Mike Hall

My initial focus as a Senior Backend Developer was debugging and stabilizing our core systems. I worked with our HR team to introduce onboarding interviews, and our Scrum Master to improve our story process. I lead the story epic to improve test coverage then modernize our applications. I lead efforts to migrate complex MySQL systems to utilize Redis and to improve our MySQL and PostgreSQL performance.

Achievements:

• Improved insight into the state of our system by integrating key apps and events into a centralized log stream.
• Improved content editing workflow for our Good Parts Media product by implementing Natural Language Full-Text Searches
• Built complex analytics queries and reports for a variety of business decisions and marketing campaigns.
• Lead efforts to upgrade all applications in our environment onto current Ruby and Rails versions.
• Introduced concept for identifying and removing unused components and services via centralized alerts.
• Converted expensive dynamic queries to use Materialized Views and JSON queries to reduce the load from high-cost system queries.
• Migrated MySQL backed session and cache stores to Redis
• Worked with operations team to optimize Redis configuration in support of increased utilization.
• Lead migration of legacy campaign management system to utilize SendGrid for marketing campaigns.
• Built internal admin tools to manage and analyze complex offer packages, cross-sells, and affiliate bundles without developer intervention.
• Worked with stakeholders to define acceptance criteria in stories to reduce communication delays and improve story completion.
• Introduced merge request templates to simplify communication between developers and reviewers.
• Mentored junior developers with guided tours of application source code, walk-throughs of systems, and pair programming sessions.
• Collaborated with Scrum Master and stakeholders to define steps to improve onboarding for new developers.
• Built bulk ETL services to synchronize millions of contacts and subscriptions from SendGrid to internal systems.

Technologies used:

• ETL
• Gitlab
• Memcached
• MySQL
• OpenStack
• PostgreSQL
• Puppet
• RSpec
• Redis
• Ruby
• SendGrid API

As part of the ActiveCampaign Contacts team I have converted multiple PHP based endpoints to Ember.js. I implemented new features and performance improvements in the legacy PHP API backend.

Achievements:

• Converted simple paginated PHP to infinite scrolling with drag and drop interface using Ember.js.
• Refactored common pagination logic to generic reusable functionality via Ember.js Mixins.
• Refactored performance in PHP API to use cached query and introduced testable Query pattern to replace global query functions.
• Created scripts for developers to conditionally enable MySQL logging in their development environments.

Technologies used:

• Bash
• CSS
• Docker
• Ember.js
• Git
• GitHub
• HTML5
• JavaScript
• MySQL
• PHP
• PHPUnit
• QUnit
• Sass
• Vim
• Z shell (Zsh)
• jQuery
• lodash

Optimized heavyweight queries and improved accuracy of calculations using Postgres advanced query and diagnostic tools. Improved security of email and integrations by using JSON Web Tokens and Web API for communications. Introduced team communication practices such as daily stand and acceptance criteria on feature and support request cards.

Achievements:

• Built API for securte bi-directional communication between host and client apps embedded within IFRAMES using Web API.
• Identified and optimized bottle-neck queries causing poor user experience decreasing response time, reducing load, and increasing the correctness of calculations.
• Implemented API for verifying responses from users were not tampered with and only processed once using JSON Web Token protocol.
• Presented learning sessions on how to use Postgres analysis tools and a session introducing Clojure.

Technologies used:

• AWS S3
• Airbrake
• Backbone.js
• Bash
• CSS
• Capistrano
• CentOS
• CoffeeScript
• Cucumber
• Git
• GitHub
• HTML5
• JWT
• JavaScript
• Linux
• Logentries
• Passenger
• PostgreSQL
• RSpec
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Sidekiq
• Trello
• Vim
• Web API
• Z shell (Zsh)
• a11y
• jQuery
• underscore.js

Collaborated with a distributed team to build and support Ruby apps and Rails-based APIs. Introduced improvements to the development workflow, improved the development toolchain and fixed performance and security issues. Implemented critical conversion of payment gateway while reducing complexity. Improved visibility and communication between product and customer support groups, introduced project management tools and agile concepts to the management teams.

Achievements:

• Coordinated with the customer support and product management teams to improve awareness and communication of needs and priorities between customer issues and new feature initiatives.
• Implemented API Gateway service using Ruby on Rails providing external partners access to ReachLocal internal services.
• Implemented Ruby on Rails API that wrapped the legacy lead generation product providing new functionality to support a React-based thin client.
• Implemented several React components that consumed the API service.
• Introduced improvements to the Vagrant development toolchain as well code analysis and linting tools like RuboCop, Bundler Audit, Code Climate, etc.
• Migrated payment gateway and credit card processing from Stripe that required complex internal management of subscriptions to Chargify. Identified required functionality could be handled via third-party reducing complexity and overhead.

Technologies used:

• Bash
• CSS
• Capistrano
• Chargify
• CircleCI
• Git
• GitHub
• HTML
• JavaScript
• Jira
• PostgreSQL
• RSpec
• React
• Redis
• Redux
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Semaphore CI
• Sidekiq
• Stripe
• Sumo Logic
• Trello
• Ubuntu
• Vagrant
• Vim
• Z shell (Zsh)
• jQuery

Architected and implemented social media analytics system to aggregate and generate insights for professionals looking for concrete advice on how to improve their social media presence. Led development of the marketing and customer user interface.

Achievements:

• Built advanced pipeline using Sidekiq Enterprise to generate insights into customer social patterns.
• Built out backend databases using PostgreSQL and leveraged JSONB data type to enable efficient storage, queries, and simplify creating ActiveRecord queries against raw JSON data.
• Built out infrastructure using Digital Ocean, Heroku, and Amazon RDS. Implemented fail2ban and iptable rules to lock down servers.
• Configured Heroku Pipeline to simplify testing and verification before deployment of the customer interface into production.
• Coordinated with a consulting firm to design and build out the marketing and customer user interface. Led design and development of the product while building out the underlying supporting data and models for the client interface.
• Designed and built Twitter query and aggregator tools using Java and Ruby.
• Developed administrative and reporting interfaces used by client representatives to create bespoke reports and social media advice.

Technologies used:

• Amazon RDS
• Bash
• Bootstrap
• Capistrano
• CircleCI
• DigitalOcean
• ETL
• Facebook Graph API
• Git
• GitHub
• Google Analytics
• HTML/SASS
• Heroku
• Instagram API
• JSON API
• Java
• JavaScript
• Logentries
• Monit
• New Relic
• PostgreSQL
• Redis
• Rollbar
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sidekiq
• Trello
• Twitter API
• Ubuntu
• Vagrant
• Vim
• Z shell (Zsh)
• fail2ban
• jQuery

Re-launched Coderwall as an open-source project and led the community development efforts.

Achievements:

• Collaborated with and mentored contributors coming from all different development skills and experiences.
• Converted asynchronous jobs to use Sidekiq instead of Resque to save on Heroku dyno costs.
• Created extensive documentation and support materials including video tutorials to enable outside contributors to participate in the project without unnecessary limitations.
• Created tutorial videos to help contributors get up and running quickly.
• Extracted proprietary algorithms and updated Coderwall to use the new service. Updated development environment to use a fake version of the service during development and testing.
• Handled customer support issues for Coderwall.
• Improved ElasticSearch queries and upgraded to latest version of service.
• Replaced the MongoDB backend and consolidated onto Postgres to greatly simplify queries, reduce costs, and simplify development.
• Scrubbed codebase in preparation for releasing Coderwall as an open-source website.

Technologies used:

• AWS S3
• Airbrake
• Backbone.js
• Bash
• CSS
• ElasticSearch
• Git
• GitHub
• GitHub API
• XHTML
• Heroku
• JRuby
• JavaScript
• MongoDB
• Packer
• PostgreSQL
• Puma
• RSpec
• Redis
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Sidekiq
• Stripe
• Vagrant
• Vim
• Z shell (Zsh)
• jQuery

Collaborated with a distributed team on an SOA architecture web application that helps small to medium business improve their search engine and local presence.

Achievements:

• Integrated Chargify payment system as backend for payments and as lightweight CMS for plan details using Ruby on Rails.
• Implemented multiple Vagrant environment to replicate the multi-system production environment thus greatly simplifying development process.

Technologies used:

• Bash
• CSS
• Capistrano
• Git
• GitHub
• JavaScript
• Linux
• NGINX
• PostgreSQL
• Puma
• REST
• RSpec
• Redis
• Riak
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Sidekiq
• Trello
• Ubuntu
• Vagrant
• Vim
• XHTML
• Z shell (Zsh)
• jQuery

Led team supporting development of core business systems.

Achievements:

• Implemented tracking and marketing tool to enable a new revenue stream for the company.
• Mentored and lead junior development team and helped train members onRuby on Rails and testing practices.
• Simplified development environment and reduced risky practices in shared development environment. Built testing and development environments to enable continuous integration.
• Streamlined and stabilized the AWS deployment process and built out new server images for easier scaling during high demand periods.

Technologies used:

• AWS EC2
• AWS RDS
• AWS S3
• Airbrake
• Bash
• CSS
• Capistrano
• Git
• GitHub
• JavaScript
• Linux
• Logentries
• NGINX
• PostgreSQL
• REST
• RSpec
• Redis
• Resque
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Sidekiq
• Trello
• Ubuntu
• Unicorn
• Vagrant
• Vim
• XHTML
• Z shell (Zsh)

Worked with projects from fraud analysis in Clojure to building internal tools with Rails to building a centralized taxonomy management service in Java. Transitioned to leading efforts to rebuild and improve the on-boarding andengineering retention process.

Achievements:

• Built merchant analysis tools in Ruby and CouchDB to generate reports used by sales team for identifying markets and deals that are potentially valuable.
• Built sales support tools to assist call center representatives when dealing with customers using Ruby on Rails and MySQL.
• Coordinated and implemented new on-boarding process and facilitated in-house training across multiple sites. Worked with TalentDev teams across organization to identify managerial training needs and design training course.
• Designed queries for identifying account fraud patterns using Vertica queries. Spiked on Hadoop and Clojure fraud detection tools.
• Implemented Taxonomy service using ActiveWeb and ActiveJDBC Java frameworks and MySQL. Built out the servers to host services.

Technologies used:

• AWS EC2
• AWS S3
• Airbrake
• Apache
• Bash
• Bootstrap
• CSS
• Capistrano
• Clojure
• CouchDB
• Cucumber
• Git
• GitHub
• Hadoop
• Hubot
• Java
• JavaLite
• JavaScript
• Jetty
• Mongrel
• MySQL
• NGINX
• Node.js
• RSpec
• Raphael.js
• Redis
• Resque
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Thin
• Unicorn
• Vagrant
• Vertica
• Vim
• XHTML
• Z shell (Zsh)
• jQuery

Consultant dispatched to clients to work independently and in team environments. Worked on projects building B2B services for Sears, internal report generation systems for Leapfrog Online, and with Groupon prior to the acquisition.

Achievements:

• Engaged at Leapfrog Online to implement reporting services to expose customizable reports against their data warehouse.
• Engaged at Sears Commercial to implement a new commercial sales and catalog service for B2B customers.
• Engaged at Groupon to work on deals services, primary site support, and fraud analysis teams.

Technologies used:

• Active Directory
• Bash
• C#
• CSS
• Capistrano
• Cucumber
• Git
• GitHub
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JRuby
• JavaScript
• MbUnit
• Mercurial
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
• Mongrel
• MySQL
• NGINX
• NUnit
• QUnit
• RSpec
• Redis
• Resque
• Ruby
• Ruby on Rails
• Sass
• Thin
• Unicorn
• Vagrant
• Vim
• Visual Studio .NET
• Windows Server
• XHTML
• jQuery

Responsible for primary development and support for all BDI systems. I collaborated directly with the primary stakeholder on technical strategy and planning as well as managing teams on several consulting firms. I simplified on-boarding for contractors by creating virtual images that could be used by any developer reducing costly setup time. I also coordinated our internal communications and document management on SharePoint. I deployed a Subversion server to begin storing software and resources in a version control system.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• Agile
• C#
• CSS
• CruiseControl.NET (CCNET)
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JSON
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• NLog
• NUnit
• Ruby
• SharePoint
• Subversion
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• UML
• VMWare
• Visual Studio .NET
• Watir
• Windows Server
• XML
• jQuery

Improved the visibility of POs through their entire sales chain and inventory workflow. Created tools and services to collect data from myriad resources including BizTalk workflows, Solomon Databases, third-party packages and bespoke VB applications. Created a web-based dashboard to provide an executive overview of POs through the supply chain.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• C#
• CSS
• CruiseControl.NET (CCNET)
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JavaScript
• Microsoft BizTalk Server
• Microsoft SQL Server
• NLog
• NUnit
• Oracle Fusion
• SOAP
• Solomon Accounting Software
• SubSonic ORM
• Subversion
• Trac
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Visual Basic
• Visual Studio .NET
• XML

Designed and lead development on a simplified order fulfillment service that was estimated at providing over two million dollars in increased revenue within the first year by effectively eliminating duplicate sales of high demand inventory and reducing the feedback time for online customers that their purchase was successful.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• C#
• CSS
• CodeSmith API
• ColdFusion
• CruiseControl.NET (CCNET)
• JSON
• JavaScript
• Microsoft BizTalk Server
• Microsoft SQL Server
• NLog
• NUnit
• Ruby
• SOAP
• STUN
• Scrum
• SourceGear Vault
• Subversion
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• UML
• Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)
• Visual Studio .NET
• Visual Studio Team Services
• Watir
• Windows Server
• XHTML
• XML
• jQuery

Built new features for invoicing system used for the Process Fitness team.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)
• Visual SourceSafe
• Visual Studio .NET
• Windows Server

Built new features for sales portfolio application used for retail sales support

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• C#
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• NAnt
• NUnit
• SOAP
• Scrum
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)
• Visual SourceSafe
• Visual Studio .NET
• Windows Server
• XML

Built ASP.NET Web Forms Components widgets for personal health monitoring website.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)
• Visual SourceSafe
• Visual Studio .NET
• Windows Server

Created simple-to-use but feature-rich custom report rules modeling interface using JavaScript and CSS for the UI with ASP on the server. Developed reporting widgets using ASP.NET Web Forms Components.

Technologies used:

• ASP.NET
• Active Server Pages (ASP)
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JSON
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• Visual InterDev
• Visual SourceSafe
• Visual Studio .NET
• Windows Server

ASP developer created several modules for Kiosk-based HR system designed for factory floor installations. Created coupon management and distribution module, employee information module, touch-screen keyboard generator, and internal job posting and bidding module.

Technologies used:

• Active Server Pages (ASP)
• ActiveX
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• JavaScript
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• VBScript
• Windows 2000 Server

Created custom sales lead tracking application and sales spreadsheet transformation engine for analyzing data structure of an Excel spreadsheet and determining the best strategy for importing it's data in the tracking application.

Technologies used:

• Microsoft Access
• Visual Basic
• Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
• Visual SourceSafe

Contributed to software development for clients including International Reprographics Association, Kolcraft, Cook County, Tripplite, "Meckler, Bulgar, Tilson", Harley-Davidson Motorocycles, "Mack and Parker", and the Chase Group.

Technologies used:

• Active Server Pages (ASP)
• ActiveX
• CSS
• HTML
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Java
• Java Server Pages (JSP)
• Java WebSphere
• JavaScript
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Transact-SQL (T-SQL)
• VBScript
• Visual Basic
• Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
• Visual InterDev
• Visual J++
• Visual SourceSafe
• Windows NT
• Windows Server

Local administrator responsible for maintenance of site hardware, system upgrades, and user support.

Technologies used:

• Windows NT
• Windows 98