I Need a Nap

Elise Ferugson

Photo of Elise in the 1969 Camaro

About Me

This is the spot where I tell you all about who I am, or at least who I want you to think I am, or who *I* think I am (or something). My name is Elise Ferguson (Elise Gaetz) and I'd like you to know my top three interests are horses, cars, and spreadsheets but I have never fly fished. I spend a lot of time with my horses, or other people's horses. I'm a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor for We Can Ride. I drive an '07 Mini Cooper S and a '79 Trans Am (when gas prices aren't sky high). When I'm not at the barn or a car show I spend a lot of time on my computer (w00t Mac Powerbook).

I cut my teeth with dial-up BBSs back in the day with my trusty 2400 baud modem and a Packard Bell 486SX. Then college opened my eyes to such wonders as the World Wide Web, IRC, and VI. I'll admit many of my sites back then weren't a whole lot to behold (all lacking the dreaded blink tag or animated gif). But there's not a whole lot a person can do with 3 markup tags copied from someone else's web site in Lynx. Despite my lack of design kung-fu, I do have some "mad skillz" as a Web Developer/Web Producer. I've spent the past several years coding tableless CSS web sites.

Somewhere in a previous life I scored myself a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. Perhaps one day I shall fulfill my life long dream of breathing spreadsheets and coding web sites for an environmental engineering firm, or my other life long dream of napping a lot. Until then I'm tickled pink when I see all the little green checkmarks indicating my web sites are valid. And I might be the first person in line for the internet brain implant.

Cody and Elise

Resumé

Education and Training

  • Bachelor of Chemical Engineering , University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN); 2000
  • Unix C/C++ Certification, University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN); 2000
  • LexisNexis HotDocs Certified Independent Consultant , LexisNexis; 2005
  • Certified Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor, North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA); 2008

Summary of Technical Skills

Proficient in:

  • HTML / XHTML
  • Windows/Mac OS
  • Photoshop / Fireworks / Illustrator
  • PHP / ASP
  • Section 508 / Accessibility Standards

Familiar with:

  • XML / XSLT
  • JSP / JavaScript
  • SQL / MySQL / Access / PowerBuilder 7.0
  • Unix / Linux
  • VB.NET / Visual Basic / VBA / VBScript
  • Flash MX / Action Script

Professional Experience

Web Development:

  • Hand Coded over 500 custom websites while maintaining accessibility standards as well as valid markup
  • Extensive experience with table-less web design using CSS
  • Utilized Document Management APIs to customize user interfaces
  • 10+ years hands-on experience in HTML and XHTML using text and WYSIWYG editors
  • Extensive experience in the use of graphic programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Macromedia Fireworks and Flash, as well as experience in digital photography
  • Mentored others in HTML, application development, and Web development
  • Worked in a team environment converting ASP applications to JSP
  • Developed dynamic Web site content using PowerBuilder and JSP
  • Experienced in converting Access database client/server applications to SQL and PowerBuilder Web applications
  • Developed dynamic Web sites using open source tools such as PHP and MySQL

Document Management / Migration:

  • Managed document conversion and migration project
  • Developed processes and applications to convert and prepare documents for migration into SAP ERP and PLM system
  • Migrated physical data and completed necessary connections to existing data
  • Completed data extracts from SAP system
  • Created and maintained Access Databases with User Forms
  • Validated document migration results and documented processes to complete project
  • Automated several manual processes using Visual Basic

Database:

  • Analyzed and prepared data for database conversions using Access and Visual Basic scripts
  • Experienced in programming Access forms including user interfaces and layout
  • Experienced with Microsoft and Sybase Database products

Work Experience

Web Producer

FindLaw, A Thomson Reuters Business
2006-Current
  • hand coded 500+ custom web sites and provided maintenance for custom web sites
  • created processes for maintaining dynamic content products reducing time by 50%
  • participated in creation of processes for client second year services such as content, design, and SEM requirements

Web Developer

Cavion Plus
2005
  • migrated 300+ Credit Union websites from FrontPage templates to Velocity templates
  • inspected and corrected HTML and ASP code

Developer

ADV Document Systems
2004-2005
  • created Visual Basic programs to automate manual process for clients
  • customized user interfaces for the web using product APIs
  • maintained hardware
  • completed installations of numerous document management and records management products
  • compiled user manuals for customized document management systems

Developer / Web Designer

PowerObjects
2000-2004
  • designed web application layout and graphics
  • worked with small group on application conversion (ASP to JSP)
  • worked with small group on java web applications using enterprise java beans
  • converted Access database/Client Server application to PowerBuilder/Web application
  • managed General Mills' Document Management System migration into SAP
Trans Am and Elise

Portfolio

Here's a short list of some of the coding I've done on personal or client sites, some recent and some not so recent. These links will take you out side of this site.

These are a few sites I've coded in my current position as Web Producer at FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters Business.

Danger Mini and Elise

Contact Information

Axel and Elise