Resume

Andre Gagnon

Portsmouth, NH

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andygagnon

Senior WordPress Engineer

I am a Senior WordPress Developer with 30+ years of software engineering experience. I’ll build a fast, secure, stable, responsive custom website that will meet your goals.

Development Skills

• LAMP stack: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
• HTML/CSS, SASS
• MySQL Queries
• Linux, Bash, Scripting, Grunt, Gulp, Git
• Lando, Docker
• Web API 
• DNS Zone configuration
• Debugging: VS Code, Chrome Dev Tools, XDebug, Query Monitor
• Optimization: GTMetrix, Chrome Dev Tools, WebPageTest, Pingdom
• Accessibility Testing: Lighthouse, Wave
• WordPress Hosting Platforms: WPEngine, Pantheon, SiteGround
• Unreal Engine real-time 3D applications.

WordPress Skills

• Site Migrations to WordPress e.g. from Joomla, Drupal, etc.
• Gutenberg Block Editor 
• Custom Blocks
• WooCommerce with Payment Gateways
• Custom Data Import and Search/Filter
• Custom Plugin Design and Development
• Membership Sites
• Paywalled Content
• Developed themes using Roots / Bedrock / Sage with Composer.
• Custom Themes: Mobile Responsive, Branded
• Calendars  for Events
• WordPress Site Speed Optimization
• WordPress Care Plans: Updates, Security, Backups.
• Fix hacked WordPress websites, remove malicious code and data.
• Live and breathe WordPress.  Knowledge of its inner workings allow me to leverage code and data to take advantage of WordPress’ strengths.
• Bedrock composer system with Sage theme using Laravel blade components.
• ACF Blocks.

WordPress Plugins

• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and ACF Blocks
• AppPresser
• All in One WordPress Migration
• Code Snippets
• Contact Form 7
• Generate Press Premium
• Gutenberg for Full Site Editing
• One Login SSO-SAML
• OptinMonster
• Query Monitor
• LearnDash LMS
• Relevanssi Search
• Restrict Content Pro
• The Events Calendar
• Uncanny Automator
• UpdraftPlus
• User Switching
• WooCommerce
• WooCommerce Plugins: Subscriptions, Memberships, One Page Checkout, Composite Products, Product Bundles, Payment Gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Square), Conditional Shipping and Payments
• WordFence Security
• WP Forms
• WP Migrate
• Yoast SEO

Project Management Skills

• Design data architectures to get control of unstructured data.
• Work with image files for optimization.
• Build a process and a timeline for a website project.
• Work closely with clients, not wasting their time and finding the optimal solutions.
• Excellent communication. Regular status updates.
• Can execute the stages of web development: discover, sitemap, wireframing, data architecture, development, launch.
• Can use Slack for communication on projects.
• Can work with a client to write a proposal with clear options.

Design Skills

• Custom WordPress Theme development based  on (_s) underscores base theme combined with Bootstrap for responsive web design.
• Custom templates for The Event Calendar, WooCommerce.
• Use GeneratePress foundation theme to rapidly build custom WordPress websites.
• All sites are mobile responsive.
• Build sites for accessibility, WCAG 2.1 compliance.
• Easy user experience (UX) is a must.

Data, Programming Skills, Best Practices

• Enjoy solving problems with software and approach it like solving a puzzle.
• You should be able to get your data/content in and out of your website.
• Use organized data driven websites.  Use spreadsheets and CSV for data import.
• Create easy to use data models.
• Build site on a solid software foundation.
• Limit the use of plugins i.e. software modules:  increases risk and degrades performance.
• Sites should be fast, always.  Slow pages are unacceptable.
• Sites should be secure.
• It should be easy to navigate the website and find what you are looking for.
• Can do an audit of the page loading process to identify problems.
• Build efficient, no-nonsense software solutions.

History Museum Skills

• Digital Ecosystem building for marketing, commerce, office automation.
• Donations, membership, online store.
• Event calendar
• Ticketing
• Online map data integrations
• How To Visit the Museum pages.
• Online collections; micro-collections for exhibits
• Collection search and filter.
• Email List sign up
• Build a custom digital publishing platform.
• Build a site with branding and custom page design.
• SEO for increasing traffic
• Traffic analytics and site metrics.

Game Development Skills

• Real-time 3D graphics in Unreal Engine, Godot.
• Real world terrain modelling
• Data driven game design, separating code from data.
• 3D model building in Blender for import to game engines with texture maps, rigging for animation.
• Texture map creation in Gimp
• Code development debugging in VS Code and JetBrains Rider
• C++ code design and development
• Speed optimization to maximize framerate
• 3D matrix mathematics
• Build game demos across several platforms (PC, Mac OS, Android, iOS, WebAssembly).
• Developed a physics flight model for simulating jet flight.

Web Developer Work Experience (self-employed),  2010-Present

(Internal employee website – Enterprise-level – New York Times)

Worked with a digital marketing agency (Imarc) as a lead web engineer on a team to implement a new internal WordPress website, At the Times, for the 6,000 employees of the New York Times.

• Worked with Imarc UX designers, and Times engineers to design the data architecture of the website.  
• Wrote specs for external developers to build custom blocks and page templates for WordPress.  
• Worked with Imarc front end developers to implement custom blocks using ACF for a new editing experience for the client in the Block Editor.
•  The WordPress theme was based on Bedrock/Sage/Composer and the site ran in a Docker environment.
• Led team in transition of existing content from Classic WordPress to the Block Editor (over 3000 pages).
• Worked closely with the internal team to migrate data and create custom blocks.
• Developed a custom theme for WordPress using the bedrock system of development used in a docker environment.
• Worked closely with Times engineers to explain WordPress structure and customizations during site hand-off.

https://unitedjetaviation.com

Worked as a web consultant to advise, build, and launch a digital marketing website for a startup.

• Built a small website, quickly on WordPress CMS.
• Site is fast, secure and effectively communicates to visitors.
• Site is responsive, accessible, and search engine optimized.

(Internal sales enablement website – Enterprise-level – Extreme Networks)

Worked with a team to build a LMS for Extreme Networks, a cloud networking corporation.

• Created secure SSO into WordPress for 2 different groups with Salesforce and Azure accounts. Supported 8,000 and 6,000 users respectively.
• Create custom WordPress plugins to modify LearnDash scoring and created command line tools for building custom reports.
• Matched WordPress theme with corporate branding.

https://byo.com https://winemakermag.com (Enterprise-level)

Built custom publishing and paywall system for 2 how-to print magazines.

• Used WooCommerce and add-on subscription and membership plugins to build a payed subscription membership site.
• Restricted published content with paywall.
• Migrated how-to content from Joomla to WordPress
• Migrated store with 100 products from Joomla to WordPress WooCommerce.
• Imported unstructured content from Adobe InDesign to WordPress.
• Publishing supported 8,000 users, generating $6,000/month.
• Use Google Analytics and Search Console to make certain migration did not change Search index rankings.
• Built sites from the ground up using the WordPress CMS with a custom theme based on Bootstrap and Advanced Custom Fields.

https://inquiringmind.com

Built a custom publishing system for a non-profit print journal.

• Worked closely with the editor to build 1,200 articles for 50 issues.
• Did SEO on website for improved organic search
• Increased visitor traffic 3x, from 1,500 to 5,000 unique visitors per month.
• Created a custom WordPress theme based on Bootstrap.
• Built a search system with type-ahead assist to exact terms.
• Organized content by author, topic, keyword, cover artist, column, title.
• Installed a donation system and newsletter sign up.
• Migrated site from HTML to WordPress CMS.

http://inbostonhairsalon.com/

Built a website for a beauty salon that needed their customers to make appointments.

• Custom mobile responsive theme based on Bootstrap.
• UX design focussed on ease of making an appointment by phone.
• Worked with a photographer to build an inspiring photo collection of staff and site.

https://stoutoakfarm.com

Worked as a web developer to build a website acting as an information and store hub for an organic farm.

• Custom fast, stable theme with farm branding, mobile-responsive based on Bootstrap and Advanced Custom Fields.
• WooCommerce store with Square payment and Quickbooks accounting integrations.
• Migrated site from Blogger to WordPress CMS.
• Monthly support.

https://vinylnirvana.com

Worked as a web consultant to drive traffic to an online store on site for electronics hobbyists.

• Tuned keywords and SEO to attract 7,000 visitors/month.
• Built WooCommerce site for selling custom builds, restorations, and parts that generates $10,000 / month.
• Supported payment gateways Stripe and Paypal.  Supported shipping calculations for UPS and USPS.
• Built a website using WooCommerce Storefront Theme and created custom code to modify look and feel.
• Use WooCommerce Composite Products to build a variable customer designed product.

https://seacoastharvest.org  https://seacoasteatlocal.org

Worked as a web developer to build 2 custom websites for a non-profit organization supporting locally farmed food.

• Built a custom data import system for directories for 200 local farms, and 53 farmers’ markets locations using Google Sheets.
• Created a search and browse system for custom data
• Imported 1500 blog posts and images from another WordPress site.
• Created a system to display local food available by month.

https://moffattladd.org

Worked as a web consultant with House Museum in a tourist city to help with digital transformation of the organization.

• Set them up with professional domain based email addresses and Google Workspace for Non-Profits.  
• Migrated WordPress website to a faster host for 3X increase in page load speed.
• Improved publishing process by replacing clunky theme and page builder process to modern Block Editor based on GeneratePress foundation theme.

https://norfolkhistoricalsociety.org

Worked in a support role as a web developer for a historical society museum needing digital guidance with their website (ongoing).

• Used WooCommerce for non-profit donations, memberships and an online store.
• Upgraded all web pages from static HTML to WordPress CMS with a custom theme based 

https://basicbusiness.biz

Worked as web developer to maintain a website for a business financial support consultancy.

• Migrated insecure website from Avada/WP Baker to Generate Press / Block Editor publishing system.

(Multiple Sites, retired)

Worked with a road running race business to promote races and support runners on race day.

• Built over a dozen mobile responsive race brochure sites.
• Sites were mobile responsive and provided portable, useful information to runners.
• Created a branded theme for race business.
• Supported sites over many years.

Work Experience before 2010

Web Developer – Self-employed 2005-2009

Organic Farmer – Self-employed 2005-2009

Game Developer – Electronic Arts, THQ. 1987-2003

Software Engineer – Applied Materials 1984-1986

Electrical Engineer – Lockheed 1983-1984

Education

Studied Electrical Engineering at University of New Hampshire, BSEE 1983

Hobbies

Running, reading, solving crossword puzzles, gardening, cooking.