Resume of James Gourgoutis
Please note: my resume is made available here for informational purposes only; I am not actively seeking new career opportunites at this time.James W. Gourgoutis email: jimg -at- yojimg -dot- net San Francisco, CA _Career Objective__ I wish to join a web-development/engineering team within a progressive internet organization that is focused on creating and maintaining rich Web 2.0 applications. I am passionate about clean web site infrastructure and evangelize modeling web sites as homogenous systems instead of collections of individual pages -- both of which ensure a high-quality, consistent user experience with excellent presentational power and flexibility. The ideal position will leverage my proven skills in writing both back-end/server-side code and client-side UI presentation/functionality, encourage self-direction and hands-on learning, and offer excellent growth potential. _Qualifications__ Responsible, detail- and results-oriented professional with extensive experience in engineering and production of large scale, database-driven web systems and applications. Special skills and expertise in: * Web scripting languages (Mason, PHP, JSP, etc.) * Object-oriented Javascript & AJAX * PERL * Cross-browser compatible semantic HTML markup & CSS layout * CSS syndication architecture * Bugzilla, PVCS Tracker, & TeamTrack bug reporting/tracking applications * UNIX/Linux/Windows/Macintosh platforms * CVS and MS Visual SourceSafe revision management tools * Apache web-server configuration * Working knowledge of SQL & Quest Software's "Toad" DB utility * Hands-on experience with XML/XSLT _Professional Experience __ Yahoo! Inc, Sunnyvale, CA. Front-end Engineer (November 2006 to present) I'm a member of the team that is responsible for developing and maintaining the Yahoo! Front Page (http://www.yahoo.com). Lots to learn -- More later! Stubhub.com, San Francisco, CA. Client Software Engineer (April 2006 to November 2006) I was part of a two-person team providing client-side/UI engineering expertise (XHTML/CSS/Javascript/AJAX/XSLT) to the engineering group via cross-functional project development teams. We also provided technical support and mentorship to other departments within the company as needed. (http://stubhub.com) * Designed and developed a prototype semantic XHTML/table-less layout for all Stubhub web pages, which will replace the current nested-table layout approach, improve accessibility and the user experience, decrease page weight and rendering times, and increase search-engine rankings. * Worked on a project to overhaul the ticket-sales confirmation process, migrating existing pages to a Java-based XML/XSLT framework; my specific responsibilities include creating proof-of-concept XHTML pages from design mockups, developing an XSLT-based templating system for the relevant web pages, implementing the previously-mentioned semantic layout, and writing Javascript code needed to support page functionality. Live365.com, Foster City, CA. Web Software Engineer (February 2002 to April 2006) As a member of a small, tightly-knit product-development team, I worked closely with other engineers, web developers, UI designers, and QA to develop new features and maintain existing functionality for the Live365 website. I was responsible for front-end Mason/CGI/HTML/CSS/Javascript functionality, as well as back-end custom PERL APIs which encapsulate business logic and provide database interaction. I maintained the ad-delivery system and oversaw its interactions with third-party adservers (DART, Zedo, Google), providing infrastructure and technical expertise to the Advertising Sales team during high-dollar, custom ad-campaigns. Also, I was the sole Mason evangelist at Live365 -- promoting efficient website architecture, researching upgrade paths, and studying advanced techniques. (http://www.live365.com) * Architected the Live365 Station Page Templating System to provide additional content and features, and to facilitate syndication and cobranding partnerships within a scaleable framework. * Engineered the Live365 user-interface for Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center, which expanded Live365's listenership and potential subscriber base via inclusion on every new Media Center PC. * Designed and implemented an easily-maintainable system using Mason and data files supporting an HP co-sponsored "Free MP3 Downloads" web promotion, which represents significant revenue to the company. * Responsible for the technical integration of Spring Street Networks Personals (data and co-branded pages) to create the Personals365 feature. * Created a self-referencing PERL API tool (similar to javadoc) using Mason to provide easy web-based custom PERL library API function lookup. Later, I expanded this tool to also work with Live365's extensive set of Javascript libraries. Prior to this, there was no accessible documentation for any of this code. * Rebuilt the web-component of the Live365 order/check-out system to emphasize quality and maintainability. Prior to this the shopping-cart system was unable to support simultaneous purchases of multiple items, which led to customer confusion and lost sales. * Engineered the "artist-bar" dynamic header on the Live365 homepage for fast and easy content updates. * Worked closely with other software engineers to develop the web-based UI for the Live365 Broadcast Scheduler control panel, used by thousands of Live365 broadcasters around the world to manage their radio programs. * Designed and implemented a graphical tab-style navigational system, reusable on both Mason- and CGI-based webpages, which streamlines maintenance of navigational links by centrally locating their parameters in one file. * Overhauled the Live365 ad-delivery system to employ Zedo.com as the primary ad-server, giving Ad-Sales greater control, flexibility, and reporting power over the ad-campaigns they sell and run. * Live365.com 2002-2004 "Best Radio Website" WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Website Development. (http://webaward.org) Independent Contractor, San Francisco, CA. Web Production/Development (May 2001 to January 2002) I performed in various web-production and development roles as independent contractor. Clients included WellsFargo (eStore), Listen.com (Rhapsody demo), and MacroMedia (Dreamweaver). Listen.com, San Francisco, CA. Web Production Software Engineer (February 2000 to April 2001) I interacted with other Engineers, Designers, Content Producers, Partner Account Managers, and QA Engineers to develop, produce, and maintain multiple dynamically-generated, syndicated versions of the Listen.com web site, using Java, JSP, HTML, and CSS to provide content, applications, and advertising into a templated, component-based framework. (http://www.listen.com) Intuit, Inc., Mountain View, CA. Web Systems Engineer (November 1998 to January 2000) I provided ownership, expertise, development, and maintenance for a large-scale, high-traffic, dynamic web-site template system, giving infrastructure and brand-identity to the entire Quicken.com web site and its various co-branded versions. (http://www.quicken.com) Web Production Engineer (July 1997 to November 1998) I provided technical framework and support of Quicken.com web pages for Editorial department by working with content producers and other engineers to develop and maintain web-page code. I also worked closely with a technical writer to document the proprietary DCG scripting language and develop a multi-focus training program applicable to a variety of skill levels. As a self-directed study into higher-level DCG programming, I created several web site QA testing tools, which were widely adopted. GALT Technologies, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. Team Leader/Document Designer (April 1996 to July 1997) I was responsible for the day-to-day development, management, and open-issue job-prioritization of various partner and site-specific online presentations at the NETworth web site (formerly http://networth.galt.com). I supervised a part-time document developer through training, work assignment, motivation, and evaluation. I also designed and implemented an easily-maintainable online organizational chart for the company intranet. _Education & Professional Development__ Java: Discovering Its Power (September-November 2004) University of California--Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, CA. Advanced Java: Developing with APIs (September-December 2001) University of California--Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, CA. Introduction to Programming in Java (July-September 2000) University of California--Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, CA. C- and PERL-Programming Coursework (October 1997 to December 1999) University of California--Santa Cruz Extension, Sunnyvale, CA. Graduate Coursework, Mechanical Engineering (September 1992-April 1996) University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering (September 1988-August 1992) University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. (Excellent personal and professional references available upon request.) ### end ###
