Alanna Risse
Portland, Oregon
angrypirate@gmail.com
I am a full stack developer with passion and strength in the front-end, especially setting up templates, build scripts, css/sass, grid frameworks and javascript.
:::: SKILLS ::::
React.js, node.js, Django/Python, Postgres, Mongo, CSS/Sass, Gulp.js, Grunt.js, HTML, Javascript, Tailwind, WordPress, 3rd party apis, PostgreSQL, cloud services.
:::: EDUCATION ::::
• 2015 MFA Visual Studies, Low-Residency, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland OR.
• 2008 BFA Painting/Drawing California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA Graduated with high distinction.
:::: RELATED JOB EXPERIENCE ::::
View Teaching Materials
Contract Web Developer, Qadium.com January 2018 – April 2018
I was brought on to Qadium’s team to support their corporate website built in React. Added new content and cleaned up the CSS, making the site more responsive and mobile friendly. Maintained jest tests and improved build scripts in gulp.js. They brought me on to maintain their current site and to help them transition into a stack that would better serve the marketing team’s needs and free up the app team from having to be involved in corporate site updates and build process. Researched new stack options and presented my findings to the VP of Engineering and the Marketing Director. Built out the new corporate website in WordPress using Sass, Bootstrap, and Gulp, hosted on Pantheon. Used JIRA integrated with Github for issue tracking.
Mentor – Thinkful.com January 2018 – Present
Thinkful offers bootcamp-style online courses in web development and data science. Students develop portfolio work in React.js, Node.js, Express, and Mongo as well as developing a strong foundation in git, vanilla Javascript, 3rd party APIS, CSS, and HTML. As a one-on-one mentor for students in the Flexible Web Development Bootcamp, I support mentees by reviewing their work and enriching their course materials by comparing the concepts they are learning to real world examples. I teach in-person classes at Free Geek on Twitter API and Basic Javascript projects.
Contract Web Development, BusinessBlocks.com – May 2017 – December 2017
Web development for BusinessBlocks.com website. Worked closely with in-house designer on website updates to WordPress site, Hubspot templates, and HubSpot API integration with forms. Aided in the research, planning and execution of a transition from a WordPress site to a Django/Python site. Built out Sass, Bootstrap 4 layouts, Gulp scripts, and HTML for new site templates. Technologies and services: WordPress, Django/Python, grunt.js, sass, docker, AWS Route 53, S3, EC2, WP Engine, Heroku.
Web Developer, Verge PDX, Portland OR 2016 – Present
Web developer for vergepdx.com, a curatorial platform and artist marketing service located in Portland, Oregon. Verge manages regularly rotating art shows of emerging artists in Portland businesses. I am currently rebuilding the site in Ember.js and bootstrap. I have also consulted with artists on creating portfolio websites in wordpress or cargo collective, teaching them necessities to help them get up and running.
Freelance Design and Development, San Francisco, Portland 2010 – 2016
Web Development for Zwingit marketing website, and House of Bagels WordPress site. Designed and maintained websites for NaturesWayChildcare.org, Button Consignment,The Baker and The Book Confections, Woodlawn Swap N Play, and Downtown Artistry. Modified WordPress and Blogger templates or created my own templates with PHP.
Web Developer – Williams-Sonoma – San Francisco June 2008 – July 2010
Responsible for updating and expanding presentation layer of west elm website. Worked closely with Java developers, quality assurance team, creative team, product manager and project manager located throughout the United States through telephone conference calls, Instant Message, and email. Created and managed marketing campaigns using Omniture (Adobe Analytics). Delivered time estimates for releases. Crafted designs in CSS and JSP for new website section templates. Ensured browser compatibility. Technologies: Freemarker, IBM Websphere, CVS, JSP, Dojo, Maven.
Web Developer – Singlebound Creative – San Francisco, CA July 2006 – February 2008
Web development, user experience design, and site maintenance. Clients include Men’s Wearhouse, Blanc & Otus, The Nature Conservancy, Mig33, Ztail. Technologies: CSS, HTML, Ajax, JavaScript, JSP. Experience with transforming Photoshop and Illustrator designs into template systems including Drupal, vBullentin, and Tyepad.
Web Developer – Gap Inc. Direct – San Francisco, CA Nov 2004 – March 2005
Developed internal marketing tools using JSP Struts, Tiles. Gained a great deal of experience with JSTL, DisplayTag, Struts validation. Developed a clean, simple, easy to use UI utilizing CSS, DHTML, Struts/Tiles and creativity. Wrote simple Java code when necessary, especially around ActionForms where Struts validation wouldn’t cut it. Environment: IBM Websphere, Merant Dimensions.
Web Developer – Timbuk2 – San Francisco, CA July 2003 – Nov 2004
Involved in a multi-tiered redesign of the Timbuk2 ecommerce website. Involved in all aspects of the site from design to development with an emphasis on the Front End. Created content, photos and graphics. Created color overlays for bag photos using photoshop. Chopped and created graphics in Photoshop and Illustrator. Coded site templates and created file structure. Hand coded JSP, HTML, CSS, and Javascript. created all the catalog entries in PostgresSQL. The site is hosted on a server running JBoss, Apache and Tomcat using Struts/Tiles Framework with PostgresSQL database.
Environment: Linux Red Hat Development box. Developed mainly on my Mac using BBedit and Samba, and the Mac Terminal.
Web Developer, Yahoo! – Sunnyvale, CA May 2002 – May 2003 – Contractor
Developed Promotional pages for SBC Yahoo! DSL and Dial websites, FIFA worldcup soccer, Ford Gorge Games, Major League Lacrosse. Trained new contractor on Yahoo! internal development tools and processes. Created IMVironment for SBC Yahoo! Using Yahoo!’s in-house development tool and DHTML, HTML, Javascript, CSS, some graphics production and design work. Tools used: BBedit, Homesite, SSH client, ImageReady, Photoshop, Flash MX, Unix.
Web Production Manager – Guru, Inc. San Francisco, CA July 99 – January 2001
Reported to VP of Engineering. First HTML/front-end developer and seventh employee of Guru.com. Hired and managed a team of Production Engineers. Responsible for all HTML on the site. Developed guidelines for nomenclature, directory structure, jhtml practices, build process. Trained production engineers and freelancers in ATG Dynamo, Unix, CVS, HTML. Attended ‘ATG Dynamo for HTML developers’ and ‘ATG Dynamo for Java developers I and II’ classes at ATG.
:::: WRITING ::::
Contributing Writer: Austin Startups, Portland OR, 2017
Wrote article about the progress towards Gender Equality in Tech. The article takes a look at where we are now, how we got here and which organizations are trying to do something about it.
Contributing Writer: Untitled Magazine, Portland OR, 2013
Articles included: Soundforge, Quality is Contageous.
Contributing Writer, Red Tricycle, September 2012 – April 2013
Articles included: A Beach Getaway That’s Only An Hour Away, 9 Indoor Playspaces for Rambunctious Kids, School of Rock: Music Classes for Your Little Musicians, Drop-in Daycare Spots so Santa Can Finish Her Shopping, Where to Get Your Holiday Sweets, Gluten-Free Style, TGIF: A Drop-In Friday Night Clay Extravaganza, Kid-Friendly Pubs with Great Outdoor Spaces, The World’s Longest Beach is in Our Backyard. Link: Writer Bio.
Book Author: Unofficial Guide to Photoshop CS2, John Wiley & Sons – April 2006
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
This 720 page, comprehensive guide to Photoshop CS2 covers basic to intermediate features as well as a healthy helping of insider secrets for professional image making. Topics include, but are not limited to: masking techniques, web design, preparing files for professional print, getting the most out of your inkjet printer, advanced type tutorials, color correction, and Camera Raw. Learn by following crystal clear step-by-step exercises in this handy 6″ x 9″ paperback.
Contributing Writer, Webmonkey.com, San Francisco, CA – July 2001 – January 2006
Articles included: Camera Raw Exposed, JavaScript Slide Show, Intro to .JHTML.
:::: OTHER JOB EXPERIENCE ::::
Student Accounts Receivables Clerk, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland OR September 2015 – June 2016
Responsible for maintaining Student Accounts Receivables with the highest level of accuracy. The position requires exceptional customer service skills often delivered in intense situations. An ability to balance sensitivity towards students and their families with the fiscal goals of the Student Accounts office is required.
Social Media Coordinator, Low-Residency MFA in Visual Studies, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland OR October 2013 – August 2015
Collected and managed various forms of documentation of LRVS MFA events, student experiences, and alumni success while also meeting quotas for a schedule of content posting. Worked with the Department Chair and the Communications Office to coordinate the use of formatting templates and create a shared reserve of documentation for use in promoting the program.
Supervisor – Apple Computer Inc. Cupertino Ca …Aug 92 – Sept 93…May 94 – May 97
Provided Quality Assurance for Macintosh Prototype Computers and Peripherals. Developed Test Plans, Matrices and Test Guidelines. Supervised a team of up to 20 people and 8 projects at one time. Organized training classes in various multimedia products and concepts. Trained new team leads and testers. Sent to Cork Ireland for training in DTP applications and technologies. Designed training classes under intense schedules. Held 1 – 1 training with new testers.
Developed databases for tracking inventory, keeping employee records, planning and tracking testing using Filemaker Pro. Helped Cork Ireland site achieve ISO Certification. Worked with Cupertino ISO team towards Certification. Used a wide array of multimedia products including digital audio, digital video, MIDI, authoring and web design, page layout, illustration and paint programs, scanners, printer, etc. Due to the nature of this position I gained experience in just about every popular multimedia product on the market.
Team Lead/Tester – SuperMac Technologies – Sunnyvale CA…..Sept 93 – May 94
Quality Assurance test lead of Macintosh compatible Raster Image processor card for Fuji-Xerox color copier for Kanjitalk. Created test files, matrices and test plan. Used Pagemaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, Freehand, QuarkXpress extensively. Tested in US and Kanjitalk Macintosh system software. Maintained and modified bug database in Filemaker Pro. Worked closely with Engineers to resolve problems in product. Provided telephone tech support for Beta site customers.