2021 - Web - Andre Nozari

Applicant Name:
Andre Nozari
Applicant Email:
ajnozari@ajnoz.com
Home Chronicle:

Introduction and Background:

Hello, My name is Andre Nozari, and I am applying for the position of Web Coord.

I have worked as a full stack network engineer for almost 9 years.  This included the management of enterprise level web applications, mobile apps, and their supporting infrastructure.  My roles included project management, service implementation, orchestration and deployment of services to a cloud provider, as well assisting in integration of developed services to deliver an end product.  

In all I have over 15 years’ experience in web development, 10 years’ experience in network stack engineering, and 5 years’ experience in app development. I understand the steps and jobs required to plan, develop, and deploy an application.  Further I have extensive experience in handling migrations between cloud providers with zero downtime transitions.

I also have experience managing the development, and continuous deployment of enterprise projects in the following:

  • Common Web Languages: PHP, HTML 5, CSS 3.0, JS, XHTML, Dot NET
  • Domain Services: DNS Management, SSL Certificate management
  • Exchange and SMTP/IMAP based Mail Server Management
  • Drupal, Joomla, Laravel, React, NodeJS, NextJS, Typescript
  • Deployments on many major cloud providers: Azure, AWS, Digital Ocean
    • Project Management and Deployment of Virtual Machines and Container services 
    • Kubernetes deployments including custom image creation and deployment
    • Website 
  • Experience programming in many programming languages: C/C++, Objective-C, PHP, JS, Java, Visual Basic, Python, Ruby, HTML, XHTML, Visual Basic, Dotnet
  • Extensive experience with Multiple Database Technologies
    • MySQL
    • MariaDB
    • MSSQL
    • PostgresSQL
    • Redis/Memcached
  • Extensive experience implementing real time voice and video chat
  • Payment provider and secure payment portal development
    • Paypal
    • Stripe
    • Braintree

Administrative Experience:

In all I have over 15 years’ experience in the IT field, with over 10 in web and app development and administration. As a Full Stack Network Engineer, I have been tasked with many administrative duties including but not limited to:

  • Overseeing multiple ongoing projects
  • Managing several development teams
    • Including ensuring continued communication between teams
  • Orchestrating project integration and deployment
  • Cloud Provider account setup, administration
    • Managing legal requirements and appropriate waivers
    • Ensuring Continued Compliance to changing laws and statues
  • App Store Submission and approval
    • License Agreement Management
    • Legal Compliance and Waiver administration
    • App submission, testing, and deployment
    • Ensure Chain of Custody of Secure Deployment Keys
  • Extensive experience managing payment services and providers

Keeping development moving forward in a timely manner is my priority, and I do this by focusing on a standards first approach.  This ensures that new developers can get up to speed quickly and should a change of development team occur, there is no need to scrap and start over.

In all I have continuing experience as both a developer and a project manager and know that my experience with the latest automation tools will help me alleviate many of the issues plaguing the administration of the OWBN website and its other web services.

Personal Statement:

I have been a part of the OWBN organization for around 5 years now.  In my time I have enjoyed so much positivity and joy, and for that I will forever be grateful to OWBN.  However, I have also continuously heard the same issues rear their heads at very inopportune times.  In my time since joining the org I have watched it struggle with issues stemming from its web presence. I know I can solve these problems and help bring OWBN into the technological future it deserves.

I started at a young age learning, taking apart, and rebuilding computers.  I launched my first website at 12, it lasted a year.  Since then, I have continued to advance my skills, learning how to manage cloud deployments and implement advanced automation tools.  These skills will be paramount in addressing the issues at hand.

My experience in planning, implementing, and deploying custom web technologies and applications will be vital in stabilizing and growing the OWBN web presence.  I know that I can apply the techniques I have developed in other enterprises to OWBN.  From a standards first, continuous development approach, to understanding cost optimization I have experience with almost anything that will be required of the web cord.

This is my chance to give back to an org that has been a positive force in my life.  I have the skills to not only help OWBN but let it thrive in today’s web environment. Even more, I can see a future where OWBN online presence helps it grow and reach others like it did me.

Goals:

Plan of Action for OWBN Site

  1. Assessment of current OWBN Site

    1. Current Webserver Usage & Costs

      1. Storage Costs

      2. Bandwidth

      3. VMs

      4. Databases

    2. Current Site Functionality 

      1. What works

      2. What doesn’t

      3. What’s missing

    3. Budget Assessment

      1. What is being utilized

      2. What else can be utilized (can we find extra resources for non-profits)

  2. Consolidation

    1. Once the assessment has a list of current site functionality, the list should be reviewed and pruned.  The goal will be a re-implementation of OWBN critical functions, and a wish list of future functionalities that can be added over time.

    2. The list of services that are run should be reduced to the absolute minimum. No data will be deleted and the intention will be to bring back each service over time, but with a more stable foundation supporting them.

    3. To achieve this goal the following will be needed:

      1. A list of Critical Features 

        1. E.G. - Archivist Reposts 

        2. Other sites (wiki’s)

        3. Mailing List management

        4. Voting System

      2. A list of “required” but not critical features

      3. A list of future features to implement/re-implement over time that will enhance the ability of OWBN and it’s players to play the game, not spend time managing it.

  3. A better presence

    1. ​Keeping with the latest technologies, a mobile app can also be easily implemented that can handle things like attendance tracking for games, which would allow for simpler archivist reports.

    2. Player accounts are also easily implemented with proper roles and permissions so you only access the areas you’re supposed too.

To assist in the speedy development of the new site and seeing as I am a player of OWBN who has been frustrated by the state of affairs, I have already begun implementing a re-design of the website.  Currently I have a basic layout as well as several static sections already transitioned.  Further the design is mobile-friendly, and was heavily inspired by the current website, with a modern look and feel.

This is based on a core system I have developed alongside several developers.  It is designed around a Laravel backend and a React/React Native frontend and is highly adaptable to any needs OWBN will throw at it.  Authentication is already managed and is ready with a roles and permissions system so Coords, CMs, HST’s can access the areas they need too, while only allowing players access to their own characters information.