Pete Rutkowski – The Horizon Line

If there is one constant with web development, it is that it is always changing. I am always working on staying up to date with the technology and incorporating new tools and processes into my workflow. Below are some of the skillsets that I have in my toolbox. However if a project ever requires a technology that I have not worked with before, I am quick to pick it up and apply it in my projects.

PHP

I have oodles of experience coding PHP to create dynamic interactive websites.

CSS

Writing clean concise CSS, or more specifically Sass, is a passion. Gone are the days of shims and browser-specific targeting. Flexbox and Grid are where it is at.

Javascript

I am very comfortable working with Javascript, jQuery, and JSON for dynamic interactive components.

WordPress

Years of experience creating custom themes, Gutenberg blocks, shortcodes, and plugins. Comfortable working with Bootstrap or creating custom themes from scratch.

Git

I would be lost without the Git repository and rely heavily on project forks for collaboration with colleagues.

MySQL

I am able to work my way around a database and have even had experience creating a fully relational database from scratch for one web project.

APIs

Integrating third-party APIs to interact with external resources such as Stripe payment processing, LinkedIn posts and Instagram feeds.

Web Hosting

I am comfortable working with a variety of hosting services and configuring a server at the command line or via cPanel.

Sketch

I love collaborating with designs via Sketch.

InVision

InVision is the gold standard and my most preferred design templating tool.

Photoshop

I am able to take conceptual flat photoshop mock-ups and convert them into beautiful fully responsive HTML.

Illustrator

What’s the vector, Victor? Bézier curves don’t frighten me.

InDesign

Have a designer that only likes to work in print? I’m quite proficient with InDesign files.

I have been working as a full-time remote employee since 2008, so the COVID-induced work from home was nothing new for me. Below are a few of the tools I use to manage projects and stay connected to coworkers around the globe.

Gantt

This is the primary tool I use for project estimating, budgeting, and tracking development progress.

Trello

Love using Trello boards for tracking resources, assigning tasks, and clearing bugs.

Slack

How I like to stay connected with colleagues for quick questions and pop-up meetings.

Professional History

February 2000

George Washington University

Completed certificate program for web programming and dynamic multi-media.

February 2000

March 2000

IntraDAT

First job in the field of Information Technology for a German start-up company. Was immediately immersed in LINUX and PHP back-end programming.

March 2000

May 2001

Berman & Company

20 person lobbying firm in Washington where I started as a webmaster. Eventually working my way up to being the Director of IT and managing all the office networks, email servers as well as web development.

May 2001

May 2007

Greenfield/Belser

Design boutique in Washington, DC. I started work as a front-end developer to get my foot in the door and eventually added back-end development as well as project management to my responsibilities.

May 2007

July 2008

Full-Time Remote Employee

Became the first employee to work remotely for Greenfield/Belser when I moved from Washington, DC to Oregon. Have been a full-time remote worker ever since.

July 2008

January 2017

FINN Partners

Greenfield/Belser is acquired by FINN Partners and I join their advertising and media team based in New York, part of a 100+ person internal company.

January 2017

September 2020

Red Edge

Joined Red Edge, having worked with the company founder years prior. Handle front-end and back-end development for web projects as well as project management.

September 2020