A website that displays well in any browser/device combination is critical. Not only is this essential for businesses to succeed, it aligns with my values. Universal accessibility means universal. I happily support legacy browsers and any screen-width device.
ADA Compliance and universal accessibility is not a new concept. Businesses need to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility. Fortunately, that effort is not hard or complicated. Developers simply need to consider that users will engage a website in various ways. Whether it is an e-reader or key-stroking through a website, proper structure and programming make websites readily accessible to all users.
Must: Requirements that must be satisfied in the final solution for the solution to be considered a success.
Should: High priority items that should be included in the solution, if possible.
Could: Requirements which are considered desirable but not necessary.
Won't: Requirements that stakeholders have agreed will not be implemented in a given release, but may be considered for the future. This is also a place to document undesirable outcomes.
The Eisenhower Matrix meets MoSCoW Method
Understanding that a task may be urgent but not important, vice versa, or worse, helps to maintain a focus on that which is urgent and important.
Urgent
Not Urgent
Important
Do immediately and personally
Assign an end date and do personally
Not Important
Delegate
Drop
We can take this concept, and apply it to the MoSCoW. Swap in the ideas of Need and Want, and you end up with a MoSCoW Matrix.
Need
Don't Need
Want
Must
Could
Don't (necessarily) Want
Should
Won't
In my world, scope creep is a myth. There is only value creep.
Lean Manufacturing is a production method aimed primarily at reducing times within a production system. The term is often shortened as "Lean" and is often tossed around. For me, Lean Manufacturing represents my dedication to efficiency as well as evidence-based decision making.
A great summary of Lean Manufacturing concepts comes from Spear and Bowen's four rules which characterize the "Toyota DNA":
All work shall be highly specified as to content, sequence, timing, and outcome.
Every customer-supplier connection must be direct, and there must be an unambiguous yes or no way to send requests and receive responses.
The pathway for every product and service must be simple and direct.
Any improvement must be made in accordance with the scientific method, under the guidance of a teacher, at the lowest possible level in the organization.
The Theory of Constraints
The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a management paradigm that views any manageable system as being limited in achieving more of its goals by a very small number of constraints. Any system or set of processes has limiting steps and those constraints must be remedied or leveraged. The key concepts are the drum, buffer and rope.
The step which is the overall limiting factor is the drum and this sets the overall pace of production. Between steps, a buffer must exist to prevent steps from "running over" each other. Finally, the fastest process is the rope, pulling the entire process along.
Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement. Many of the methods used in Six Sigma are focused on delivering quality.
Some Six Sigma tools and methods are relatively common and include things like cost–benefit analysis or root cause analysis.
The Cone of Uncertainty
The Cone of Uncertainty is a phenomenon describing how people estimate cost. Graphing cost estimates, taken at various stages in the project will create a predictable cone. Understanding this correlation helps facilitate accurate cost estimates.
"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law." - Douglas Hofstadter
Hofstadter's Law speaks to the concept that those that are doing the work will inherently underestimate the time or effort required to perform a task. A common solution here is to take your estimate and double it. This is a crude solution, but one that is borne out by studying the Cone of Uncertainty.
Parkinson's Law
"Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion" - Cyril Northcote Parkinson
Parkinson's Law is a wonderful tool, but one that is often misapplied. On the one hand, it is a good cautionary tale. If too much time or budget is granted a project, the project will grow to fit the timeline/budget. However, it is often misconstrued to indicate that a project can be completed in any given timeline/budget. While efficiency is good, over-working people is not. Striking a balance when applying Parkinson's Law, is really the key.
There is an additional corollary worth exploring. On occasion, procrastination can produce dramatic results. The danger here, of course, is that procrastination is a tool that must be wielded with caution. While limiting the time for a project can supercharge production, it can also result in tremendous crash and burn.
By becoming interested in the cause, we are less likely to dislike the effect.
Dale Carnegie
My Core Competency
Call it my Hedghog Conept, Ikigai, wheelhouse, or bailiwick ...
I make internet
Things I do ...
My wheelhouse is custom website development (writing code), particularly for websites with robust functionality and via creative solutions.
I’ll fix, enhance, or expand a website you already have. Fixes could be just an evaluation with recommendations, ADA/WCAG compliance corrections, code clean up/de-bugging, improved UI/UX, or adherence to brand standards.
I excel at on-site SEO fundamentals (“technical SEO”). I ensure the preservation of SEO during website work – particularly website rebuilds.
I typically work direct with small businesses but, from time to time, I work with firms and agencies.
I charge by the project, invoice at completion, and accept payments when requested. In every way, I try to be as flexible as possible regarding price and payment.
I focus on quality, efficiency, and innovation.
I value a balance of equity and equality.
Things I don't do ...
I do not provide hosting, support email, or do graphic design. I don't build software or mobile (native) apps. I am versed in these areas (to varying degrees) but these are not my core competencies.
Off-site SEO, advertising/paid search, and keyword research are outside of my wheelhouse. I am happy to offer advice here, but I don't provide these services directly.
I don't typically work with medium or large businesses, because I typically can't service their needs.
I don't have employees, hire contractors, or resell the work of others.
I don't use deceptive pricing policies, such as a subscription model.
I don't let budget constraints get in the way of a quality product or building something awesome.
I don't artificially rush projects and I don't let projects drag on unnecessarily.
I don't charge or accept deposits.
I don't have an hourly rate. I do not work "by the hour" under any circumstances.
Shallow men believe in luck or circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.
The cost to manufacture a good + The desired profit = The total price
If it costs $1 to produce a widget and we want to profit $1 per widget, we will charge $2 per widget.
Cost-plus pricing ignores customers and the competition. The focus is internal and is on cost only.
This is a strongly defensive pricing policy.
Market-Based
Market-Based Pricing
Market-based pricing decides price by looking at the market for a generally accepted price. The basic idea being: if everyone charges $2 per widget, we will too.
Market-based pricing focuses externally and on the competition within the market. This approach ignores cost.
This does not work well for a unique or particularly high-quality product-service bundle because there is little within the market to reference or compare to.
Value Based
Value-Based Pricing
Value-based pricing determines price using a simple approach: we will charge what our consumers think our product is worth.
Our customer think our widgets are worth $2, so we will charge $2.
Value-based pricing focuses on customers: ignoring the competition, and ignoring cost.
This approach works especially well when you have a unique and high-quality product-service bundle. You create value and then capture a return based on the value delivered
I use outcome-based pricing, which is a variation of value-based pricing. At completion, we review requirements and deliverables. We then agree to a fair price that we both find suitable.
Fits any budget
No project minimums.
The client determines a target budget and a project upper-limit a the start.
Scope (via MoSCoW) and budget grow or shrink to accommodate the changing needs of a business owner.
The client decides project cost / price after delivery and when value can be determined.
In every way possible, I aim to be flexible on price.
No deposits
I refuse to accept deposits.
Deposits erode the fundamental trust required to build something amazing together.
Payment on delivery and never any up-front cost.
Payment plans available with up to 12 monthly payments.
The Competency & Credentialing Institute is an industry leader in nursing competency assessment for more than 45 years and certifying over 85,000 nurses all over the world.
This project was a website rebuild moving from Beaver Builder to Gutenberg, while maintaining look and feel. The sitemap was restructured, to create silos and ease of navigation. Functionality was greatly improved and in the case of the coaches map – created anew.
This project, by design, was a multi-phase and staged over time rebuild. Step one, move an existing site from SquareSpace to WordPress.
The first iteration was focused on the CMS migration, improved ADA/WCAG compliance, smoother responsive and general functionality fixes. Some minor changes to look and feel were made, to refine the overall look and feel.
Further details regarding these projects can’t be made public, but can be shared privately. Want to know more? Contact me and I’ll share additional details.
A refresh and modernization of a site I built some 8 years ago.
The design remained largely the same, aside from some small adjustments to make things feel more modern. The techniques used, however, were a complete rebuild. The code behind the site was handcrafted, all entirely a new. Speed was increased. SEO was improved. respoinsive was tightened up.
It was a joy, to once again, revistit and refresh I site I built in years past.
A website rebuild and CMS change. The design was provided by the client. Functionality was matched from the existing site and then greatly expanded. Particulay attention was paid to improving the mobile experience.
A bespoke solution for a niche and unusual member-based community.
Further details regarding this project can’t be made public, but can be shared privately. Want to know more? Contact me and I’ll share additional details.
A website rebuild, moving from Duda to WordPress. The design was streamlined and refined, but based on the existing website. Add a sprinkle of reactive development and there you have it.
What a wonderful project to be a part of. I started working with Uptown Mortgage in 2015 when I scrubbed their HTML-based website. We eventually moved the site to WordPress. As Uptown Mortgage grew, the business needs changed and the website expanded in lockstep. This project, however, was a complete rebuild based on Uptown Mortgage’s new vision and goals.
The entire site was redesigned by the client. A fundamental website structure change shifted the site’s direction. Top to bottom, everything about the site was rethought and rebuilt. While many clients would be hesitant to take on such. dramatic marketing challenge, Uptown Mortgage spearheaded it with confidence.
While it is always a pleasure to work with the Uptown Mortgage folks, this rebuild was particularly enjoyable. I am very excited about this site and look forward to tracking the results of the effort.
Scott has the rare ability to marry design concepts with backend implementation to build websites that are as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing. I would highly recommend Scott and the services he provides.
A site I rebuilt in 2019 is back again for updates and improvements.
The strategy of using WooCommerce for event tickets, memberships, and donations worked well and paid dividends. COABA was able to grow membership but also greatly increase donations. This organizational growth allowed the COABA to further invest in their website, moving from an off-the-shelf solution to a fully custom one.
The design was modernized and streamlined. The overall functionality was retained but also adjusted for a better user experience. The messaging was tightened up, delivering a clearer message of who the COABA is, and what its mission is.
*2025 update: COABA updates to celebrate 10 years of making a difference! New brand, new design and a (once again) brand new website.
After years of working with Air Squared, I was once again lucky enough to be involved in a complete website rebuild. The structure of the website was partially re-invented in order to align with marketing messaging and business strategy. The client-provided design was a complete overhaul while maintaining the exhaustively documented brand guide. Functionality was added, expanded, enhanced, and top-to-bottom transformed. This website is incredibly deceptive. As you dig deeper and deeper you find the site is massive, the layouts are exceptionally varied, yet everything ties together with one giant bow.
Air Squared’s website has always been my favorite project to be working on. This effort, however, pushed me further than ever before and I could not be more thrilled with the outcome. True to form, Air Squared’s website perpetually continues to grow and expand, and I enjoy working on this site even more than ever before. By far my favorite piece of work.
It’s taken us a while to find the right website developer who could accomplish what we needed, but finding Scott was well worth the wait. For Air Squared, as with most companies, our website plays a central role in nearly all marketing efforts, so finding the right developer was absolutely critical. By staying engaged, asking questions, and giving suggestions, our vision became his vision. Scott’s as honest as he is talented, with the ability to handle any project large or small.
A custom API integration for an unusual and highly specific communication tool. This project took an existing, highly manual product-service bundle and turned it into a self-service SaaS. While converting to a SaaS model numerous features and value-adds were also created/included.
Further details regarding this project can’t be made public, but can be shared privately. Want to know more? Contact me and I’ll share additional details.
I began working with Corona Insights in early 2019. It started with my baseline QA/QC package and evolved into general support and minor changes. When they approached me about a website rebuild, I was thrilled.
The client’s designer provided mocks and requested a few unusual pieces of functionality. Combined with an incredibly large catalog of posts and authors, this site is more to tangle with than you might imagine. Not only is it a laser-focused marketing tool; it is also an incredibly broad min-verse of thought-provoking content.
Scott has been great to work with, from being responsive to requests to offering ideas for site improvement. His knowledge of WordPress and best practices shows. Our website is stronger as a result of his partnership.
A custom eCommerce utilizing an existing and third-party database. This custom WordPress solution allowed the customer to manage their inventory database as they always had, using a third-party inventory system.
This project was a multi-language site for a transit-related organization.
*Please note, I was not responsible for the bus routes API work. If you care for an introduction to the developer who was responsible for the work, please contact me.
A deceptively difficult project. In the height of the 2020 pandemic, Oregon State Graphic Design needed a replacement for its year-end student portfolio show. They decided to take it online, and I facilitated that effort.
Students were each given a bio and a portfolio page, which they were responsible for populating content to. Building a site for a company with two or three users is pretty standard. Building a website for 50 students, each wanting to display their work in a robust and interesting way? Did I mention this last-minute project had an incredibly tight timeline? Bonkers. Just bonkers … but it turned out amazing.
The students did an amazing job and it was a great experience to be a part of. This was a real test of my abilities and I am proud to say I am better for having done it.
“If you are going to face a real challenge, it has to be a real challenge. You can’t accomplish anything without the possibility of failure.” – Laz Lake
I returned to the OSU project for the class of 2021. Improvements were made and I am happy to say that the second iteration of the site worked better than the first. #bettereveryday
A small site and a fairly typical project. The site was moved from HTML to WordPress while maintaining the existing look and feel as well as functionality. During the migration to WordPress, some minor adjustments and fixes were added.
In a time when websites have been commoditized, it’s extremely refreshing to find a craftsman in this space (and exceedingly reassuring, once you hire him). That’s what Scott is: A website craftsman who, while recognizing the prices that the market demands, is driven by an ethic to build something special, proper, safe, and effective. He also has a mind that transcends code and clicks into the other revenue-driving dimensions of marketing. This is a rare kind of value in my experience and it’s really, really hard to find. So rare that I actually find myself feeling anxious to uncover another reason to work with him again.
Having the opportunity to stand face to face with my original work, and then resolving the problems with better execution is a true delight. #getbettereveryday #thankyouloyalcustomer
This project included two distinct efforts. First, I moved a blog from Hubspot into WordPress. Secondly, I moved a static HTML site into WordPress. While moving to WordPress an entirely new design was implemented. Additionally, I developed a range of solutions for various pieces of functionality.
Want to know more? Contact me and I’ll share additional details.
Once again I knock the dust off of an old site of mine. Not only was the look and feel updated but the site was streamlined for a better user expeeriance.
A site that helps medical professionals to properly code their services.
Scott was easy to work with in the development of our site. He had great structural ideas and worked extremely fast to get the site up and running. Scott is also extremely responsive in quickly developing solutions to ongoing issues that inevitably arise.
A website rebuild moving from an off-the-shelf WordPress theme to a custom deployment. While rebuilding the site, look and feel was primarily retained, aside from some updates and enhancements. Functionality was enhanced was improving website speed performance.
Working with Scotty is such a dream. He understands the nuanced needs of a small nonprofit, and is always willing to share his knowledge, resources and time in relationship to us achieving our goals. His customer service is extraordinary. We feel safe and taken care of by him. We appreciate him so much, we are looking for ways we can elevate our work together. Thank you, Scott, for your care, support and awesome personality!
Aura from Business of Creativity approached me with the question, “how would someone convert an excel spreadsheet into a web app?”. My response was that I would build it out of WordPress, as a proof of concept, and go from there. Fast-forward 30 days or so and D.A.M.N. Plan was a thing.
The idea is relatively simple but a solid one. Freelancers or solopreneurs often do not have a firm understanding of their personal and business expenses. As such, they often do not understand what their revenue goals need to be. Add in the often-overlooked expense of taxes, and you can quickly see why many small business owners don’t drive enough revenue to stay in business – they don’t realize how expensive their lifestyle is.
The D.A.M.N. Plan is a solution to this problem. Individuals input their personal and business expenses. The tool uses those numbers to generate a breakdown of the revenue needed. From there, individuals add their product mix, in order to determine how they can make their revenue goals a reality.
Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis (COABA) had particular needs to meet. They wanted to use an off-the-shelf theme but also wanted to incorporate a members’ area, event tickets, and donations. Not surprisingly, WooCommerce was what I reached for. The off the shelf solutions available from WooCommerce fulfilled nearly everything. A dash of custom code then pushed this over the line.
Members can purchase and renew their memberships online and at varying and restricted levels. Tickets can similarly be purchased online, restricted to members or not, and discounts are available for members. Additionally, sponsorship “products” advertised alongside the event tickets sold old sponsorship opportunities, increasing the annual budget beyond what was expected.
Not a groundbreaking eCommerce but one that fit the needs, fit the budget, and one that performs well.
*2022 update: The performance paid dividends, and the site was upgraded to a fully-custom deployment.
*2025 update: COABA updates to celebrate 10 years of making a difference! New brand, new design and a (once again) brand new website.
I very much enjoyed working with Scotty because he is really data-based, detailed in his communications, motivated to teach his clients as much as possible to be independent in their work, and VERY responsive if you have any needs. It was great to work with him over the past 3 years and I continue to recommend his work to colleagues that need assistance with their website development and functionality.
In 2016, Denver Public Schools (DPS) received a two-year grant from the Colorado Health Foundation (CHF) to increase physical activity across the district. As a part of that initiative, DPS wanted a way to help educators find games to play with students.
A spreadsheet of 350 games was given to me. I took that spreadsheet, cleaned the data, and imported it into a WordPress database. I then created an interface to search games based on type, duration, grade (age) and/or keyword. Educators can also filter games to games that do not require equipment. See the game search functionality here.
While this is a relatively simple thing, it was a fun project to be a part of. I like the idea of helping educators and encouraging physical activity. Despite being a small site with limited design, it is still one of my favorites.
Scott is the most thoughtful, comprehensive and honest developer that I’ve worked with in over 15 years in the industry. His attention to detail is unrivaled and he has a way of not only understanding the challenges and issues, but articulating the solutions in a way that anyone could comprehend. Scott is truly a unicorn in the web development industry!
This project was a really interesting take on a web app to facilitate lead capture through sales conversion. On its surface, the site was a single page, lead capture for pricing information. Under the hood, there was much more at play.
Canadian and US visitors could locate their school by searching a database. If the visitor’s school was not present, they could enter their information manually. Once they entered their information and the desired number of licenses (seats, users, etc), a price was calculated and presented. If a visitor decided to purchase, they could facilitate the purchase via WooCommerce.
Behind the scenes, that information was submitted to SalesForce and at multiple steps, in order to track progress through the sales funnel. Pricing was dynamic (based on the number of licenses purchased), taxes were included in the quote and purchase price, and purchase triggered a final submission to SalesForce. Once the final trigger was submitted to SalesForce, the user’s account was automatically created. *Please note, my work ended at the final submission to SalesFore. The automation beyond that point was created by the client.
This was easily one of the most unique uses of WooCommerce I have leveraged to date. Despite the incredibly simple appearance, there was a ton going on. Very cool.
A good example that small businesses can have great websites. The Rad Pack, a K9 boarding and fitness business, was head and shoulders above the competition and the website showed it. Additionally, this website allowed the business owner to grow outside of “traditional” dog-walking solutions that take a cut of their services. Savvy marketing from a smart business owner. What a wonderful thing.
This project arose from a company wanting to encourage fitness among its employees. The goal was simple: cumulatively travel the circumference of the Earth in one year. All employees tracked and entered miles either walked or run. Employees could see their progress, the progress of the company as a whole, and who the “top performers” were.
Not the most robust piece of functionality I have ever created, but it was nice to play my small role.
A website for a very low-cost and payment plan available product line experiment. While the website is no longer a thing, the concept has been folded into my business model.
Monroe Group / Steele Properties (V1) Low-income Housing 2017 | project description
Monroe Group / Steele Properties (V1)
Image is loading ...
Monroe Group / Steele Properties (V1)
This project involved moving two sites from static HTML into WordPress. Due to the size of the sites, the project was broken into two phases. This first phase would move the sites into WordPress, making them editable but also responsive. The design was an improvement over the existing sites, but was not the primary objective. The primary objective was all about functionality and creating sites with up to date information.
The second phase, which focused on new designs for both sites was completed in 2018.
When we started our website project, we gave Scott the brief that we wanted our WordPress site to look pixel perfect and be easy to update and maintain. Scott worked with our design team to do just that, building not only a website, but also a comprehensive web standards guide and templates that are consistent and simple to reproduce.
We chose a Visual Composer to enable our editorial team to make changes to copy on the fly in layout. Scott went the extra mile to help us understand how to use our new site and talked our development team through launching it. He made himself available to help with any issues post launch and has increased our knowledge of WordPress from absolute beginners to proficient users.
Working with Scott has been an absolute pleasure and we’re thrilled with our new website.
This project was the creation of two board of directors Portals for sister companies with sister sites. The websites for the companies were completed in 2016.
This project was to move a static HTML site into WordPress. As a part of that effort, I also introduced some best practices and corrected this & that.
What was most interesting about this project was a few small changes, suggested by the client, dramatically increased conversions. The lesson here is twofold. Small changes can make big improvements. Always listen to your client.
This project was to move static HTML sites into WordPress. The sites were nearly identical as the companies were sister companies. One theme was created to satisfy the needs of both sites. In 2017 a pair of board of directors portals were added.
This project included building a range of “SEO Sites” or affiliate marketing sites. The client specifically was looking for sites that load quickly and could be built to a budget.
I can’t say enough good things about Scotty! Because I’m in the SEO field, I’ve worked with dozens of website developers, and he’s the best, by far! He understands SEO and codes sites so that they have the best chance of getting to the top of Google. He’s responsive, easy to work with, and a great communicator. I spent years looking for someone with his skillset and commitment to quality work, and I’m glad I found him. Equally as important, I’m glad that he was flexible enough to work within my budget.
It was a pleasure working with Scotty on our new website. He was knowledgeable, accessible, and able to manage changing requirements throughout the project. His work added great value to my business and I look forward to working with him again in the future.
This project included rebuilding two sites, one for the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and one for the sister organization, Women’s Leadership Foundation. One theme was created to meet the needs of both sites. The CWCC site was a migration from Drupal whereas the WLF site was a straightforward WordPress refresh.
This project was a rebuild of a very large site built with Drupal. The first phase was to migrate the site from Drupal to WordPress, using a fairly basic but responsive design. The second phase was to re-skin the theme with a new design. Eventually the company rebranded, but kept the overall design.
I enjoy working with Scotty because when he says he is going to do something, he does it! My website looks more professional than most other shops websites. I receive a lot of compliments on our website which makes me feel good about what I am doing on the web.
We’ve relied on Scotty for several projects and he’s fantastic! He is knowledgable, trustworthy, and super easy to work with. We are so glad to have him as a resource.
I am very pleased with the work Scott has done for me. My goals are a little different than people who want lots of traffic. We want targeted traffic and the web site Scotty built for us is very good for that. Scott is very helpful and easy to work with, always answering my questions and helping me to reach my goals for the site and targeting the traffic I want. He also has been very helpful in assisting us in updating the site, keeping it current and making changes.
Wands and Wishes Occasions Entertainment 2015 | testimonial
Wands and Wishes Occasions
Image is loading ...
As a business owner who relies on our website to drive business, I needed someone who would understand and relate to the importance of our site. Scotty created a fantastic site and was able to take my ideas and turn them into what we needed. We transferred from our old site and he very carefully was able to transfer without losing any SEO status. He is extremely knowledgeable and I trust him to always give me sound advice. He is always available, and ready to help when anything comes up. He is part of my team of people to help make my business successful and truly a joy to work with.
Scott took charge of my web marketing project and helped me produce a beautiful site that is powering my innovative financial services offering. The result, WorkWealthy.com, is creating exciting buzz throughout my market. I was impressed with how quickly Scott learned my business and adapted his skills to the financial services regulatory environment.
A website for a local realtor. The website included pages for each Denver neighborhood, neighborhood “regions”, as well as many surrounding cities. The overall strategy was to reduce paid search costs by boosting the organic SEO of the site. The site also connected to MLS to display listings.
An eCommerce for the cannabis industry. The site featured a limited product line and age verification. While not a big or complicated site, it was fun to build.
I have worked with Scotty Starkweather for the past 3 years and it has been a wonderful experience. Scotty recreated my website and turned it from a stale page to a beautiful and dynamic site that nicely explains what we do in our medical practice. Every month or two he came up with new ways to keep things fresh, discussed them with me, and put them into play. Scotty is very direct, optimistic, energetic, and honest. He is extremely responsive and implements new ideas within minutes and hours, rather than days and weeks. I look forward to any chance to work with Scotty in the future – he is a bright breath of fresh air in a business generally weighed down with drama and waste.
The second version of the Some Code i Wrote website. I have had numerous websites previously, this was the second “official” iteration of the Some Code i Wrote website.
A website for a web development collective I started. This was a great group of folks. I wish we were still building sites together.
Where do I even begin?! Scotty, is beyond a fantastic developer. Hands down.
He is a wizard at strategically building a website, and is one of the hardest workers I know. He will give you 110% every time, and there is nothing that will get in his way. He will figure out a way to get what you want, and probably do it better than you imagined.
There are very few that can match Scotty’s Skill set.
He is absolutely fantastic to work with!
Casey | 2015
Web Developer & Graphic Designer, CASEYLYNdesign
Image is loading ...
Known Scott for years. He’s one of the smartest and enthusiastic developers I’ve ever worked with. He’s a digital Einstein. A chef of the cyberspace, if you will, who takes all your vague ideas as ingredients and mixes them up into a virtual masterpiece. If you are looking for a knowledgeable developer who understands many facets of this business such as SEO, marketing, responsive development, User experience, Content Management Systems and teamwork this is the guy.
One of the best and most fun people I’ve worked with. Dude’s seriously smart and energetic. I don’t think he ever sleeps. He’s like an idea factory that works overtime every. single. day. Awesome supervisor, awesome person, drinks a lot of juice. You wanna work with this guy.
An incredibly ambitious project that optimized Colorado in 2014. The green rush of the cannabis industry was in full swing and everyone had a cannabis business idea. Friends in Weed had the subtlety of a sledgehammer. It was a community, a marketplace, an event center, … it was all things marijuana and then some.
From a technology standpoint, it was deceptively simple. A handful of plugins and a bit of WordPress multi-site knowledge was all it took.
A re-skin of the site that started it all for me, as a developer. This project was one of the first times I really leveraged database work while migrating a site. I took the opportunity to re-purpose the database from my old ugly site and turn it into a new, better-looking site, all without changing the database at all. I realized that so much effort in refreshes was lost due to simple inefficeincy. Always leverage what already you have.
This project was my first adventure into the web app world. On the one hand, it was just an eCommerce. Nothing to write home about there. However, it was designed as a self-serve, website estimation tool. Clients could select their options, define their scope, and have a written estimate kicked out to them. I’ve always used proejct-based pricing and these automated estimates were honored and accurate.
Developing this site shifted my idea of what websites are and could be. The idea of writing code to do work really changed the way I think and do things. I was also increasingly pushing the idea of various product lines within my primary website development track (custom, semi-custom, etc), which is still prevalent today. I was, of course, also exploring the idea of a self-selected price. Looking back, it is interesting for me to see how I was exploring differentiation via pricing policy without really knowing it.
This was an excellent tool for years. I abandoned it when I moved to outcome-based pricing and a pure value-based system. However, I often think about spinning up a new version that works alongside the pricing policy I now use. If nothing else, it would be an interesting thought exercise.
While this appeared to not be a particularly complicated site on the surface, appearances are deciding. This site featured numerous location with unique content and needs per location.
This project was a large lift accomplished via a team. At the time it felt like very robust functionality but looking back it doesn’t seem that way. This was, however, the most complicated site I had built to date.
The eCommerce was atypical but present. You could either purchase products directly or find a dealer. The dealer locator was robust and worked well. The board sorting mechanism was something new for me and was so cool at the time. This was also my first foray into the world of multi-language websites. Granted the German site was scaled back, but it was still a full site in a second language.
This was a great project that forced me to grow. At the time, the “design your ski customizer” seemed really amazing and complicated. In looking back, this was really just a stylized multi-step form with conditional logic. It took me far too long to build that.
This site is where the idea of blogging as digital marketing really began for me. It started as an experiment. Could I create a blog for a business that drove considerable traffic? The results were surprisingly good and it was remarkably easy.
Scott is a rock star developer. I can’t believe our lucky stars in finding him. He’s been integral to the success of many of our web development projects and we will definitely be continuing our relationship with him (for as long as he can stand us). Scott has vision. I can put a rough scope in front of him and he can quickly sort through the mess and plan his approach in short order. He quickly assesses a project and can image how various plugins and code can be implemented for a great end product. He’s adaptive to change and works well on the fly. I can put him in front of a client to sort out details and he’s always respectful and precise. He understands that my client is his client and I can confidently trust him to treat them right. We love his confidence and knack for quick problem solving. His work is solid and he’s always looking for ways to improve process. Nothing is a big deal, everything doable. My team loves him.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Scott at a very strategic level. His mastery of the web is greatly enhanced by his mastery of business and mastery of self. Scott uses both sides of his brain, asks the right questions, and creates solutions in all realms that produce results. He is a true champion of a more usable web, and a straight up ninja when it comes to systems intelligence. He just has an innate ability to see the big picture at 30,000 feet, while masterfully architecting all the tiny little elements to connect the dots from A-Z. A truly strategic and creative mind, I’d recommend Scott highly to any company looking to reach their highest potential.
Scotty is a get-it-done kind of web guy. This is important because it is hard to find people who are good at what they do, dependable, and just “get it.” You can give him a project and he not only gets it done, but he handles the little things that so many others miss. If you need someone to help you build/maintain your website you can’t go wrong with Scotty.
QA/QC review and corrections, bug fixes, changes / additions
Saylor Says Marketing 2016 |
Bug fixes
Scott is the most talented developer I’ve ever worked with. His patience and grasp of my needs was a welcome relief. As a freelance digital marketer, I need my website to run seamlessly and look perfect at all times. It represents me and my brand to the world, after all! Scott took me from good to STUNNING in just a few hours. Additionally, he sat with me and coached me on how to make and update changes myself, which was incredibly empowering. My limited knowledge of HTML, CSS and Bootstrap wasn’t a barrier at all, and Scott explained everything in a way I could easily understand. In my opinion, he’s the perfect combination of developer and computer scientist. His demeanor is incredibly humble and I will continue to seek his services for my work, as well as refer him to everyone I know!
I work with Scott on various accounts pertaining to internet advertising programs. I could not express the value that Scott brings to website development in terms of designing sites that are not only attractive, but convert extremely well for clients. In addition to his design skills, he is additionally an extremely fair, honest and trustworthy person to work with. I highly recommend Scott if you are considering having a new website design that is modern, strongly represents your brand, and performs well in terms of driving more conversions!
Bug fixes, hack fixes, QA/QC review and corrections, and etc
Working with Scotty has been a true pleasure. It is rare to find a developer with the level of marketing and business acumen that he possesses. Scotty doesn’t just provide solid website consultation—he understands the strategic role it plays in the development of your business. To say Scotty is thorough is an enormous understatement. He is far and away the most detail-oriented developer I have ever worked with, and he delivers a product that is both sound and scalable. He is always on the lookout for ways to improve and elevate our technology. Our organization is grateful to have him on our team.
Kim | 2016
Past-President, Colorado American Marketing Association
Image is loading ...
Scott is a WordPress / Website Strategy Champion! While working together he has shown me great insights into how best to structure and execute and maintain website projects – with a level of detail and passion that is at a much higher level than I have experienced with others in this field. I highly recommend taking time to get to know Scotty’s work and considering him for your next project.
Inner City Health Center Medical | Non-profit 2015-2016
QA/QC review and corrections, bug fixes, changes / additions
Humphries Poli Architects Construction 2015-2016 |
QA/QC review and corrections, bug fixes, changes / additions
Scotty is a great individual work with. He has provided our firm the a website design resource that has enabled us to optimize our website in a way we did not think possible. He is friendly, efficient, and thorough and has not encountered an issue with our site which he has not been able to solve and improve upon. Scotty is very talented, and I would recommend him to anyone in need of website optimization!
Martha | 2015
Associate / Marketing Manager, Humphries Poli Architects
Image is loading ...
Good Meds Network Cannabis 2015 |
Bug fixes
I’ve worked with many web developers over the years, and Scotty is by far the most professional, fair and great to work with. He loves to watch everyone succeed, even if they are not a client at the time. Scotty did some small jobs for me a couple years ago, and has kept in touch, supporting any questions and my personal and professional growth ever since. Don’t hire Scotty expecting just a web developer, as he holds himself to a standard that you would expect from someone with stock in your business too.
Patrick | 2016
Director of MarComm, Jett
Image is loading ...
Marina Jensen Realtor 2015
Bug fixes, changes / additions
Avalon Waterways Travel 2014
Added gallery with sort/filter
Executive Botox Medical 2014
Bug fixes
Paradise Pen Manufacturing 2013
Added slider, Google blacklist correction
It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.
Abraham Maslow
Advocacy What they say about me
It's taken us a while to find the right website developer who could accomplish what we needed, but finding Scott was well worth the wait. For Air Squared, as with most companies, our website plays a central role in nearly all marketing efforts, so finding the right developer was absolutely critical. By staying engaged, asking questions, and giving suggestions, our vision became his vision. Scott's as honest as he is talented, with the ability to handle any project large or small.
Among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.
Occam's razor
Frequently Asked Questions
You don't charge/accept deposits?
I do not charge deposits nor do I accept them. Requiring a deposit signals a lack of trust. We'll trust each other and build something amazing together. If I do a great job, you will happily compensate me fairly.
I pick the price?
Correct. In fact, this is how all pricing actually works. Customers pay what they think is fair (a good value, etc). "Prices are not levers that set value, but rather, are metrics that respond to value" - Prof. Antony Davies.
What is your hourly rate?
I 100% honestly, do not have an hourly rate. Per-hour work rewards inefficiency and I am opposed to this. I exclusively work on a per-project basis. I prefer to use outcome-based pricing but a fixed per-project price is also common.
Do you maintain the sites you build?
I am more than happy to, if you want me to. My goal is to build a website you can maintain, if you want to. If you prefer, I will maintain your website for a nominal fee. All websites come with a detailed “Website Overview” document that includes, among many other things, maintenance recommendations.
Will you work on a website someone else built?
Absolutely. I often fix, expand or enhance websites created by others. If you just need basic maintenance, I do that too.
I was told I couldn't do what I wanted in WordPress. Is that true?
It is unlikely. I try to avoid speaking in absolutes, because they are so rarely correct. That said, "can't" or "must be" are things I rail against. Creative solutions often break the rules. Moreover, problems almost always have more than one solution. I prefer to present a few options alongside advantages and potential trade-offs.
Can you build a website with a design I provide?
You betcha I can! Creating websites from a provided design is something I regularly do. I work with mocks that come in just about any format ... jpg/png, PDF, PhotoShop or Illustrator file, Adobe XD link, a sketch on paper, you name it. As long as I have some kind visual reference to work from, we are off and running.
Can you match our current site, but fix how it works?
Absolutely. Rebuilding a website to improve the functionality (ADA/WCAG compliance, speed, cross-browser, etc) while keeping the current look and feel is my favorite work to do.
Will you design a website for me?
I can, but I am not a particularly good designer. I am very good and refining small details within a design but I am not great at cutting from whole cloth. More importantly, I have various solutions for folks that need a website design. If you have the budget, I will point you toward an exceptional designer I work with. If you are tight on a budget, we can "buy a design" for about $15. That purchased design will be more than enough for me to work from — to make it perfect for you. There are all sorts of options in the middle, too
A well aimed spear is worth three.
Tad Williams
About Me
Process-driven
Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, The Unified Process, MoSCoW Method, progress traps, The Iron Triangle, The Cone of Uncertainty, The Theory of Constraints ...
I strive for simple
Simple machines like the lever, ramp (inclined plane), pulley, screw, or wedge, work incredibly well - and are the root of all work.
I like jigs
Semantic HTML, vanilla CSS/PHP/JS, React JS, and SQL are my tools of the trade, but I think in terms flexible, repeatable, solutions. I sling code and solve problems.
Robust experience
I have been engaging customers and managing profitable relationships since 2003
Lucky in love
Married to the most adorable woman ever. I have a daughter that is pretty rad.
28 marathons, 11 50Ks and a 50 miler under my belt.
I cut for sign in unusual ways and am able to keep the goal in mind, for extended periods.
Process Curious
I'll tinker on anything, but complicated systems are my favorite. Internal combustion engines, particularly those with forced induction (preferably compound turbo), are my favorite vice.
As a solopreneur, I do not have set "office hours". I am generally available from 8am - 6pm Mountain time, any day of the week. I am often up by 5am and might work until 8pm or later. I regularly use a run to break up my day. I meet with clients often, and when I do, I am unavailable.
Feel free to call any time but if I don't answer my phone, shoot me an email. I will get back to you as soon as possible. If I do not respond right away I am probably busy or carefully considering my response.
I love to travel but I always work from the road. When I am in a vastly different time zone, I do my best to be available at a reasonable hour. My phone works in almost every country. When my phone does not work, I grab a local SIM card, which makes me available by email, but not phone.
