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Sarah Gray

Web Developer

Summary of Qualifications

Software Skills and Packages

Extensive Experience with: Ruby on Rails, PHP, JavaScript (YUI, Prototype, LowPro, custom), MySQL, JSON, HTML, Smarty, Haml, RSpec, Selenium, Capistrano, Subversion, e-commerce (Verisign, Authorize.net).

Comfortable / Familiar with: light shell scripting, S3, complex SQL, CSS, Scriptaculous, XML, XPath, Apache, Passenger, JPGraph

Professional Web Development

Highend Network, Inc

Lead Rails / JavaScript Developer, November 2008 - Present
Chief architect / developer for Rails / JavaScript asset-collaboration application that allows users to share, modify and version images in the context of a group project. Technical components include: modeling and implementing application domain, customizing components from the YUI JavaScript library, implementing custom JavaScript components, integrating Flash apps, testing with RSpec, and construction of a custom permission system. Project in development; demo on request.

The Point

Rails / JavaScript Developer, February 2008 - October 2008
Developer for a social networking site that won the Illinois Information Technology Association’s Newcomer Award in 2008. Development included: customizing Beast Forums, building custom JavaScript components (carousel), creation of a Facebook application, integrating YouTube video, building a user messaging system, and TDD using RSpec and Selenium. Owing to the early state of the site, I was also a vocal proponent of site strategy and information design.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Lead Web Application Developer, Educational Technology Group, October 2001 - February 2008
I was responsible for building software applications for Mount Sinai and other medical institutions that streamlined paper-based processes into online systems, saving money and creating efficient workflows. I also built software that put slide and audio presentations online for one-day turnaround at medical conferences. Custom projects included:

  • CME Outreach

    Lead Developer
    Built an online system for Continuing Medical Education (CME), allowing Mount Sinai to migrate their accreditation data online. Permitted doctors track their scores and certifications, and purchase tests. The skinnable application, http://www.cmeoutreach.com, was so successful that it now used by medical journals and outside accrediting agencies as well as Mount Sinai Hospital.

  • DigitalSP

    Lead developer / architect for DIGITALsp
    Developed a web-based clinical competency system (DIGITALsp) for training medical students and residents. This service is now used to train students from 30+ medical schools who come to Mount Sinai for instruction. Led the information architecture, supervised the design process, designed & executed the database back-end, including a complex statistical reporting module; scheduling; automated ftp to work in tandem with Macromedia Director; and online video- editing. Product information here.

  • MECME

    Lead Developer
    Created custom e-commerce system for Montefiore Hospital to manage conference registrations. The system allows creation of complex custom registration forms; purchase tracking; and offers online CME.

  • Prostate Net

    Web and Database Developer
    Database Developer and web programmer for interactive kiosk placed in barber shops in NYC, Chicago and Atlanta to reach at-risk men and educate them about Prostate Cancer through a survey.

  • IARC Portable Interactive Storage Device

    Database Developer
    Constructed database and php code for portable, interactive, USB storage device using Director for archive and playback of slide/audio presentations. This device has been used since 2004 at The Chemotherapy Foundation's annual conference in NYC, delivering presentations to thousands of doctors and medical professionals. Product video demonstration here.

Funny Garbage

Freelance Front-end Developer (Smarty and PHP), [December 2007-Completion; May-June 2004]
Coded pages in Smarty and PHP for the redesign of Nickelodeon's tween website, The-N.

Local Projects

PHP Developer, StoryCorps online reservation system, June - September 2003
Developed the online reservation and payment system for StoryCorps, a national oral history project featured on NPR and ID Magazine with a flagship booth in Grand Central Station. Also built scheduling reservation and tracking system.

New School University

Adjunct Faculty Member, Department of Media Studies Masters of Arts (MA) Program, 2001-2002
Courses: Foundations of Media Design; Web Production.
Taught in person for 2 semesters and online for 2 semesters. Received excellent references from students.

Cathy Weis (Dancer)

Web Video Streaming Coordinator, June 2000 - Jan 2001
Directed live mixing and streaming video feed to NYC from Macedonia during live dance performances that took place simultaneously in two venues.

Extracurricular Web Development / Blogs

Stickyworld

Creator, Programmer, currently in development
A brainstorming / organization application inspired by “sticky notes” that has a rich client interface (JavaScript) and uses the Basecamp API. Available for demo.

Blogs

Devchix. A blog for female developers. I blog here as "sarah g".
My Blog. Web development and thoughts on process.

Education

Before I Joined the Web

I worked in theater. I was a theater director, assistant director and stage manager (in reverse order). I worked in London at the Olivier-Award winning Gate Theater as a Stage Manager and Assistant Director for two separate seasons. In the States, I served as Assistant Director to such luminaries as JoAnne Akalaitis and the late Garland Wright in Hartford (Hartford Stage) and Minneapolis (the Guthrie), respectively. I was a Directing Assistant at Williamstown Theater Festival, a selected participant in the inaugural Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and the founder of a successful 2-year project in Minneapolis called Directors' Forum. This was for directors to experiment with non-traditional forms, texts, and venues. During this process, I experimented myself right out of theater and into interactive media and web programming, where I am today.