Resume.
A Snapshot of my ExperienceFront-End Engineering and UX Systems Leader with 20+ years of experience architecting scalable web solutions, modernizing codebases, and guiding design-to-development workflows across enterprise, agency, and SaaS environments.
Specialize in component-driven architectures, design system strategy, and AI assisted development practices that accelerate delivery, reduce technical debt, and improve cross-team alignment. Adept at translating complex requirements into accessible, high-performance digital experiences while mentoring teams and driving process modernization.
Experience
StraightNorth, LLC
Build digital solutions for agency clients while identifying opportunities to modernize development processes, automate repetitive work, and improve the technical foundation used across new client engagements. Work across development, design, SEO, content, and project management to translate business and client requirements into maintainable solutions.
Modernize inherited codebases and development workflows by replacing outdated approaches with contemporary tooling, reusable functions, structured SCSS, and consistent component architecture.
Use generative AI within a structured development workflow to analyze unfamiliar codebases, identify risks and inefficiencies, evaluate alternatives, prototype solutions, and validate implementation decisions.
Designed an AI-assisted content-entry proof of concept that mapped structured data into WordPress/ACF, populating 60+ products in hours rather than days.
Create AI-assisted technical documentation and reusable guides that improve developer adoption of new theme capabilities, patterns, and standards.
Ryan Wake Design, LLC.
Designed an AI-assisted content-entry proof of concept that mapped structured data into WordPress/ACF, populating 60+ products in hours rather than days.
Create AI-assisted technical documentation and reusable guides that improve developer adoption of new theme capabilities, patterns, and standards.
Provide senior technical leadership and architecture support to agencies and enterprise organizations across Drupal, headless CMS, Storybook, design systems, UX, and front-end implementation. Own technical delivery, estimation, client communication, and QA.
Featured Projects
Rocket Software | Third and Grove | Headless Drupal + Storybook
Led the development and refinement of reusable Storybook components for an enterprise headless Drupal platform, applying responsive, accessibility, and maintainability standards across design and engineering.
Littler Mendelson | Third and Grove | Headless Drupal + Storybook
Implemented flexible components and page patterns for a large international law firm, solving non-standard design requirements with accessible code and accurate component-to-CMS integration.
Mediacurrent
Led technical direction and front-end architecture across enterprise Drupal and headless engagements using React, Gatsby, Next.js, GraphQL, Storybook, and component-driven architecture, while contributing design consultation, documentation, code review, and technical problem solving.
Served as lead developer for multiple long-term client engagements, managing technical direction and client communication.
Partnered directly with engineering leadership to establish reusable project foundations, Storybook/Pattern Lab standards, and more consistent front-end delivery practices.
Built reusable component libraries and design-system foundations that improved consistency and helped reduce project hours by approximately 40%.
Translated Figma systems into accessible, production-ready experiences while mentoring developers and promoting accessibility best practices.
Featured Projects
Lehigh University Libraries | Product Discovery + Design System
Led the transition from fixed page layouts to flexible component systems, developing card families and modifiers that allowed Drupal authors to create customized displays while preserving one maintainable codebase.
University of Chicago - Professional Education
Led UX strategy, digital product planning, and platform modernization, partnering with executive leadership, marketing, content, design, development, and external vendors to translate organizational needs into scalable digital solutions.
Led discovery and digital planning across multiple properties, facilitating cross-functional stakeholders to define requirements and move initiatives from concept through implementation.
Balanced user needs, organizational objectives, content requirements, accessibility, and technical constraints while mentoring designers in responsive UX and component-based thinking.
Featured Projects
Professional Education Platform | Digital Product + Platform Strategy
Designed and launched a new digital platform during the division’s inaugural six months, creating reusable content patterns and an authoring experience capable of communicating a complex portfolio of programs while supporting future growth.
Graham School | Scalable Platform Reuse
Reused the Professional Education architecture and component system for a major redesign. Rethemed the experience for a distinct audience while preserving a common foundation, launching Graham in roughly half the time with 52% fewer development hours.
University of Chicago - Web Services
Led front-end architecture and implementation across University digital properties while providing technical leadership, improving departmental processes, and serving as Interim Manager of Web Services.
Served as Interim Manager of Web Services, coordinating workflow, resolving concerns, mentoring developers, and hiring and managing student staff.
Led front-end architecture and implementation for schools, institutes, healthcare organizations, and executive stakeholders.
Established reusable patterns and accessibility standards that improved consistency, scalability, and maintainability across projects.
Featured Projects
Design Workflow Transformation | 75%+ Effort Reduction
Replaced a fragmented design workflow requiring 100–120+ hours with one lead designer, internal critique, and collaborative client working sessions requiring roughly 20–30 hours. The new approach reduced rework, improved stakeholder confidence, and remained in use after the transition from Web Services.
Golden Technologies
Royal Brush Mfg. Inc.
Burrell Professional Labs
Print / Web Designer
May 2004 – April 2006
Entrepreneurial
Five7 Promotions
Founded, developed and designed a service catering to travel sports teams.
Built an ecommerce and production business spanning custom apparel, laser engraving, print-on-demand, sourcing, pricing, fulfillment, and customer service.
Design and produce custom products across multiple materials and production methods.
Partner with organizations to translate brand concepts into physical customer experiences.
Education
Ball State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Graphic Design
June 2000
Leadership
University of Chicago - Web Services
Interim Manager of Web Services (2017)
St. Mary's Church - Gary Diocese
Marriage Preparation Administrator (2004 – present)
St. Mary's School - Gary Diocese
Basketball Coach (2014 – 2018)
Softball Coach
Head & Assistant Coach of various Travel and League Teams (2010 – present)