- Why are you looking for a new opportunity?
- What are you looking for in your next opportunity?
- What did you do at your last 2 companies?
- What is your leadership experience?
- How do you stay up to date with Technologies?
- What do others say about you?
After enjoying a fulfilling 30-year career, I recently encountered a new experience: being part of a Reduction In Force (RIF). I consider myself fortunate that it took this long for such an occurrence to arise.
I would like to utilize my expertise in react to deliver value. I love building applications with the end user in mind. I also enjoy building component library's. I love mentoring other developers and watching them grow.
Service Channel
In my role as a Front End Technical Lead, I took charge of enhancing the overall quality of our front-end software systems and elevating the skills of fellow developers. I accomplished this through rigorous design and code reviews, documenting best practices, and the formulation of code review standards. Additionally, I provided one-on-one mentoring to team members. As a result of these efforts, we witnessed accelerated feature development, better software performance, all while maintaining a high standard of quality and reduction in tech-debt.
Furthermore, I spearheaded the design and implementation of a component library in line with our design system. This library found utility across multiple teams, contributing to a more consistent and cohesive user interface experience.
As needed, I was also an individual contributor to Service Channel Managed.
Northwestern Mutual
I spearheaded the development of Northwestern Mutual's mobile application. Posting+ helped Financial Representatives (FR) call clients and easily track activity in the CRM. One of the challenges of the project was the Siebel CRM was getting replaced with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. I architected the frontend in such a way the we could seamlessly replace the backend.
One of the rewarding aspects of this project was the ongoing engagement with stakeholders. We actively sought and incorporated their feedback from the start of the project. This allowed us to swiftly adapt and fine-tune the software, making it not only functional but also enjoyable.
Here is some user feedback I received:
- I can now make 12 calls in the time it took to make 4.
- I've never heard the word intuitive used to describe software built here.
- Wow, this is great. You've eliminated all our excuses for not phoning.
The majority of my leadership experience centers around the realm of technology. This entails making critical decisions regarding the selection of tools, libraries, frameworks, as well as overseeing and facilitating code and design reviews. In addition, I've been heavily involved in mentoring and guiding developers, as well as documenting processes and best practices.
Another significant aspect of my leadership journey involves nurturing and enhancing the skills of fellow professionals through mentoring and the establishment of structured learning paths.
Furthermore, I have played a pivotal role in the assessment of technical talent for hiring purposes and conducting performance evaluations.
I've never had direct reports. I have held leadership roles, including serving as a scrum master, team lead, and being entrusted with the responsibility of leading Northwestern Mutual's inaugural tiger team initiative.
Tiger teams are collaborative units that pair application development teams with Northwestern Mutual financial representatives nationwide to pinpoint areas where digital solutions can create value. Subsequently, these teams embark on expedited development exercises to create, test, refine, and deliver functional solutions.
I assembled a hand-picked team that journeyed to our Seattle office to devise an add-on for Posting+. Our close collaboration with the Seattle office enabled us to deconstruct a complex and convoluted process rapidly. By developing various workflows and actively incorporating feedback, we swiftly delivered a streamlined solution. This resulted in reduced training requirements for new financial representatives and a decrease in compliance issues, ultimately boosting retention rates. Additionally, all financial representatives could serve more clients with reduced paperwork, leading to substantial cost savings of over $32,000,000 and earning Northwestern Mutual the prestigious Eye on Innovation Award.
Keeping pace with the ever-evolving tech landscape is a core element of my professional journey. Here's how I ensure I remain at the forefront of the latest developments:
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Podcasts: I'm an enthusiastic consumer of various tech-focused podcasts that hold sway in the industry. Among my favorites are "JavaScript Jabber," "Syntax," "Frontend Happy Hour" (I've worked with Stacy London), "This Week in Startups," and "React Round Up." Moreover, I was honored to be a guest on "Developer on Fire"
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Meetups: Active participation in local meetups keeps me attuned to the exciting happenings in our community. These gatherings offer a direct and hands-on way to connect with fellow tech enthusiasts and stay informed about local trends and developments.
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Online Courses: When my curiosity is piqued by a particular subject, I turn to trusted online platforms like Egghead, Frontend Masters, and Pluralsight. These resources have proven invaluable in enriching my knowledge and refining my skill set.
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Hands-On Learning: I firmly believe in learning through practical application. I don't shy away from rolling up my sleeves, creating tangible examples, and learning from my missteps. It is in the crucible of experimentation and problem-solving that I have found the most profound growth.
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Resisting Shiny Object Syndrome: Although I vigilantly track emerging technologies, I exercise caution in swiftly adopting each new framework or library that emerges. I assess their relevance to current needs before committing. My preference lies in mastering a curated set of technologies, enabling me to deliver value through code that I can comprehensively elucidate to others.
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Valuing Timeless Knowledge: I place great importance on timeless knowledge. Some of my most treasured talks and resources are more than a decade old. I firmly believe that if information retains its relevance and value over an extended period, it must possess exceptional quality.
In essence, my approach to technology is rooted in a harmonious blend of staying well-informed, actively engaging with the tech community, hands-on experiential learning, and a judicious assessment of the enduring significance of knowledge. This approach equips me to be both adaptable and grounded in the bedrock of proven principles.
Yegor Mialyk direct manager
Andy is a talented React/Redux engineer and architect who excels in mentoring colleagues and understands the significance of design systems. He is a master at developing robust React applications, leveraging Redux for state management, and ensuring efficient data flow within complex architectures. One of Andy's standout qualities is his dedication to mentoring others. He possesses excellent communication skills and actively invests time and effort in guiding and supporting the team. In addition to his mentoring skills, Andy recognizes the importance of design systems in creating consistent user interfaces. He understands how a well-structured design system can enhance productivity, streamline the development process, and maintain a unified user experience across products. Andy is a talented React/Redux engineer and architect who excels in mentoring colleagues and understands the significance of design systems. He is a master at developing robust React applications, leveraging Redux for state management, and ensuring efficient data flow within complex architectures. One of Andy's standout qualities is his dedication to mentoring others. He possesses excellent communication skills and actively invests time and effort in guiding and supporting the team. In addition to his mentoring skills, Andy recognizes the importance of design systems in creating consistent user interfaces. He understands how a well-structured design system can enhance productivity, streamline the development process, and maintain a unified user experience across products.
June 22, 2023
Andy is a great developer who is both innovative and driven. During our time working together at ServiceChannel, I had the pleasure of collaborating with him on the development of our first company-wide Design System. Andy's approach to this project was truly impressive, as he not only created high-quality components but also conducted extensive research on usability, actively sought out feedback from other developers and designers, and thoroughly tested and documented his work.
What sets Andy apart is his ability to consistently bring fresh ideas and new insights to the table, no matter how complex or simple the component was. His dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in design and development is truly inspiring, and it's clear that he is always striving to improve his craft.
Overall, I would highly recommend Andy to any team looking for a talented and dedicated developer. His passion for creating exceptional user experiences and his willingness to go above and beyond make him an invaluable asset to any organization.Andy is a great developer who is both innovative and driven. During our time working together at ServiceChannel, I had the pleasure of collaborating with him on the development of our first company-wide Design System. Andy's approach to this project was truly impressive, as he not only created high-quality components but also conducted extensive research on usability, actively sought out feedback from other developers and designers, and thoroughly tested and documented his work. What sets Andy apart is his ability to consistently bring fresh ideas and new insights to the table, no matter how complex or simple the component was. His dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in design and development is truly inspiring, and it's clear that he is always striving to improve his craft. Overall, I would highly recommend Andy to any team looking for a talented and dedicated developer. His passion for creating exceptional user experiences and his willingness to go above and beyond make him an invaluable asset to any organization.
July 14, 2023
Andy is a well rounded front end react developer I had the pleasure to work with. He has excellent knowledge of the front end tools and technologies. He did a great job of coming up with the front end coding standards for React. His code reviews are very insightful and he is a great mentor for the developers.
June 15, 2023
Joni Reese direct manager
Andy has had a very successful 2020 year! Andy has received very positive feedback from others (former coworkers) , especially with regard to recruiting and building NM talent. Although new to the Benefits team & LTC mid-yr, Andy led and mentored the brand new LTC Modernization UI team. Additionally, Andy developed many of the UI capabilities for the LTC Modernization work while leading the UI team. Andy participated in screen design work when we lost our designer and has been a key presenter in many UI demos to the product and business teams.
Andy exercised his expertise and wealth of web development to help drive teams with best practices and level up their skills.
Andy is passionate about UX and making the UI better and more intuitive for the business. He has learned about much of the functionality of the LTC Payment Tool to replicate that functionality w/o requirements. He is a great mentor and team player and really takes ownership for the entire UI team. The feedback from the UI team has been positive.
March 15, 2021
Eric Helwig direct manager
Andy is one of the most passionate engineers I have met. His focus on usability and overall design made him a valuable asset on my team. With his thoughtful approach to design front end use, and his deep knowledge and experience in multiple languages, he is capable of simplifying the most complex requests for an effective application. I would not hesitate to bring Andy back on my team again in the future.
March 12, 2021
Andy did an outstanding job building and supporting a custom mobile application for my company. He has an amazing ability to dive into both the technical details and the customer experience. However, it is his ability to understand the customer and the desired user experience that separates him from others. I truly miss our brainstorming sessions together.
March 17, 2016
Andy is passionate about usability and design and stays focused on delivering value to application stakeholders. He also keeps up to date with recent development trends and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with other members of the team. He was very easy going and fun to work with.
July 27, 2012
Chad Albrecht direct manager
Andy is a great self-starter and was able to build out what was asked of him very quickly. He is bright, charismatic, and funny and was an asset to my team. Given the opportunity, I would hire Andy again.
July 22, 2008
Tom Helverson direct manager
Andy worked under my supervision as a lead software engineer from December 1999 through June 2001. QTI is the engineering division of Quad/Graphics. We create electronic control products for the print industry, which are sold worldwide. Andy worked on the user interfaces for several of our products, which run under Windows NT.
While Andy was here, he helped create a set of reusable software components, which enable us to standardize the “look and feel” of our user interfaces. The tools, which he helped to design and code, have enabled us to reduce our development time.
I was very impressed by Andy's in depth knowledge of Windows programming. He became a resource for other developers in our group. He was always good natured and easy to work with, and fit in well with our team.
July 15, 2001