, order processing, etc. They are still here, but have been demoted, as I've since shifted the emphasis to my work experience.

This main portion of the site is coded using minimal semantic html with mobile-first styling—my preferred method. Take a look at the source code (In Android Chrome, type 'view-source:letspretend.us' in the address bar).

Please also take a look at some of the sites, pages, emails and print pieces I've created over the years, and try out my "pretend" demo sites. Take your time–have a Coke and a slice of pizza.

Web/Email/Print Experience:

• Web Development: Java (Apache Tomcat J2EE), PHP/MySQL, jQuery/JavaScript, Classic ASP/MS Access, Unix (Nexus Terminal), Zen Cart, Flash/ActionScript
• Web Design: Tableless HTML, CSS, Notepad++, Dreamweaver, Bootstrap
• Content Management/Web Publishing: Drupal, Hybris, BroadVision
• Graphics: Illustrator, Photoshop, Fireworks, Snagit
• Print: InDesign, Acrobat
• Email Development: Stacked-Table HTML Email, ConstantContact

Video Experience:

• Non-Linear Editors: Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Trinity Preditor 2.2
• DVD Creation: DVD Studio Pro

My Resumes — Take a look:

• Word Document* (168k)
• PDF Document (26k)
• Plain Text Format** (9k)

Web Experience

CompuSystems, Lisle, IL

July 2013 – present (minus Covid furlough 8/20-4/21)
Web Developer

• Develop, test, and maintain high-volume customized websites that manage registration, payment, exhibitor promotion, and lead retrieval for our clients' annual trade shows and events, per clients' specifications and business rules–approximately one site every 2 weeks.
• Update Java, HTML, CSS, form validation and navigation rules, etc., per client specs.
• Set credentials for & test sites using VeriSign/PayPal or CyberSource payment processors.
• Integrate sites with client or 3rd party web services to verify membership, book a hotel, etc.
• Test websites for cross-browser compatibility and mobile-functionality.
• Provide continuing maintenance for as many as 12 websites at a time.
• Java (Apache Tomcat J2EE), jQuery/JavaScript, Notepad++, Dreamweaver, Unix (Nexus Terminal), SQL, Bootstrap, limited graphics.
• URLs of registration websites I have worked on are available upon request.

Creative Circle (W.W. Grainger), Chicago (Lake Forest), IL

March 2012 – January 2013
Web Developer

• A 10 month contract (extended twice) in which I developed tableless web pages and stacked-table email modules from existing compositions, as well as occasional JavaScript programming.

Central Newspaper, Chicago, IL

December 2010 – January 2012
Webmaster/Developer

• Maintenance and development of Central Newspaper's various websites: VeteransView.com, HealthcareTimes.com, and ChicagoCommuter.com.
• Restructured website database as part of a migration to the Drupal CMS.

CintronicsOnline/FLS, Inc., Naperville, IL

June 2005 – July 2013
Web Design and Development

• Applied XHTML standards to the main company website CintronicsOnline.com, and resolved browser-compatibility issues.
• Used server-side includes, PHP scripts, and Cascading Style Sheets to achieve site-wide design consistency.
• Created Zen-Cart based company sub-sites WyseStore.com and SurveillanceOnline.com, now inactive.
• Applied search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to attain first page rankings in Google, Yahoo, and MSN for our thin client products at WyseStore.com, when model and part numbers are used as search terms.
• Created catalogs, flyers, inserts, postcards, and other print materials using Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, and custom versions of our catalogs for resellers using custom master pages and content layers.
• Designed and sent email blasts using ConstantContact.

Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL

August 2004 – December 2004
Web Design Intern — Fall 2004

• Developed an interactive campus map (LetsPretend.us/map)
• Updated sports rosters, schedules and standings, event listings, etc.
• Updated and expanded an online database of class descriptions.

Prior Experience

Von Bon Enterprises, Schaumburg, IL

May 2005 – December 2005
Video Editor (subcontractor)

• Edited wedding videos, including montages set to music, using Final Cut Pro and iMovie.
• Created DVDs with interactive menus using Photoshop and DVD Studio Pro.

Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL

August 2002 – August 2005
Tutor — Computer Information and Office Systems

• Tutored college students in Microsoft Office, WordPerfect Office, QBasic, Visual Basic, C, Pascal, Fortran, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, JavaScript, HTML, Windows, DOS, UNIX, and other general computer topics.

DG Systems (formerly Mediatech), Chicago, IL

January 1995 – September 2000
Video Graphics Coordinator, Tape Operator

• Tagging: High-volume customization of television commercials through the addition of market-specific text, graphics, video and/or voiceovers.
• Scanning or importing graphics and formatting them for tagging using Photoshop, PageMaker, Illustrator, and/or Canvas.
• Responsible for training and supervising two junior taggers, interacting with clients to solve technical and logistical problems, managing the workflow to meet deadlines, and solving various equipment and software problems.
• Developed time-saving techniques, procedures, and software resulting in a savings of 600-800 man-hours/year (a very conservative estimate).
• Clients: American Humane Society, Ameritech, Americast, Baquacil, Christian Science, CLR, Dodge, ERA, H&R Block, Jenn-Air, Jockey, John Deere, Kibbles 'N Bits, Little Caesars, Maytag, Nu Finish, Nu Vinyl, Old Country Buffet, Sega Channel, Tarn-X, Trex, etc.
• Customized Sales Videos: Coldwell Banker, Re/Max
• Video Duplication: Broadcast and High Volume Small Format

Astro Film Video, Chicago, IL

Video Intern

• High Volume Videotape Duplication — Broadcast and VHS

Bodine Electric Company, Chicago, IL

Technical Writer/Market Analyst

• Technical Support for Motion Control Products
• Technical Writing/Proofing: Catalogs, Manuals, and Advertising Copy
• New Product Specification and Analysis
• Application Assistance and Troubleshooting

Old Projects: "Pretend" Sites and Awards

These are old sites and projects and therefore not really representative of my current design and programming skills, and they are not mobile-friendly. I'm presenting them without revisions—they are what they are.

Let's Pretend: Crazy Joe's Appliances

1st Place, College Division, Joliet Junior College 2003 Web Design Contest.

If I were creating this today it would be either a Zen Cart or a Drupal/Ubercart site, but as it is it's a good demonstration of my ASP/Access skills at the time. This is a database-driven site designed as a parody of a commercial website, allowing the user to play the roles of:

• Customer—browse the website, add items to your shopping cart, register/log in and place an order.
• Webmaster—set prices, move products from one web page to another.
• Order Processing Clerk—add, update or delete customer orders.

Let's Pretend: Panther Sports Club

Dynamic Technical Web Site, Joliet Junior College 2004 Web Design Contest.

If I were creating this today it would be a Drupal site, but as it is it's a good demonstration of my ASP/Access skills at the time. This is a local demo version of the site I created for the Panther Sports Club in Bolingbrook in 2004 (the club has since changed their site design). It's a database-driven site that re-uses much of the backend scripting and database structure of "Crazy Joe's Appliances". The database holds team rosters, game schedules, scores, etc. Each team's game schedule is generated from the same database. Division standings are calculated automatically. Administration pages allow you to add/delete/revise teams, players, games, scores, etc. Try it!

Poston Restoration Project

2nd Place, College Div., World Organization of Webmasters 2005 Web Design Contest

This was a site dedicated to the restoration of a WWII Japanese Internment Camp. I was the web developer (programmer) on this project, working in collaboration with designer Agnes Smolen and webmaster Kelso King.

Miscellaneous Flash Projects:

Oooh, scary stuff!: Halloween, Vampire (Not as advanced as what I did at my previous jobs—but fun.)

Joliet Junior College Tour

This is a project I did as a web design intern at Joliet Junior College in fall of 2004, and a good demonstration of my JavaScript skills at the time.

GoodTimePlanet.com

An ongoing personal project.

• This is the parent site of an array of portals to local entertainment in each state and some larger cities.
• Click a state or city link to go to the associated portal, which contains links to local broadcasters. In time I expect to include links to sports, movies, theatre, museums, etc.
• The New York City and Chicago sites currently contain the most content.
• Wiki functionality: Clicking an 'edit' link opens the Drupal backend where you can login to add/revise content. This new content is published only after passing administrative review.
• The sites are driven with PHP/MySQL/Drupal, and generate revenue via Google AdSense. (They all had Amazon storefronts as well—until Amazon terminated that service to Illinoisans.)