I'm a software engineer with a proven track record, including experience in Staff, Lead, and Senior roles. I excel at building resilient, scalable, and secure SaaS applications on a web-based stack. And in my spare time, I take on side projects with my business, Ridge Ten Creative. I'm proven in my current skillset, but am learning every single day about how to do more, and make what I already do better.
I've got over 16 years of experience building sites and applications for the web. I've built everything from simple personal-portfolio-style websites, to complex, interactive sites for small businesses, schools, and nonprofits, to fully-functional web applications/services to handle a wide variety of tasks.
Everyone wants their money to go farther. I hear you. In my work for Ridge Ten Creative, I will work with every potential client to make sure we find something that checks the boxes and fits the budget. I keep clients informed and in the loop, where they want to be.
If you are interested in the nerdspeak, I'm full-on into the Laravel PHP ecosystem these days, utilizing all kinds of the framework's goodies including queues, event listeners, gates, and much more. I can containerize with Docker, deploy on your LAMP/LEMP stack, or go serverless with Laravel Vapor - all in a snap.
For frontend tooling I typically rely heavily on Tailwind CSS for ridiculously easy scaffolding and component-driven design. When I need reactivity or SPA functionality I'll reach for Vue.js, or stick with the lightweight Alpine.js for small stuff. I'm knee-deep into Laravel Livewire as well.
I've got interest in other tech as well, and have some experience building native apps with Ionic, Nuxt, and Capacitor
Style-wise, the sky's the limit. Responsive design is a must these days (your site needs to look good on any device), and I'll make it happen. But there's more. Want to integrate your Google services or Twitter Feed? No problem. Dynamic content and interactivity? Check. Interested in a complex web app? Laravel happens to be great for that. No matter what you're looking for, I can help.
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, mvmt. 4 - Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (2009)
Hillandale Waltzes, mvmt. 6 - Victor Babin (2008)
Interméde, from Quatuor pour la fin du Temps - Olivier Messiaen (2005)
El Salon Mexico (excerpt) - Aaron Copland (2008)
with the Western Piedmont Symphony (clip
used with permission)
Actually, please do. I am classically-trained clarinetist - I even have two degrees to prove it. Currently, I am contracted as Clarinet II / Bass Clarinet with the Greensboro Symphony, as Bass Clarinet with the Western Piedmont Symphony, and as Principal Bass Clarinet with the Piedmont Wind Symphony. I'm active in chamber music as a member of Quintet Sirocco, a Greensboro-based reed quintet. I also play as a freelancer with other professional groups across the Piedmont Triad.
Clarinet is only the beginning. I'm capable on saxophone, flute, and others as well. I've performed in many a pit orchestra in my days, and while I'm doing that less these days, I'm no stranger to versatility. In the recreational vein, that means I can shred (OK, wrong word) on guitar and mandolin too.
If there were a beer equivalent of "sommelier," I'm pretty sure I'd be it. (Actually, they're apparently called "cicerones" - I need to get on that). I enjoy beers of all kinds, from all places. And when I say "enjoy," it's a thoughtful, meaningful appreciation; I don't "enjoy" beer like a frat boy. I have the kind of appreciation that compels me to seek out the local microbrews when I'm visiting a new place, just to see what it has to offer.
I'll admit - I'm a hop-head. Over the years I've gravitated toward IPAs, and haven't been able to resist the hazy movement - give me a nice NEIPA any day, especially if it's got oats in the grain bill... I also have an affinity for seasonals as well - fall and winter take the crown there, with the Oktoberfests, the winter warmers, and the nice big stouts.
I homebrew. And my wife helps. (I'm a lucky guy.) We've been happy with the results so far, especially our Saison, Russian Imperial Stout, Belgian Dark Strong, and Breakfast Stout. Our current setup is five- or ten-gallon all-grain batches with full boils on an all-electric, RIMS-enabled, pump-driven system. We ferment in a temperature-controlled chamber, and then into the keezer it goes for serving on tap. We're enjoying the results and enjoying the opportunity to experiment - I've put together a few recipes of my own that I'm very excited about.
I'm also on Untappd - and so are my beers (Birnamwood Brewing), if you're ever in the neighborhood to try one.
I'm totally one of those guys who has a shelf full of games that nobody's ever heard of before. (Unless they're as into board games as I am.) Regardless, you don't have to twist my arm very far to get me to sit down and unbox one with you. Thankfully my wife enjoys playing just about as much as I do.
It's basically awesome. It's free (except when you're like me and keep buying gear). It gets you outside. If you've never played before, give it a try. At the worst, you're enjoying a nice hike through the woods, and smashing plastic things into trees. I don't have the strongest arm out there, but I've been holding my own in local leagues, and enjoy playing casual trash-talking rounds with friends, and in local tournaments. I have twelve aces in my pocket (along with several other close calls) - shots I'll remember for a long time.
I want to get out and see some more of the iconic courses in the sport, but have been lucky enough to make trips down to Hornet's Nest and Nevin Park (Charlotte), as well as the beautiful North Cove (Marion)... and even though the courses kick my butt, it's some of the most enjoyable golf I've ever played. I got a chance to spectate at the 2023 Pro Tour Championships - what an experience, seeing the pros in action! It won't be the last event I go to, that's for sure.
Definitely not a "gamer" in the colloquial sense...but I do my share of casual gaming on my Nintendo Switch. Occasionally I'll also pull out my retro Super Nintendo and N64, from the true "golden age" of consoles. (Yeah I said it.) And my bro and I play a couple things remotely together on PC. So... I guess I do my fair share of gaming.
I'm not a professional, but I have some OK gear. I shoot Canon, with a 6D Mark II as my primary, with a nice high-quality 24-70mm f/2.8 as my daily driver. For accessory lenses I have a wide-angle, a nice 50mm prime, and a macro. I've also got a neat set of filters, and a decent Canon flash.
I am mostly nature / landscape - things that don't move around too much. I try and shoot on full-manual so that I get a good sense for those things like ISO, aperture, shutter speed...etc. Most of my good shots are from vacations and travel...I've only gone on a few trips specifically for photography.
I've also done event photography in the past for Music for a Great Space. That's fun, because musicians are usually pretty photogenic, and their spaces are pretty nice to shoot in.
Click a photo to enlarge.
Okavango Delta - Botswana, Africa
Antelope Canyon - Page, AZ
Portland Head Light - Portland, ME
Superstition Mountain - Phoenix, AZ
Yes, I'm one of those guys who gets a bit giddy when some really awesome piece of technology comes out. I try and stay on top of trends and new developments.
I also can't stop learning. I'm eyeball deep into the Laravel ecosystem right now, which has caused me to step up my PHP game quite a bit. The dulcet vocal tones of Jeffrey Way at Laracasts are music to my ears (especially at 1.5x speed). I'm constantly learning more about code by getting better at Laravel, including hot topics like Test Driven Development (TDD). Bring on the challenges!
Lots of tech out there exists to improve the way we live - and no, I don't mean enabling you to find new and creative places to Tweet or surf Facebook. I am passionate about finding ways that technology can be truly impactful, and make a real difference in the world. Sure, AI is great, but I would love to find meaningful ways to truly push our world forward with it.
Being an engineer, troubleshooter, trainer, and general tech enthusiast brings out the detail-oriented, never-say-die, friendly, and super-geek sides of me. Technology has improved my life at both the superficial level and the inner-most level.
