Working With Rails

I’m a Software Engineer working to create insanely great applications that have a real impact on the lives of their users. I’m passionate about beautiful and highly functional user interfaces, application security, and elegant code.

As for my experience with Rails, I’ve been working with Rails since December of 2005. I’ve had 2 patches accepted into the rails core. I’ve also contributed the integration for Authorize.Net Automated Recurring Billing and Customer Information Manager services into the widely used payment processing library ActiveMerchant. I’ve presented at the Northern Virginia Ruby Users Group on the Liquid Templating language.

Experience

Cofounder at SandwichBoard, LLC September 2007 – Present

I am the co-founder of SandwichBoard. We have created a service that we’re confident is the best way to create and maintain a restaurant’s website. We’ve worked really hard to make managing a restaurant’s website with SandwichBoard as easy as writing an email, updating a Facebook profile, or writing a blog entry.

Our software allows restaurant owners and managers to update their menus, events, locations, and news from a web browser without having to learn anything about HTML or web design.

Every aspect of site design is completely customizable, including their HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Within minutes restaurant managers can create a simple site, and in about an hour they can create a complete website that attracts new customers and drives repeat business.

Lead Ruby on Rails Developer for Trusty’s (Consulting) August 2008 – Present

Trustys is a review site for service providers. Think LinkedIn crossed with Yelp. It has been featured on TechCrunch

I took over all Ruby on Rails development and Systems Administration in August. I’ve developed new features, instituted automated testing, extensively refactored the code base to a more idiomatic Rails style, and improved the stability of the deployment environment.

Review of My Work at Trusty’s

“Patrick brings passion and dedication to web application development. He’s currently our lead Ruby on Rails developer for Trusty’s, and his thoughtful approach and insistence on best practices have tremendously improved the site. As an entrepreneur, Patrick understands the need for attention to detail and a consistent user experience. I’m thrilled that he’s on the team, and would highly recommend his work.” – Kit Cody (Founder)

Systems Integration Analyst at Lockheed Martin February 2005 – August 2007

In 2006 I received the highest possible performance rating, and my manager wrote that I had “extremely strong analytical and programming skills”, “excellent communication skills”, and was “not only someone who can be trusted, but also someone who is personally committed to ensuring a project’s success.”

Designed and implemented LM’s first successful Reduced Sign On web application with an external vendor. The application uses RSA asymmetric encryption and SHA-1 hashing to transparently log the user into an external, partner run website. I gave a presentation on cryptography, RSO, and my application at the Mission Critical Enterprise Systems conference in Orlando.

Worked from conception through 3 major upgrades on a web application described as “a core management tool, with a portion of executives’ bonuses tied to improvements in their unit’s ranking” in the Washington Post. I used AJAX and modern web HCI patterns like the “Yellow Fade Technique” to provide a responsive UI.

Software Developer at Agnik, LLC August 2003 – August 2004

• Led the User Interface design and implementation for a project that won a $750,000 Air Force SBIR Grant
• Led a team of four in designing and implementing the embedded component of a distributed Vehicle Data Mining System.
• Interviewed candidates for Software Developer Positions and made hiring recommendations to the CEO and COO
• Designed a module that dynamically generated customizable reports in PDF, RTF, and HTML using XSL-FO and Apache FOP.
• Earned promotion from Junior Software Developer Intern to Software Developer

Education

University of Maryland College Park

BS, Computer Science, 2000 – 2005

Dean’s List: Spring, 2001; Fall, 2002 Associate Dean’s List: Spring 2002; Spring 2005

• Dean’s Scholarship recipient
• Citation in Spanish Language and Culture
• Financed 100% of educational and living expenses
• Activities and Societies: Club Soccer, Semester in Spain