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Blanca Mendizabal Perello

I'm a full-stack software developer, currently focused on modern front-end technologies such as React; Node, and Ruby on Rails. Enthusiastic learner, strong communicator, and reliable team player.

+1 (206) 698 6782 | blanca.mendizabal.perello@gmail.com | Blog | GitHub | LinkedIn | Twitter

Skills

Technical: Front-end development (JavaScript, React) | Back-end development (Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Node.js) | Pair-programming | Test-driven development | Object-oriented design | Agile methodologies

Behavioral: Project management | Problem solving | Adaptability | Communication and collaboration | Empathy

Experience

Front-end Developer at Microsoft via VTeamLabs (Seattle, US) May 2019 -- Now

• Performed accessibility audits for Microsoft Learn.
• Implemented new features and functionality on the main MS Learn codebase, built using TypeScript.
• Improved MS Learn styleguide, showcasing their library of components with live examples.
• Implemented a reusable grid component using React, TypeScript, and Fabric UI.
• Implemented new UI elements and components to support the MS Learn onboarding experience.

Author at Telerik blogs (Remote) Sep 2018 -- Now

• Featured in popular weekly newsletters such as React Status.

Front-end Developer at DevHub (Seattle, US) Oct 2017 -- March 2018

• Fixed and updated the front-end testing framework to allow continuous integration using CircleCI.
• Built new features on the company's main product according to client specifications.
• Refactored the main codebase, built using Backbone and CoffeeScript, splitting code that referred to different projects in order to make it cleaner and more readable to future developers.

Sustainability Consultant at Little Bee Community (London, UK) Oct 2013 -- Aug 2016

• Led a three-year-long project in Africa, defining weekly tasks and monthly milestones, ensuring goals were met on time and on budget.
• Co-designed and launched a hydroponic urban farm in London that reduced crop's water needs by 90% and doubled its yield.
• Reported directly to the CEO, and managed and mentored a team of four interns.
• Played a lead role in developing impact frameworks and reports.

Agricultural Engineer at Battle McCarthy (London, UK) Jan 2013 -- Oct 2013

• Led efforts to maximize food production using hydroponics.
• Created appealing diagrams for shortlisted landscaping competitions.

Environmental Engineer at Aqualogy (AGBAR group) (Madrid, Spain) Sep 2011 -- Sep 2012

• Conducted compliance checks to enforce European laws regarding water treatment.
• Designed a working methodology for the analysis of biological quality parameters of Spanish rivers that ensured best practices on sample collection.

Personal projects

These are some of my side projects. You can see more in my Portfolio page or my GitHub profile.

Flashcards -- React, Jest, Enzyme, Ruby on Rails, RSpec, GitHub OAuth, PostgreSQL -- 45 days

• A self-service tool for users to learn through spaced repetition.
• Once the user is authenticated, they are able to create, edit, and delete flashcards.
• I split the front-end logic into smaller, stateless, well-tested components.
• High test coverage helped keep complexity under control and implement bug-free logic.
• App: groundberry.github.io/flashcards-client | GitHub: github.com/groundberry/flashcards-client

CSS Playground -- React, Jest, Enzyme, HTML5, CSS3 -- 10 days -- Final project at Makers Academy

• A live-editing HTML and CSS tool built by a team of 4.
• Users with no coding experience can create basic website drafts, and download the code.
• Despite being my first time using React, I became productive after just one week.
• I played a key role making sure every member of the team felt heard and valued.
• App: css-play.herokuapp.com | GitHub: github.com/groundberry/CSS-playground

Flickr Gallery -- React, Jest, Enzyme, Sinatra -- 5 days

• A SPA that retrieves images from the Flickr API so users can search for pictures.
• I built a small proxy using Sinatra, to deal with CORS and to avoid exposing API keys.
• Designed following a mobile-first approach.
• App: groundberry.github.io/flickr-client | GitHub: github.com/groundberry/flickr-client

Education

Software Development Self-Training Jan 2016 -- Now

Self-directed study with online sources and textbooks focusing on:

• Single-page apps using React; APIs using Express, Sinatra, and Rails; algorithms and data structures.

On-Site Software Development Bootcamp at Makers Academy (London, UK) Aug 2016 -- Dec 2016

• Highly-selective 16-week full-time program where I learnt a new technology every week, completing all assignments with great feedback from my coach.
• During the course I showed excellent communication and collaborative skills by helping classmates with their assignments and questions. I also started my own blog, where I posted weekly, and ended up winning an award.

M.Sc. Environmental Engineering and Management at EOI Business School (Madrid, Spain) 2010 -- 2011

B.Sc Agricultural Engineering at Technical University of Madrid (Madrid, Spain) 2000 -- 2008