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Overview

Nick has worked in web application development in Vancouver for over ten years, specifically with the Microsoft .NET Framework, Java/J2EE, PHP, Perl and a variety of open source development frameworks and content management systems. A dynamic developer, Nick works primarily in developing content management systems, but has extensive experience in custom software architecture and development, business intelligence applications, wireless technology, and knowledge management solutions.

Since 2005, Nick has gained a host of experience in product development, specifically having spent 3 years working on OpenRoad Communications’ ThoughtFarmer intranet product, a wiki-inspired knowledge sharing tool for the enterprise.

In addition to a significant amount of consulting work, including the recent development and launch of Protagonize.com, Nick has spent over five years with OpenRoad Communications as a software developer. His previous positions included Technical Director for Tribal DDB Canada in Vancouver, developing web-based advertising and marketing systems for a variety of large agency clients. After that, Nick spent a year and a half as a software engineer at Versatile Mobile Systems, building intranet systems as well as internet-based monitoring tools for the agricultural sector in south-east Asia.

Over the course of the last two years, Nick has focused principally on user experience development. This includes Web 2.0 / AJAX application development, enterprise / intranet application development, and a variety of community-driven web projects. Nick consults regularly in these areas.

Nick majored in Computer Science at the University of British Columbia and spent time completing an Associate’s Certificate in Java from the BCIT Java development program. He also holds certifications in several technologies ranging from ColdFusion to XML development.

Nick is seeking a full-time position in software engineering or internet application development for an established, competitive, and dynamic technology firm.

Experience

• Developed highly usable presentation layer solutions on a variety of platforms utilizing advanced layout and scripting technologies
• Worked effectively with multi-disciplinary teams including customer stakeholders, project managers, business analysts, designers, developers, testers, and systems personnel
• Participated in all phases of the software development lifecycle

Taunt Media was established in Vancouver, BC, Canada on January 1st, 2008, and was founded by Nick Bouton. Taunt was created in order to sponsor, develop, and nurture several community-driven collaborative web site properties in a variety of fields.

Our first project, Protagonize, is an interactive fiction site that was launched in late December, 2007.

Taunt Media has several other sites in development — watch for progress updates on our blog (www.tauntmedia.com) as each site progresses.

• In addition to existing development role for OpenRoad, acted as product manager and development team lead for OpenRoad’s ThoughtFarmer software product: ThoughtFarmer is a social application for the workplace, combining the best of wikis, blogs, and social networking into an attractive, easy-to-use enterprise intranet solution for Windows server environments
• Planned, organized and maintained the product development roadmap and release schedule
• Acted as internal product expert and evangelist
• Defined and specified product requirements
• Took new features from design concepts through implementation and into production and optimization
• Performed sales engineering tasks such as traveling to remote client locations to install and configure the product, as well as provide support and maintenance
• Directly liaised with potential customers and existing clients in both a technical (primarily) and sales capacity
• Collaborated with development team to drive new feature development and properly support existing customers
• Provided accurate and detailed estimates for future development tasks

 

• Acted in a software development and team lead capacity on a variety of mid-to-large-sized projects, participating in all aspects of the software engineering life cycle
• Acted as product development lead for OpenRoad’s ThoughtFarmer intranet/portal product
• Developed large-scale solutions for a variety of mid-to-large scale clients
• Extensive design and implementation of projects with the Microsoft .NET Framework
• Acquired broad technical knowledge of several off-the-shelf and custom-built CMS and portal/intranet products
• Shared technical information with other engineers to help in the successful execution of projects
• Proactively provided technical input for project implementation and issue resolution
• Continually acquired and updated technical skill set to help ensure that the company provided high quality project solutions employing leading edge technology
• Managed time and provided regular status reporting, both written and verbal, to supervisor
• Participating in project management and documentation tasks
• Performed duties in accordance with established best commercial practices and in accordance with the company’s corporate processes
• Participated in and contributed to regular technical status meetings
• Consulted in a technical role on large-scale client projects
• Interacted with outside parties (contractors and consultancies) while working on database development for corporate web and e-commerce sites

 

• Acted in a software development capacity, participating in all aspects of the software engineering life cycle
• Shared technical information with other engineers to help in the successful execution of projects
• Proactively provided technical input for project implementation and issue resolution
• Continually acquired and updated technical skill set to help ensure that the company provided high quality project solutions employing leading edge technology
• Managed time and provided regular status reporting, both written and verbal, to supervisor
• Performed duties in accordance with established best commercial practices and in accordance with the company’s corporate processes
• Participated in and contributed to regular engineering status meetings
• Consulted in a technical role on large-scale client projects
• Interacted with outside parties (contractors and consultancies) while working on database development for corporate web and e-commerce sites
• Worked recently on multi-application web portal prototypes for the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) of Thailand and for the Environmental Monitoring Information Network (EMIN) of Bangladesh
• Undertook internationalization and localization efforts for both of the aforementioned projects

 

• Technical lead for the company; managed a team of 4 developers
• Consulted/interacted with clients on a regular basis
• Collaborated with Management, Project Managers, Production, Account Services, and Design teams
• Responsible for interviewing and hiring for the technical department
• Conducted client presentations and participated in pitches
• Adapted to changing and varying client needs
• Evaluated internal and client requirements; in turn, recommended either custom or off-the-shelf solutions, on a per-project basis
• Dramatically increased department’s technical skills and work efficiency
• Gained invaluable management experience in consulting on a variety of large projects
• Lead developer and/or technical consultant on current and past accounts
• Assisted in project design and architecture
• Coded for projects 70% of the time (30% spent doing management and administration) in a variety of languages, mainly PHP, Perl, ColdFusion, Java, and ASP
• Developed and worked on web sites for several companies, including Clorox, Compaq Canada, TELUS, Amtrak, McDonald’s Canada, KIA, Pacific Press/Southam Newspapers, Quick.com, and Jann Arden
• Tested site/project functionality and usability
• Promoted to Technical Team Lead after less than one full year of employment (July 1999)

 

Over ten years of consulting experience in internet application development, web and graphic design, and information architecture. Past projects include:

• Extensive software development and server administration work for megapixel.net, a large and widely-read digital photography publication owned by Jupitermedia
• An online polling system
• A threaded discussion forum
• A classified ad posting/tracking system
• A site statistics tracker/analyzer
• An invoicing and billing system (with complete database infrastructure)
• Intranets and extranets of varying degrees of complexity
• An extended time and billing management system
• A package of custom rapid site development and project management tools
• Customization of various open-source CMS platforms and blogging tools

 

• Managed desktop systems and administered small office network (LAN)
• Installed and setup, and maintained and software and operating systems
• Assembled and upgraded system hardware; performed troubleshooting as necessary
• Provided web design and production, as well as web site maintenance (site built is not currently live)

 

• Volunteered to help with production of The Ubyssey, UBC’s major student-operated campus newspaper; gained experience working in newspaper production
• Collaborated with other Ubyssey staff and production team members
• Worked with tools such as QuarkXPress, Adobe Pagemaker, and Macromedia Freehand
• Learned to work efficiently within hard deadlines

 

Education

Coursework towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Additional coursework in Mathematics, Classical Studies, Art History (contemporary and classical), Graphic Art, and English literature and writing.

Languages

Fluent, French and English.

Skills & Qualifications

Ambitious, quick-thinking and motivated developer. Proven self-starter, with leadership ability and a good grounding in the management arena. Always looking to learn more!

Below is a sampling of languages and technologies Nick has worked with recently:

References & Code Samples

Available upon request.

Television Appearances

Guest appearance on The Lab With Leo, Episode 146: “Getting Started with the YUI”

Associations

Member, Interaction Design Association (IxDA)

Member, .NET User Group of BC (.NETBC)

Member, Vancouver Java Users Group (VanJUG)

Member, Vancouver XML Developers Association (VanX)

Member, Vancouver User Experience Group (VanUE)