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Over 20+ years, I've gone from "kid with an open source project" to building the leading podcast hosting platform Amazon acquired, where I also owned security because no one else could. I stay deeply hands-on with distributed systems, streaming and data-heavy architectures, and the unglamorous work of making infrastructure behave the way the diagrams say it should. I've led teams from 2 to 50+, driven modern cloud and data tooling adoption, and partnered cross-functionally to turn technical decisions into real outcomes. Outside of work, I give deep-dive technical talks (sometimes at furry conventions), restore weird vintage computers, and automate things that didn't need it -- until they did. If you need someone to architect and scale complex systems while keeping things a little whimsical, I'm your hamster. ────────────────────────────────── Highlights ────────────────────────────────── Ruby • Linux/Unix/BSD • AWS • Terraform • Consul • Packer • JavaScript • Kafka Chef • Scala • PostgreSQL • MySQL • Redis • SQLite • CSS • HTML • CouchDB • C# Druid • Flink • KiCad • Ember.js • SystemD • Semantic Web • InfoSec • GitLab CI/CD • DevOps • System Architecture • Distributed Systems • HAProxy • Python ─────────────────────────────── Work Experience ──────────────────────────────── ♦ ART19, an Amazon company Jun 2014 - Apr 2026 » Chief Architect Grew ART19's podcast CMS and dynamic ad insertion platform from a two-engineer startup into a system handling billions of monthly podcast downloads and trusted by leading shows and advertisers, culminating in a successful startup exit via Amazon's 2021 acquisition. Built and mentored an engineering team, growing to more than 50. Established best practices for deployment, monitoring, and security. Represented ART19 at external user groups and internally across Amazon. Led adoption of Terraform, Docker, Consul, Kafka, Flink, and HAProxy to ensure scalability, security, and observability. Influenced technical investment and a key stakeholder in strategic product design and planning. ♦ Gallo Digital, LLC Jun 2014 - Oct 2014 » Senior Software Engineer Delivered key services for Leverage, a platform enabling law firms to manage mass action cases efficiently. Built a secure, custom e-signature service that met strict privacy requirements. Scaled architecture to support high-volume litigation, including the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions cases, resulting in fair outcomes for thousands of claimants. ♦ DecisionPoint Systems, Inc. Jun 2013 - Jun 2014 » Senior Developer and Solution Architect May 2011 - Jun 2013 » Developer Designed and delivered SaaS and custom enterprise applications across diverse verticals. Led requirements gathering and roadmap planning with customer executives and engineering teams, ensuring solutions met business goals, compliance needs, and budget. Managed and mentored development teams, setting coding and security standards. Led several on-premises to cloud migrations, improving scalability and reliability. Developed mobile applications that integrated with legacy AS/400 and z/OS systems. ♦ Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Feb 2008 - May 2011 » Application Developer and Webmaster Nov 2006 - Feb 2008 » Computer Support Student Worker Modernized web applications and launched the first mobile site in the university system. Integrated web apps with MVS mainframe ERP (SunGard SCT), improving operational efficiency and data accuracy. Maintained VMware infrastructure and supervised interns. Produced digital content supporting university initiatives. ───────────────────────── Publications & Presentations ───────────────────────── ♦ Hacker News from 39C3 - Further Confusion 2026 Led an interactive technical talk based on sessions I personally curated from the 39th Chaos Communication Congress, including a parody CCC InfoBeamer and in-depth technical exploration. ♦ Basics of Avatar Creation in VRoid Studio - Further Confusion 2026 Presented a talk demonstrating best practices for creating custom 3D avatars in VRoid Studio for VTuber and AR/VR/XR applications. ♦ Scripting Blender with Python for VRChat Avatars - Biggest Little Fur Con 2025 Gave a technical presentation on techniques for automating 3D modeling workflows in Blender using its scripting capabilities. Demonstrated a workflow for processing 3D models exported from VRoid Studio, including a novel technique for making avatars with transparent textures portable to mobile versions of VRChat. ♦ Lessons Learned Running Sidekiq at Scale - RubyConf 2024 Shared insights from a decade of running Sidekiq at massive scale, covering performance tuning, operational pitfalls, and resiliency strategies for processing millions of jobs per hour. Engaged attendees in interactive discussions throughout the conference. ♦ Real-time file generation and delivery - US Patent Filing US20170054780A1 Invented the real-time dynamic ad insertion technology that powered ART19's podcasting platform and became a cornerstone of the company's strategy. ────────────────────────────────── Education ─────────────────────────────────── ♦ Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology 2009 » Bachelor of Technology, Information Assurance and Forensics 2008 » Associate in Applied Science, Information Technologies Option in Information Security 2008 » Associate in Science, Information Technologies ────────────────────────────── Selected Projects ─────────────────────────────── ♦ Podcasting CMS and Real-Time Dynamic Ad Insertion Platform (ART19) Designed and built the majority of ART19's platform, enabling dynamic ad insertion, audience targeting, and analytics at scale. Handles billions of requests per month, exceeding third-party ad server performance. Key contributor in securing Amazon acquisition and listed inventor on patent application (US20170054780A1). Oversaw feature prioritization, roadmap planning, and technical investment decisions, and frequently implemented these decisions. Set the engineering culture and developed the team from being just me and the CTO to a strong team of more than 50 people. ♦ High-Volume/Mass Action Litigation Platform (Gallo Digital, LLC) Scaled architecture to support high-volume litigation cases. Reduced per- litigant operational costs, enabling law firms to pursue cases previously economically unviable. Developed a secure, privacy-preserving e-signature service meeting legal and regulatory standards. Provided guidance on platform strategy, improving overall workflow and case management efficiency. ♦ Airport Special Service Request App (DecisionPoint Systems, Inc.) Architected a platform integrating Ruby on Rails, Ember.js, Node.js, Android, and WebSockets to manage passenger service requests at JFK Airport. Reduced wait times by 80% and improved on-time departures, enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience. Led client engagement and coordinated engineering and design teams to deliver a robust solution on schedule. ♦ Inventory Tracking Application (DecisionPoint Systems, Inc.) Rescued and rebuilt a C#-based inventory application for a major cosmetics retailer. Integrated Windows CE mobile clients with Ruby on Rails backend and AS/400 systems. Improved operational efficiency, reduced errors, and successfully piloted at multiple stores. Coordinated small engineering team and advised on deployment strategy and integration with legacy systems. ♦ Web-Based Native Mobile App Authoring Platform (DecisionPoint Systems, Inc.) Developed a multi-platform product enabling design staff to create mobile applications in the browser. Worked with The Richards Group to deliver the TGI Friday's consumer app on iOS and Android. Introduced Ember.js for the first front-end implementation, collaborating with another engineer to iterate rapidly and achieve client goals. Influenced architectural and product decisions during development. ────────────────────────────── Service Activities ────────────────────────────── ♦ Pacific Anthropomorphics League 2025 - Present » Volunteer, Pacific Anthropomorphics Weekend Supported critical functions, including helping to triage issues with a new registration system and badge printing, helping Pacific Anthropomorphics Weekend to cross the threshold of having raised over $30,000 for local wildlife and pet rescue charities. Personally handled the processing of approximately 400 guests per hour after this prolonged registration outage. ♦ Anthropomorphic Arts and Education, Inc. 2025 - Present » Programming Lead, Further Confusion Oversaw programming across nine venues for a 6,600 person convention, contributing to a record $45,000+ donation to The Street Dog Coalition, supporting free veterinary care for pets of people experiencing homelessness. ♦ Reno Area Anthropomorphic Arts and Recreation 2025 - Present » Panels / A/V Volunteer, Biggest Little Fur Con Ensured reliable operations across all panel rooms at a 3,700 person convention, directly supporting a positive attendee experience, which helped the event exceed $300,000 in lifetime donations to the Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in northern Nevada. ♦ Pawprint Prototyping 2025 - Present » Volunteer Advanced the mission of a public, volunteer-run hackerspace by creating accessible learning resources, helping onboard new makers, and completing facilities projects that enabled broader and more convenient community use. ♦ Galactic Camp 2025 - Present » Panels Staff Coordinated logistics for events serving 1,500 attendees aboard the USS Hornet, addressing the unique technical challenges of a WWII-era vessel, in support of the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space Museum. ♦ Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment 2019 - Present » Restoration Team Volunteer Restored and maintained computing systems -- from modern hardware to 45 year old devices -- to keep the MADE's 14,000+ game collection accessible for classes, youth programs, and public interactive exhibits. ♦ CompTIA 2012 - 2021 » Cloud+ Subject Matter Expert Acted as an advisor for the initial development of the CompTIA Cloud+ certification, including exam questions and associated curriculum. ═════════════════════════════════════ END ══════════════════════════════════════