Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Upgrade to 2.0.2

Thursday, March 16th, 2006

Well, all looks good from this point. I had a few hiccups along the way with some missing imagery and failed database connections, but all seems to be running properly now. If anyone sees any problems, please let me know. I will be adding other stuff in the coming days. I know I’ve said I would do this before, but I really mean it this time. ;)

Siteworx is Hiring

Wednesday, January 25th, 2006

Update: We have hired someone for this position. Thanks to all that inquired. I’ll let everyone know in the future if we hire again, which may be soon.

The company I work for is currently hiring for the following position:

Experience Architect

Siteworx, Inc., an Internet application and development company located in Reston, VA, works to transform clients’ business objectives into powerful interactive solutions. Utilizing strategy, technology and creativity, Siteworx creates fresh, functional solutions that serve many industries.

The Experience Architect will be responsible for performing a lead role in the research and design efforts for Siteworx’s client applications and large-scaled websites. This position requires working directly with client stakeholders to develop strategies and design specifications to improve the performance, usability and effectiveness of customer and user facing interfaces. You will use information gathered from client meetings, best practices, and competitive analyses to develop, site maps, wire frames, requirements and specifications which represent the layout, flow and organization of complex Web sites and Web applications. You will work closely with the client and the Siteworx technical and creative staffs.

Key Responsibilities

  • Meet with clients to gather requirements based on existing business processes
  • Research the competitive landscape and make recommendations relating to website organization and information hierarchy
  • Document strategy by developing site maps, wire frames, representing website and Web application layouts
  • Interface with the internal creative and technical staff to ensure that website designs meet both client and end user needs
  • Design navigation and interaction systems
  • Design nomenclature systems
  • Experience changing the Web presence of large or multinational companies

Qualifications

  • User focused, highly motivated, organized, able to multi-task, and work under tight deadlines
  • Excellent client-facing consultative skills including the ability to lead client meetings
  • Deep knowledge of user-centered design principles and information architecture and design
  • Knowledge of general business strategy and specific knowledge of Web strategy
  • Ability to analyze business requirements to define and improve applications and business processes
  • Experience with a large-scale design or redesign of a website
  • Extensive portfolio that includes examples of wireframes and specifications
  • Familiarity with industry tools for generating flow diagrams, wireframes, and specifications

If you’re looking for a career where your contribution will be recognized and rewarded, if you share our philosophy that hiring the right people is the secret to success, and if you believe in working hard and having fun with a team that enjoys doing the same is for you — we want to talk to you! Please email your resume and sample UI Diagrams/Wireframes and Specs to jobs@siteworx.com or you may contact me directly with questions.

Contact Form - Up and Running Again

Wednesday, January 25th, 2006

I have just not had time to update things on my site as of late. Work has been crazy. More on that later. You now have a means of contacting me.

A New Home

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005

Siteworx: Powerful Communications - Corporate Identity Well, here I sit, a few days before Thanksgiving and few weeks before the fat guy in the red suit comes, deciding why on God’s green Earth did I decide to jump jobs. The first thing that came to mind was, “What the hell are you thinking man, the holidays are coming up and you’re beginning a new position?! Do you not like your free time?!” I retort with, “Yes, I do like my free time, but career growth and fun projects take precedence.”

As of Friday, I accepted a new position with a small, yet growing company by the name of Siteworx. My new position will be much more rapid in growth and scale of work over my last job, and should offer a huge learning curve and many fun projects in the near and distant future. Making the jump was a difficult decision. My current position didn’t allow for much growth and the contract I was on, although fun, wasn’t always engaging. Mind you, I’m not complaining in the least bit because I met and worked with some great people while on the contract, I just thought it was time for a change.

With this change comes an adjustment of time management and multi-multi tasking abilities with my work habits. I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge and for things to come. I will be updating my about section and resume in the coming weeks to reflect the change in my career path in regards to title and position. My offer letter stated “Information Architect” but the title for the job description was “Information Architect/Project Manager.” I’m not sure which will effectively be my title, if either or both, but it will be something along those lines.

Wish me luck and keep your eyes peeled for updates. In the past, I know I’ve always said I would update everyone, but my projects didn’t really warrant an update. With what I’ve been told about this company, I look for many updates to come, at least after the launch of some projects I should be working on.

Well Known Peeps

Wednesday, October 5th, 2005

Thomas Vander Wal sitting with his Apple Powerbook A friend and colleague of mine, Thomas Vander Wal, made the New York Times today in an article titled, “’Folksonomy’ Carries Classifieds Beyond SWF and ‘For Sale’,” which is quite an interesting read. Thomas was my boss when I worked at FHWA in 2003 and 2004. He has since moved on (October 6th, 2005) from INDUS and FHWA to start his own consultancy, InfoCloud Solutions, which, from my understanding, is still in the process of final business paperwork.

Thomas focuses on all things information based and how users relate to their digital life around them in the form of their “Personal InfoCloud.” More on this subject can be read about on Thomas’s “Personal InfoCloud” site, and on his personal/professional site under “Off the Top” which is a place of frequent thoughts, ideas and musings.

Thomas coined the term “Folksonomy” in late 2003 when it first appeared in del.icio.us, a social bookmarks manager. His work has raised eyebrows in the technology community and has put people, mainly developers in the beginning, on a new path of thinking and how individuals truly use, not just web, but the information that surrounds their lives. Thomas has spoken at several conferences on this subject including Webvisions 2005, BayCHI and MIT, just to name a few.