Résumé

My plans for the future change often, but stick to the same basic guidelines. I want to do what I love: web development and backpacking. An odd couple, but I’ve been known to be odd myself. Whether my future includes being part of a web development company and backpacking in my free time, or being part of a backpacking company and developing applications in my free time, I’m not sure; but I am sure of one thing: It will be one of the two.

Examples of Work

Sugar-High.net (2008 – Present)

This is a fan site for Sugar Rush, a multi-player online arena combat game created by Klei Entertainment. My third prototype forum was released here (as well as RavenLeague.com at a later date). It included a Private Messaging System, Personal Profiles, Account Preferences, multiple themes, and XML sitemap integration.

RavenLeague (2008 – Present)

This is the website of RavenLeague, a guild present in several online games, but based in MapleStory. This was also where I built my second forum, roughly based on my first (originally created for frohsenwebdesign.com). This included an updated layout, better coding practices, and was heavily tested by members of RavenLeague.

Allan Reed (2005 – Present)

Work began on Allan’s website in 2005. As of 2009, it still uses my original content management system (with a few tweaks). Over the years, I have updated the layout to XHTML 1.0 standards, including transforming the links into two unordered lists (text links – images come in from the stylesheet) and removing all tables from the layout.

Peninsula Township (2005)

This website is owned and operated by Peninsula Township. This was the first time my content management system was put into use outside of my personal websites. Even though it was only my first attempt at writing one, it is still in use as of 2009.

Frohsen Web Design (2004 – Present)

This is my main website. Although originally created in 2004, it has had several design and coding changes. It was my first experience writing a content management system in PHP. Although the original code was basic, it served its purpose well and taught me a lot along the way. It also featured my first forum, written in PHP as well. Since its creation, I have updated the code to conform to XHTML 1.0 standards.

Education

Northern Michigan University (2006 – 2008)

While attending NMU, I spent the majority of my day backpacking, hiking, and rock climbing. Once the sun went down, I could usually be found on my computer working on a website. Whether I was using Photoshop or GIMP, Windows or Linux, I was always working on some aspect of a website. Most of my design work was done in Windows, while my development work was done in Linux (specifically Ubuntu). Although lacking in Web Development classes, NMU does provide each student with an IBM Thinkpad, which has met my every web design/development need to date.

  • Several hours dedicated to Web Design/Development daily

Traverse Bay Area Career Tech Center (2004 – 2006)

Beginning in the fall of 2004, I started taking a web design class at the Career Tech Center. Since I was already skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I skipped those job titles and began with Photoshop. Once I had completed Photoshop, my professor trusted me enough to work on my own. I worked on my own with Flash to create a basic Flash Game. Along with learning how to use Photoshop and Flash, I also built websites for a few clients that my professor referred to me. In my second year, I began to teach myself PHP using a server I rented on my own. I encouraged the CTC to adopt PHP as a job title; they did so in 2007.

  • Learned how to use Photoshop and Flash
  • Taught myself PHP
  • Built websites for three clients

Kalkaska High School (2002 – 2006)

In eighth grade, I took a test that suggests possible careers. Below astronaut was web designer. Since learning how to become an astronaut at home is a bit difficult, I decided to learn how websites work. Throughout high school, I took the core classes along with web design classes at the Career Tech Center in Traverse City, MI. I graduated in 2006 and continued on to Northern Michigan University.

  • Graduated May, 2006

Work Experience

ForeWord Reviews (January 2010 – Present)

I was brought onto the team at ForeWord to build a new website. It has since turned into a project to make myself obsolete. Why would I want to make myself obsolete? Well, we all know I, and those like me, will never become obsolete. Regardless, the goal of the project I’m working on is to transfer as much of the current flow of work from outside applications to a central location (the website). This is, by no means, an easy project, but it must be done. Once it is finished, my time will no longer be spent fixing bugs, adding content to the website, managing advertisements, or creating newsletters… instead, I will be able to focus on building in more functionality and making it THE place to go for book reviews, information, and awards.

Target (November 2008 – June, 2010)

When projects became scarce through Heritage Web Solutions, I looked for an alternative flow of income. As I have always respected Target, both as a company and a store, it was only right that I apply there. I was hired in as a backroom team member, locating backstock in the backroom and pulling it back out as needed. I worked both individually and as part of a team to complete tasks on time. As I spent more time with Target, I learned more about the entire process, and was promoted to a backroom trainer in less than a year after being hired.

  • Team trainer within a year
  • Top Performer within a year (equivalent of Employee of the Month)
  • Worked individually and as part of a team
  • Fast-paced environment with little room for error (99.5% accuracy was expected)

Staples (November 2008 – October 2009)

I began working for Staples around the same time as I did for Target, and for the same reasons. My primary responsibilities included unloading trucks, placing merchandise on the shelves, and helping customers find what they were looking for. Although I was never trained for Easy Tech, I often helped customers with computers and other related products. I also helped to train new office supply associates. I discontinued employment with Staples due to the lack of free time I had with two jobs.

  • Employee of the Month within six months
  • Helped train new associates

Heritage Web Solutions (March 2007 – November 2008)

While working on my own website in March of 2007, I saw an advertisement looking for freelancers. Naturally, I clicked through to see the details. The hiring process was simple: they provided several images and I needed to, within twenty-four hours, build a website similar to another static graphic provided. I completed the test and returned it on time. After being hired, I began picking up projects and creating websites for clients. I was one of the first freelancers hired and worked on my own to complete projects by provided deadlines. Within the next year, the outsource department grew substantially, leading to more management joining the team. Although the number of projects coming in were growing in number, they couldn’t keep up with the growing number of designers joining the team. As projects became scarce, I looked for other sources of income.

  • Only contact with clients was via phone and email
  • Excellent communication skills were needed
  • Deadlines were typically a week from assignment
  • W3C standards were expected

References

References are available upon request.

Contact Information

Phone: 231.492.8015