About me
Whether I've been performing as a dancer, managing nuclear quality programs for $20+ million construction projects, or bringing a web application to life, I thrive when able to solve problems creatively within a structured environment.
With over a decade in the nuclear construction sector and 3,000 hours of specialized training in back-end software development, I offer not just expertise but also a commitment to collaborative learning, attentive listening, and a consistently positive and enthusiastic outlook.
Preferred locations
- New York, NY
- Poughkeepsie, NY
Previous industries
Skills
Currently learning
Projects
FoodHaven
FoodHaven
Tools Used
FoodHaven: Bridging the Gap in Food Security
🏆 Winner of the 2308 Turing Demo Comp
Designed with the purpose of alleviating food insecurity, FoodHaven provides users with public transportation routes to farmer's markets that accept SNAP payments. Given the ubiquity of smartphones among low-income households, the platform has been meticulously optimized for mobile use, ensuring seamless navigation and user experience.
Tech Insights:
- Languages: Ruby
- Frameworks: Initially built with Ruby on Rails; migrated to Sinatra for a lightweight, efficient structure.
- Data Source: USDA Local Foods Directory fuels a microservice offering detailed market information.
- Integration: Geolocation and Google Maps API work in tandem to provide precise location services for users and markets.
My Role & Contribution:
For the FoodHaven project, I got the chance to branch out from my typical back-end work and explore front-end territories. My journey acquainted me with HTML, CSS, and the implementation of Bootstrap to elevate our user interface.
FoodHaven Microservice API
An integral part of the FoodHaven ecosystem, this API houses the farmers market data sourced from the USDA Local Food Portal. Built with Ruby 3.2.2 and Sinatra 3.1.0, it serves the primary web application by exposing specific endpoints that return subsets of the farmers market data.
Features:
End-to-end Market Information: From a complete index to individual market details. Location-based Search: Find markets based on latitude, longitude, and proximity. Favorites Access: Query markets by their unique IDs.
🔗 Microservice GitHub Repository
FoodHaven Backend
The backend serves as the main engine behind the FoodHaven platform, responsible for processing, storing, and retrieving data as required. It integrates the data from the microservice and offers a robust API for the front-end to interact with.
Key Tools & Libraries:
- Geocoder: Powers the geolocation feature.
- Faraday: Facilitates HTTP requests to APIs.
- Webmock: Used for stubbing HTTP requests. 🔗 Backend GitHub Repository
FoodHaven Frontend
Crafted to deliver a user-centric interface, the front end of FoodHaven ensures that users can easily navigate the platform, search for farmer's markets, and plan their route using the provided transportation options.
Highlights:
User Experience: Features like Light/Dark Mode Toggle, responsive design, and user geolocation enhance the user journey. Tech Stack: Bootstrap for styling, HTML for structure. Integration: Consumes the backend API and interacts with external services like the Google Maps API.
🔗 Frontend GitHub Repository
Backyarder
Backyarder
Tools Used
I had the privilege to work as a back-end developer on BackYarder, a cutting-edge application designed to transform the gardening experience. This platform enables garden enthusiasts, from novices to seasoned professionals, to design, customize, and optimize their garden layouts with ease.
Project Highlights:
Drag-and-drop tool: Allows users to experiment with different garden arrangements on-the-fly. Comprehensive Plant Database: Provides detailed information, including care instructions, ensuring users make informed planting decisions. Dynamic Garden Management: Instant updates on planted items, easy removal of unplanted items, and the ability to reset gardens for fresh designs.
My Role:
As a part of the BackYarder's back-end team, my contributions were pivotal in setting up, integrating, and optimizing our server using the Ruby/Sinatra framework. My expertise in Ruby, Rails, RSpec, and Postman proved instrumental in ensuring the robustness, reliability, and speed of our back-end infrastructure.
Tech Stack & Tools:
Server: Ruby with Sinatra framework. Database: PostgreSQL. Testing: RSpec. API Integration: Used the Perenual API to fetch detailed plant information.
