Jim Dee's Bio and Qualifications

Array Web Development | Corporate Experience | Additional Experience | Publications | Tech / Web Qualifications | Education | Interests | Social Media

GenerativeNFTs.io

August 2021 to present:

Want to know more? Read my writings on generative art programming for NFTs on Medium.com.

Founder and Chief Generative Art Programmer, GenerativeNFTs.io. We are a startup tech consulting firm specializing in the production and deployment of generative art NFT sets onto the Ethereum block chain. It's a strange and exciting world where artists can sell 10,000 NFTs to collectors and investors in a matter of hours or even minutes, resulting in millions of dollars in primary and secondary market sales.

  • Work with clients to plan their drop strategies -- considering pricing, marketing, smart contract feature planning, and all aspects of the generative art.
  • Produce the generative art set based on artwork supplied, rarity tables, and custom logical rules. Also produce meta data used in smart contract deployment so that the items are able to be found and listed properly by OpenSea and various rarity bots.
  • Work with my developer partner to ensure that the smart contract provides the client's desired functionality.

GenerativeNFTs.io is currently a part of Array Web Development, but will become its own entity super soon. (We're just working 18 hour days right now on upcoming drops!) As such, Array Web Development is no longer accepting web development work. We're 100% focused on NFTs now, and encourage you to visit GenerativeNFTs.io

Array Web Development, LLC

Nov. 2010 to 2021:

Want specifics on what I do here at Array? Read my writing in Web Designer / Web Developer Magazine, and additional tech articles published by Hacker Noon.

Principal Web Strategist, Array Web Development, LLC. We are a web design and web development agency based in Portland, Oregon, serving clients worldwide. Highlights:

  • Plan and execute client web sites, redesigns, API tie-ins, intranets, custom systems, and database applications using CMSs, PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS to meet functional specs and expectations.
  • Create and implement digital marketing campaigns, SEO initiatives, and content creation strategies using blogging, vlogging, and social media distribution to increase traffic and sales.
  • Produce "Web Developer Magazine" by ideating, writing, and editing business- and tech-related articles to demonstrate expertise and increase traffic, branding, awareness.

Corporate Background, Pre-Array Web Development

Feb. 2001 to Nov. 2010:

Want my take on web sites for professional services firms? Read Professional Services Firms: Build Your Client Base with Time-Honored Web Site Best Practices.

Director of Marketing & Business Development for a Regional CPA and Wealth Management Firm. Case | Sabatini CPAs is a regional public accounting firm based in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Sister-company, CSD Financial, managed $50 million in assets. Highlights:

  • Built an entire marketing and business development function. Wrote and implemented the firm’s first-ever comprehensive general and industry-specific segment marketing and business development plans. Coached partners and managers on marketing, sales techniques, SWOT analyses, etc. Implemented a firmwide sales incentive and BD plan.
  • Materially participated in $1 million in recurring new business during my first year with the firm. Leveraged proposal writing / pricing / strategy expertise to assist in landing a significantly higher percentage of work.
  • Launched a successful Tax eNewsletter reaching 2,500 local business leaders. Initiative started with just 200 clients as both a marketing / PR and business development tool.
  • Developed firm’s entire government practice from the ground up since 2005. Firm doubled in size since I started in 2001. When firm split into two companies in 2005, we launched a public sector service line. Began with zero government clients; had many dozens in just a fw years. Firm also acquired a post-secondary school practice (at my recommendation) in 2008, adding numerous clients into this overall practice and significantly improving profitability.
    • Thoughts on HR and hiring: Read my articles published by 42hire.com.
  • Leveraged our position as trusted financial advisors to launch a successful retained search company. Launched CSD Career Services in 2007 to source financial controllers and CFOs for our client base. (I served as the primary Director of CSD Career Services, receiving 20-33% of placement fees.)
  • Consistently produced top-quality marketing materials (brochures, ads, press releases, communications, web sites, etc.) within a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment that required resourcefulness and the ability to translate financial and/or technical concepts into easily accessible language. Maintained information about our practices, professionals, and the marketplace for up-to-date use in our materials.
  • Leveraged combined talents in writing, design, and programming to develop innovative products and services that set our firm apart from others. For example, I conceived, designed, wrote, and coded a Form 990 analysis tool for our web site's nonprofit industry area. Similarly, I developed an online calculator to help manufacturers and high-end retailers decide whether to use LIFO.
  • Accompanied CPAs on sales calls and bid meetings. Lead the resulting proposal process and participated in pricing strategy.
  • Served as the lead representative for college recruiting. Attended career fairs and gave presentations to accounting majors about public accounting as a career.
  • Provided marketing consulting to firm clients. Mostly, this was for web development work and printed marketing collateral.
  • Provided advanced computer consulting to clients. For example, innovated data crunching functions to help our CPAs determine the percentage of school tuition that came from Title IV funds. In other words: Out of an entire accounting firm (a place where they use Excel more than anywhere), they called me in to figure out how to implement the complex formulae required.
  • Bottom line: A marketer needs to demonstrate measurable value and ROI in addition to producing marketing communications and collateral of unparalleled quality. In this way, marketers can become a true source of revenue to a firm instead of an overhead expense.

Apr. 1999 to Feb. 2001

Thoughts on nonprofits and nonprofit web sites: Read my Three Things I Learned Working in Nonprofit Management, and Why I Left, and Here’s How Nonprofits Can Really Impress the Funding Community with Web Site Best Practices

Senior Manager, Marketing Communications & Internet Services for a 10,000-Member Professional Trade Association. Headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, the Air & Waste Management Association facilitates communication among environmental engineers worldwide. Highlights:

  • Oversaw the international, 10,000-member association’s marketing communications, as well as all web-based publishing and web-based services by applying web and traditional publishing best practices, maintaining a high standard of professionalism.
  • Supervised marketing and website personnel that expanded web functionality via integration with association management software, resulting in a 10x increase in web site traffic.
  • Handled marketing / media relations / advertising / PR for a 4,000+ attendee conference and 50,000 sq. ft. exhibition, realizing efficiency improvements each year.
  • Created and maintained marketing partnerships by working with environmental companies to provide enhanced value to members of the association.

Feb. 1997 to Apr. 1999

Thoughts on this experience: Read my What I Learned at Deloitte, and Why I Left.

Marketing Communications Project Manager (Proposals & Business Development) for a Global Professional Services Firm. Deloitte (then known as Deloitte & Touche) is the largest of the Big Four professional services firms, employing 150,000 professionals worldwide. Our department supported 600 professionals in Pittsburgh alone, as well as CPAs and management consultants in several states. Highlights:

  • Supported 600 regional CPAs and management consultants by writing and project managing more than 200 proposals for audit, tax, and consulting engagements ranging up to $4 million in scope, earning a top review of “Exceeds Expectations.” Also wrote and project managed a winning $2 million public sector “Office of the Chairman” proposal (reserved for clients of national significance). Wrote numerous Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation and consulting proposals for the mid-cap “Solutions” consulting group (ranging from roughly $75,000 to $4 million in scope).
  • Assisted the regional Business Development Director by researching and profiling area executives and boards, resulting in more precise targeting abilities and increased sales.
  • Developed a competitive intelligence program by researching outside firms and interviewing internal resources to inventory our intelligence assets, resulting in the firm’s ability to leverage our best strengths and act quickly on client opportunities.
  • Developed a competitive intelligence program.
  • Supervised writers, designers, and vendors.
  • Wrote portions of client business plans.
  • (Dates are approximate.)

1993 to 1996

Thoughts on this experience: Check out What I Learned at Prentice Hall / Simon & Schuster, and Why I Left

Production Editor for a Global Information Services and Publishing Company. Prentice Hall Law & Business was based in Washington, D.C. when I began in 1993. The publisher was part of Simon & Schuster and, in turn, part of Paramount Communications, Inc. The unit sold in 1995 to Aspen Publishers, Inc., part of the Dutch publishing company, Wolters Kluwer. Highlights:

  • Handled editing and layout for legal journals such as The Computer Lawyer, Inside Litigation, SEC Insights, Commercial Contracts, The Investment Lawyer, ERISA Litigation Reporter, and more, ensuring compliance with design and style guides (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, AP Style Guide).
  • Wrote various small columns and some feature articles for Of Counsel, a journal on law firm management.
  • Prentice Hall Law & Business was part of Simon & Schuster / Paramount Communications, and later sold to Aspen Publishers (part of the global publishing company, Wolters Kluwer). Full-time ‘93-‘95, then continued as a contractor until ‘02 out of the New York office.
  • (Dates are approximate.)

1992 to 1993

Thoughts on this experience: Read my Top Three Lessons Learned at My Very First “Real” Job After College, and Why I Left.

Editor for a Continuing Legal Education Provider. The Cambridge Institute was a national CLE provider based in Vienna, VA, just outside of Washington, D.C.

  • Designed, produced, and edited marketing brochures for continuing legal education (CLE) seminars across the U.S.
  • (Dates are approximate.)

Additional Experience

2007 to 2011

Thoughts on this experience: Read my Building a Valuable Email List: You Must Train Your Audience That They Are, In Fact, Customers.

Partner in a Holistic Wellness Information and Services Company. Pure Jeevan was launched by my wife in 2007 to serve the natural health and raw/living foods community. Together, we wrote articles, produced videos, and inspired people about raw foods, health, and nutrition. We also provided nutritional counseling, held events and talks, and offered health-related services such as live blood education. We had 10,000+ readers, with whom we were in contact regularly. Highlights included:

  • The Pure Jeevan web site (featuring raw foods information)
  • The All Raw Directory (a community-run site featuring thousands of links to raw resources)
  • HolisticHealth.Me, (a membership web site offering a 52-week holistic wellness program -- offline currently)
  • Other one-on-one health coaching.
  • (Dates are approximate.)

Mid-1990s - 2010

Freelance / Contract-Based Writer, Editor, Publisher, Marketer, Web Designer, PR Consultant, Programmer, Project Manager. Billings, in addition to full-time positions listed above, averaged $10k per year, but often $20-30k per year.

Publications and Presentations

Web Design, Web Development, Business Strategy, Business Development:

Human Resources:

Writing about Writing:

Journalistic Pieces:

Thoughts on this experience: Read my Notes on Writing Interview Articles.

Since so much of my corporate career focused on proprietary writing, I cannot publicly share samples of many such materials. However, I'm glad to have published numerous publicly available articles early in my career. Some of them include the following:

Misc Older Publications:

Articles in Which I Am Quoted / Featured:

Articles in Which I'm Interviewing Others:

Other Writings:

  • Have maintained a personal blog since about 2006, with hundreds of creative pieces appearing there.
  • Published poetry back in college in some decent journals (Poet Magazine, Potato Eyes, Endless Mountains Review, and a few others); also self-published a chapbook entitled The Geometric Lover.
  • The following books are available on Amazon.com:

    • Chroo: Who is CHROO? ... He’s quite possibly the richest dog in the world, the ever- present Corona-swilling BFF to celebrity heiress Upferra Quiquis (pronounced “quickie”). Chroo’s been everywhere, knows everyone, and (unusual for a Chihuahua) boasts an impressive track record with large-breed females. In this screwball literary fantasy, the fun starts when Upferra (who isn’t the dumb blonde everyone thinks) finds out she’s inheriting vastly more than the billions expected. It turns out her father was one of eight trillionaires controlling the world’s economy by playing a strange, secretive Game. She’s inherited his seat in this Game and it’s now literally her move. The problem is, she doesn’t care to play. So, she, Chroo, and an ensemble cast of humans and animals work to take down the Game, thus restoring freedom to the entire world! (Available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.com)

    • The Pirates of Pamlico Sound: A woman finds her personal life and love life mysteriously interconnected with pirate and colonial items (and people) in this supernatural tale that alternates between modern times and the past. (Not an arrrg!-type pirate story.) (Available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.com)

    • Tales of the Midwest: A memoir chronicling only the strangest stories from my formative years -- mischief and guns, roaches and demons, backwoods hicks and religious fanaticism. The book covers numerous forms of “giving the finger,” people who lose their minds over condiments, various brushes with the law, and bowling alley fights. The writing celebrates pyromania, an 8th grade “Abe Lincoln look-alike” science teacher, a man who collects school buses, an uncle who nearly killed a man, and at least one story involving dynamite. And other stuff. (Available to read online here.)

    • Wood's Confection, a screenplay: A retired marketing executive's latest entrepreneurial pursuit -- developing a candy bar in the shape of Jesus -- dovetails with an adventure involving his younger cousin's circle of criminal friends. The recipe for this tightly woven tale includes elements of dark comedy, mystery, and a dash of philosophy. (Available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.com)

Technical Qualifications

  • Joomla! and Gantry specialist -- custom Joomla! development (migrations, customizations, overrides, PHP programming, custom DB applications, components / plugins / modules / extensions, various ecommerce packages), advanced Joomla! administration (Access Control Level setup, custom module work, Joomla! security work, performance tuning), expert-level CSS work including responsive design, significant bootstrap experience
  • See my portfolio (home page, scroll down a bit) for current and recent development projects.
  • Involved in electronic publishing, development, and communications in either a full-time or part-time capacity since the mid 1990s. On the development side, this has involved writing copy, designing web pages, and coding work.
  • General tech experience dates back to circa 1980/1981 with the acquisition of an Atari 400. I was 11 or 12, and began BASIC programming (many concepts of which I still use today!). I've also owned and operated an Atari 800XL, IBM machines in the late 80s, Apple machines of that period (esp, the Apple 2e, one of my favorites), a Mac Classic, and numerous Pentium machines dating from a 60Mhz machine in the early 1990s all the way up to our modern powerhouses.
  • Misc notes: Experience with enterprise intranet systems, SharePoint intranets, HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, ASP, VBscript, most major CMSs (e.g., Joomla, Wordpress, etc.), integrating web sites with databases, blogging platforms, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, mastery level ability with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Photoshop, InDesign, video editing, and numerous other packages. General familiarity with many CRM systems. I also own roughly 30 domain names for personal use and/or future development.

Education

  • B.A. in English (concentration in writing) -– Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA (1991). Naparsteck scholarship for writing, co-editor of the university's literary magazine. (Went on to an MFA program in writing at George Mason University in Fairfax, but left the program to take a corporate position.)

Notable Post-College Study:

  • Joomla World Conference 2012, San Jose, CA; 2016, Vancouver, BC.
  • A 4-month internet marketing program focusing on autoresponders and traffic-capture (2009).
  • Board of Directors Leadership Academy, Duquesne University Nonprofit Leadership Institute (2006).

Affiliations

Board of Directors Service:

  • Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association. (2011-2013).
  • Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. (2006-2010). Served as Finance Committee chairman during the kickoff of a $30 million capital campaign and nationally important acid mine drainage reclamation project involving coal mines on public property. Wrote the organization's business plan in 2006, which has helped secure various grants. Also lead a small membership committee and participate in marketing.

Professional / Trade Affiliations: (all former, as of November 2010)

Interests

  • Music, piano playing, and composition. I enjoy writing original piano ragtime (and other) music, and then setting the music to old footage found online. See also my family's historic sheet music collection.
  • Photography:
    • Rock & roll: Here are some pics from Sasquatch Music Fest 2017, 2016, 2015, and Pickathon 2016 (attended as media).
    • Travel: Working on a new business project with my wife involving travel writing and photography. I'm still working on the initial content, which will cover travels to Thailand, India, Mexico, and other countries we've already lived in, as well as many more to come. (Project currently on hold because of Covid.)
    • Cats: Somehow, I took to photographing cats in my neighborhood (SE PDX). If you like cats, and want to see more than 100 different ones that live within about 10 blocks of my home, well, here you go.
  • Home remodeling and carpentry. Completely remodeled two homes, top to bottom. Experienced with framing, drywall, carpentry, cabinetry, gas, electrical, plumbing, etc.
  • Fitness. Usually up to something physical... Used to run annual 10k races, and have undertaken unusual fitness challenges (such as completing 36,500 pushups during a 365+ day project). Currently spending a lot of time doing home renovation, which is physical work!
  • Raw and living foods, general nutrition. Have written and published hundreds of thousands of words worth of health and nutrition articles on the Pure Jeevan blog, and also produced and edited many entertaining instructional videos (such as that quirky sample).
  • Entrepreneurism. Self-employed since 2010. Served as a coach in the Pittsburgh Technology Council's annual business plan competition.
  • eBay. Formerly a PowerSeller, circa 2005. Trade under the names “jimdee“ and “WebAuctionStore.” Proudly maintain a 100% positive feedback rating, with 650+ total transactions with feedback since 1998.

Social Media Connections

See LinkedIn for references and testimonials given and received:

From Jim's Web Designer / Web Developer Magazine blog:

Articles will open in a new window.    View full archive of Web Designer | Web Developer Magazine.   See also: Other tech articles by Jim Dee, published by Hacker Noon.