What happens here, goes everywhere.
Hey, I just wanted to quickly tell you about the recently released iPhone version of my site. More details to come!
I'm currently in beautiful Tallahassee Florida spending some much needed down time with my family, absorbing the sun and catching up with old friends and colleagues. My contract with Discovery Channel has ended and I've been picking up freelance off and on.
Since I'm running lean (broke), I've decided to offer some of the domain names I've collected over the years for sale. If interested, you can check them out here.
I learned that the Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer won an International Webby. We utilized Scene7's brilliant tools for dynamic interior & exterior scene rendering. CV is an application developed on the FLEX framework. I developed a lot of the ActionScript classes and MXML based UI objects.
I'm often asked questions revolving around the name figit. I decided to create a brief summary regarding how I came upon, and decided to use "figit" as my domain name. More about the figit name.
It appears that I should focus on enhancing my spelling capabilities prior to gaining a full understanding of when an ellipse is grammatically appropriate. On that note here is a tip. Shift+F7 fires up spell-check in Dreamweaver CS3.
I Get Around
I've been in the field for over 10 years now so I'll only mention the most recent few full-time employers. If you're interested in learning more, drop me a line or give me a call.
Client Scope:
Discovery Networks, FOX Networks, Pfizer, Comcast, MyComputer.com, Sherwin Williams, Infowave, Macromedia.com, Centocor, RealEstate.com, Jiffy Lube, Visa, GE Appliances of Canada, Citibank.com, Aveeno, Pennyweb.com, ULTA & ULTA.com, Johnson & Johnson, Fingerhut, Yclip.com, Ameritrade, ZED, AdOctane, iLabyrinth, Classmates.com.
Current Position:
Discovery Communications
Web Developer II, DC
Responsibilities:
- XHTML, CSS, JSP, JavaScript, XML/XSL, Flash, and AJAX development
- TeamSite Integration
- Owning and collaborating on prototyping, design, development, testing, documentation and maintenance of web application components
- Needs assessments, implementation and training
- Pre-production testing
- Production standards development and enforcement
- Strongly focused on aesthetics, user experience, and persona driven design & development
Previous Positions:
Comcast
Senior Portal Developer, Philadelphia - PA
Responsibilities:
- Development timeline and functional specification authoring
- Branch deployment scheduling and monitoring
- Trafficking QA defect findings from appLabs
- Pre-production testing
- Production standards development and enforcement
- XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX, JSON, JSTL, JSP, XSL, XML, UI/UX, Behavioral Pattern, NETui, BEA WebLogic, WebLogic Workshop 8.1, J2EE, TestDirectory Mercury QC, and custom SupportSoft and Omniture implmentations
Whittman Hart
Internet Production Manager, Philadelphia - PA
Responsibilities:
- Managing front-end production staff
- Intra-departmental project trafficking utilizing the creative, editorial, and quality assurance teams
- Production standards development and enforcement
- AJAX, ActionScript, Flex, MXML, XML, XSLT, XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, and DHTML development
Insight Interactive
Senior Front-End Developer, Philadelphia - PA
Responsibilities:
- Leading our small production staff
- Liaison between my team and the account services, and product management teams.
- Production standards development and enforcement
- AJAX, ActionScript, XML, XSLT, XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, and DHTML development
Kanter International
Lead Interactive Developer, Philadelphia - PA
Responsibilities:
- Resource management both local and remotely
- Participating in client pitches and discovery sessions
- Project estimating including production
- ActionScript, XML, XSLT, XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, and DHTML development
Meat & Potatoes
Below is a list of applications, languages, and technologies that I use on a regular basis. I've never been one to limit my abilities based on lack of knowledge or experience in any given scenario. I consider myself a well rounded (but not diluted) front-end developer who has the experience and ability to work very cohesively with back-end developers, project managers, information architects, and creative directors.
Software
Languages & Technologies
My kung-Foo Is Strong
Aside from my formal education and training I consider myself an active member in some of the more relevant user interface patterns, accessibility, and development communities. I’ve contributed articles and tutorials to various publishers along with being an active beta tester for vendors such as Macromedia, Electric Rain, and Iomega. I’m very passionate about what I do and actively seek out ways to streamline production while keeping abreast of the latest trends and technologies.
- Keiser College: Associates Degree, Graphic Design
- Florida State University: Undergraduate Studies, Visual Communication
- Advanced Actionscripting: Figleaf Training
- Application Development in Flash: Figleaf Training
- Navigating XPath: Altova Training
- XSLT Fundamentals: Altova Training
- Advanced XSLT & XSLT 2.0 Preview: Altova Training
- RIA Design Best Practices: Macromedia Training
- Advanced Actionscript 2.0: Macromedia Training
- Architecting Flex Applications: Macromedia Training
- Developing Accessible Rich Content with Flash: Macromedia Training
- Using Rich Internet Applications to Monitor Federal Enterprise Programs: Macromedia Training
A Labor Of Love... And Little Sleep
Below are a few samples of work that I have done within the last 2 years. If there is a specific execution or technique you'd like to see, drop me a line.
- Aveeno
- Warner Brothers Home DVD Collections (Fat pipe only)
- Mas Farmhouse
- Reybold Self Storage
- Sherwin Williams (Select "Launch Color Visualizer")
- Planning Factory
- Regranex
Hat Tips
Nice
"Mike has consistently proven himself to be a valued member of our development team. He approaches projects in a holistic manner, regardless of his specific area of contribution. His candid and affable nature adds to the personality of the group and I look forward to being involved in future projects with Mike."
Andrew Lisse, Senior Manager, Comcast
"Mike Ellan is one of the truly outstanding young developers that I've worked with. He performed exceptionally within the demanding schedule of an interactive agency. In all tasks, Mike demonstrated flexibility, ambition, and enthusiasm. Furthermore, he always added a level of creativity to our projects."
"My admiration for Mike is so high, that on a professional level, I will continue to keep in close contact to learn from him and his ideas. As a person, Mike is extremely intelligent, and deals with others at all levels positively, constructively, and with sensitivity."
"I highly recommend Mike Ellan for any developer position for which he may apply. His skills would be a valuable asset to any organization."
Suzanne Galvin, Project Manager, WHITTMANHART
"Over the course of the past 3 years, I have worked for Mike at Kanter International and Whittman Hart. When Mike left Kanter, and a position opened working for him at Whittman Hart, I was delighted to have the opportunity to work for him again. His leadership, and mentorship over the years has been invaluable to my own career development. Mike is always searching for a better, more efficient process utilizing the latest technology has to offer. He has brought this insight and unending quest for improvement to every department he has managed - to the benefit of the company - and those working for him."
Bonnie Vasko, Senior Interactive Developer, Independence Blue Cross
"Mike is one of the few guys I know that just gets it. He loves what he does and it shows."
Todd Miller, VP Creative, The Archer Group
"Mike Ellan lead our Interactive development team at WHITTMANHART. He persistently strived to improve quality and successfully designed and implemented a XML-driven model for website publishing. His team learned to program more effectively and utilized standards that improved quality. This strategy significantly reduced development time and greatly simplified website maintenance efficiency. As the Quality Assurance Manager, working with Mike was a great experience. We successfully reduced the number of exceptions through a superior design and careful attention to details."
Harry Fisher, MBA, PMP, CQM, CSQE - WHITTMANHART
More on the way!
