Nick Tomkin
Riverview,New Brunswick
Summary
Experienced technology professional with a strong background in software development across various languages and platforms. Skilled in UX/UI design for mobile and web applications. Recognized as an effective instructor and mentor, receiving high recommendations for teaching and mentorship.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Technology
Banko
Hamilton, ON/Moncton, NB
07.2021 - Current
- Application development, with extensive experience using the Laravel framework, front-end development using Vue/React in either JS/TS.
- Supported creation of client and business partner relationships through careful collaboration and networking efforts.
- Managed a team of developers working on several
- Developed custom WordPress websites, plugins and Gutenberg Blocks in React.
Instructor
Mohawk College
Hamilton, ON
09.2020 - 12.2022
- Helped develop lessons and learning paths for several courses, including Emerging Web Technologies, Mobile Web Programming and Advanced PHP Programming.
- Worked with students through the uncertain, early period of COVID-19; developed remote-specific strategies for keeping students on track while they worked through changes and difficulties as a result of COVID-19.
- Recommendation from Dean, Elizabeth Martin, at Mohawk College available upon request.
Director of Technology
Orchestrated (Banko)
Hamilton, ON
07.2019 - 07.2021
- Initially hired as director for Orchestrated – a digital arm to Banko Creative Studio. Later, Orchestrated was merged into Banko Creative Studio.
- Developed premium plugins for WordPress, including a Coronavirus Banner Plugin – at its peak, had an install base of 30,000.
- Developed and maintained a Mailchimp WordPress plugin, CampaignPress, which allows users to create newsletters from their WordPress content.
- Developed WordPress websites, including complex themes, interaction with external APIs, and product builders using WooCommerce as a back-end.
- Oversee team of designers and developers working on digital projects.
- Designed and developed custom websites, web applications and mobile applications from concept to deployment.
- Developed and manage products developed internally, plan market strategy.
- Served as primary decision-maker for internal technology spending, creating budget guidelines to reduce waste and decrease unnecessary upgrades.
- Developed websites and applications using a variety of technologies and languages, including: Laravel (PHP), Vue (JS), React (JS), Django, Flash, Grok (Py).
- Designed and developed interactive installations, with an in-house platform (built on Raspberry Pi/Arduino) to deliver engaging content in public spaces.
Product Developer/Developer
Parallel
Hamilton, ON
07.2018 - 07.2019
- Led Real Estate Products team to launch innovative platform for buyers and sellers. Rebuilt React-based listing engine to handle unlimited number of rendered items in the browser.
- Worked with Firebase, AWS CloudFront, AWS S3, AWS Lambda and other APIs
- Designed and built a hardware prototype that will allow store owners to count visitors in their store using presence tracking hardware, allowed store owners to view data as analytics.
- Developed in a variety of languages and frameworks, including Laravel (PHP)
President/CEO
Orbital
Hamilton, ON
02.2013 - 07.2018
- Created a technology-focused agency that worked with other traditional agencies to create rich, interactive experiences for the web and mobile.
- Worked with many small, medium and large brands to execute detailed digital experiences for the web, mobile and physical/digital engagements.
- Hired and managed designers and developers.
- Cultivated strong relationships with external partners to foster collaboration and maximize resources.
- Built several platforms, including an augmented reality SaaS for MLSE (Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors) to manage their AR experiences delivered to their mobile apps.
- Designed, developed and assembled a successful portable photobooth company using Raspberry Pi and AWS APIs.
- Nominated for Outstanding Business Achievement Award in 2015.
- Principal developer and product designer, developing in technologies: PHP/Laravel, Vue, Typescript, React, Ruby/Rails, WordPress themes/plugins.
- Sold and merged company with Parallel in 2018.
Web Developer
2Gen.Net
Hamilton, ON
02.2003 - 02.2013
- During the early Web 2.0 years – coded websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery languages.
- Developed websites and applications (and even a CMS at one point) using PHP, C#, ColdFusion (I know).
- Developed WordPress websites, including themes and plugins.
- As a seasoned UX designer, also designed websites using Adobe Photoshop, Sketch and Invision from early concept, to final design.
Skills
- Back-end Development: PHP, Nodejs, Python
- Front-end Development: Javascript, Vue, React, TypeScript
- IOS Development: Objective-C/Swift
- Android Development: Java/Kotlin
- Information Architecture Design
- IoT Electronics: AWS IoT services, Raspberry Pi, Embedded electronics, Arduino
- UX/UI Designer: Sketch, Photoshop
- Machine Learning: AWS ML APIs
- Augmented Reality: AWS Rekognition, 8th Wall
- AWS: S3, EC2, Lambda, RDS, Lightsail, Dynamo
- CI: Bitbucket Pipelines, Kubernetes
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Elementary
Causes Organizations
- 06/2016-10/2021, Hamilton Arts Council, Board Member / Director
Volunteer Experience
- 1997, 2000, Web Developer / Technical Advisory, Women's Centre of Hamilton-Wentworth, Hamilton, Canada, Designed and developed WCHW website. Volunteer award and first male to acquire over 300 hours of volunteer contribution with the centre.
- 1999, 2002, Volunteer, Creative Arts / Festival of Friends, Hamilton, Canada, The Festival of Friends is an outdoor music, art, and crafts festival in Hamilton, ON. It has been produced annually since 1976. Helped organize and onboard volunteers. Monitored and maintained property during events.
- 2017, Present, Mentor / Teacher, IEC / CodeClub, Hamilton, Canada, Acting as the catalyst, between education, industry and the broader community, we offer programs and industry-lead initiatives to accommodate career exploration and partnership needs. We always welcome the opportunity to discuss collaborations to further advance Hamilton's economic climate. We are your unique partner in education! Teach students coding basics using Hopscotch and Scratch. Explain and familiarize students with coding principals through everyday analogies. Contact: Beth Gibson - beth.gibson1@mohawkcollege.ca
References
- Beth Gibson - Executive at IEC/CodeClub (beth.gibson1@mohawkcollege.ca)
- Kevin Brown - Professor, Mohawk College (kevin.browne3@mohawkcollege.ca)
- Elizabeth Martin – Associate Dean, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Mohawk College (elizabeth.Martin6@mohawkcollege.ca)
Projects
Mega Music Box: Mimicking the functionality of a wind-up music box, I am in the process of building a large-scale, motor-driven music box that will use solenoids as teeth, allowing the user to program any song at various speeds.
Hearing Aid for Youth: Began development of a open-source hearing aid that can be made using a bone-conducting speaker and a few other inexpensive electronic parts. Hearing assisted devices can cost up to $10,000, making them inaccessible for lower income families.
GameShelf: During COVID-19, I started a small product company. I design, build and sell original products online for video game enthusiasts and collectors. I design using Autodesk Fusion 360 and use a mixture of CNC, laser cutting, 3D printing and other emerging materials to bring the 3D models to life. http://gameshelf.games and http://etsy.ca/shop/gameshelfshop
Timeline
Director of Technology
Banko
07.2021 - Current
Instructor
Mohawk College
09.2020 - 12.2022
Director of Technology
Orchestrated (Banko)
07.2019 - 07.2021
Product Developer/Developer
Parallel
07.2018 - 07.2019
President/CEO
Orbital
02.2013 - 07.2018
Web Developer
2Gen.Net
02.2003 - 02.2013