Programmed to Program

Hello. My name is Kyle Zipp. I'm a Full Stack Software Engineer with 15+ years of professional experience. I currently work alongside an amazing team at Life Advantages, and I have helped elevate them to be one of the leading technical companies in the EAP industry.

My primary focus is to provide web-based software that makes the job of my colleagues and the company's clients have an easier day-to-day job. This is done by creating both internal and external tools, useful reporting, and automating as much of it as possible.

PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS, and Javascript are what have gotten me here, and they remain to be my strong suit. With that being said, I have learned and experimented with many programming languages and frameworks, with a recent focus on TALL (Tailwind, AlpineJS, Livewire, and Laravel).

Experience

Life Advantages, LLC

November 2014 - Present

Senior Software Engineer

I am employed by Life Advantages, which was founded in 2000 and has been one of the leaders of technology and innovation in the EAP industry. Working as part of a small team has allowed us to focus on the thing we do best, technology.

Over the last 9 years, I have been the lead developer on multiple SaaS-style applications, some of which have changed industry standards. These new tools have introduced digital and automated versions of manual processes include invoicing and payments, scheduling, user management, reporting and many more.

Lead Developer for 5 major software builds and several minor builds
Maintain all software, including feature updates, bug fixes, security concerns, and HIPAA concerns
Ensure all software and websites are user friendly, display on all screen sizes, and are up to current standards
Monitor and resolve both client and internal workflow issues to provide a better day to day experience and Life Advantages

CopyPress

August 2011 - October 2014

Lead Developer

Copypress was originally formed as a Blueglass (see below) child company which quickly grew into its own. A handful of employees made the transition to the new company which allowed for us to truly see a company form and grow. From the piles of paperwork to selecting an office space, or building custom time-management software, the few of us truly wore many hats.

While forming this new company, it was important not to forget about the hundreds of users and clients that allowed for this opportunity. For me, this included:

Lead Developer for client projects, including websites, software, social media, and newsletters
Manage a team of developers and programmers, both local and overseas
Lead IT position for entire company

BlueGlass

September 2010 - August 2011

WordPress Web Developer

Blueglass was an amazing first stop on my career path. While I didn't realize it at the time, I was working with and learning from some of the greatest SEOs we have ever seen.

Develop and manage a network for 3,000+ websites with HTML, CSS, PHP, and WordPress

When I'm Programming Outside Of The Office

ZippDroid

Personal Blog with an POD Shop

Developed a personal blog with a print on demand shop and portfolio. Utilized the TALL stack to provide a seamless user experience. Integrated Printify and Stripe APIs for e-commerce functionality and hosted on AWS.

Skills: Laravel, AlpineJS, Livewire, Tailwind, API Integration, AWS

Check it out

Beer and Basketball

Podcast Website with Laravel Backend

Designed and developed a podcast website with a Laravel Backend and responsive styling on the front end using Tailwind CSS. Ensured a great user experience on all devices.

Skills: Laravel, Responsive Design, Tailwind CSS, ChatGPT, AWS

Check it out

Home Assistant

Smart Home Dashboard & Automations

Implemented Home Assistant to create a centralized smart home dashboard and automation hub. Leveraged a variety of devices and integrations, including Aqara, Google Assistant, and Nest, to enhance home automation and control.

Skills: Home Assistant, Google/Youtube APIs, YAML

Education

University of Central Florida

2005 - 2009

B.A. in Digital Media

"The B.A. in Digital Media allows students to integrate the multiple domains of art, storytelling, and technology. It is designed to provide a solid foundation in techniques and theory in one focused area of competence, provide a broad understanding of related disciplines including arts, humanities, and technology, and provide extended experience in working in multidisciplinary teams on realistic problems. It recognizes that there are many combinations of courses which meet the needs of individual students. Two specializations -Game Design and Web and Social Platforms - lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree." ~ UCF

When I started at UCF in 2005, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. I started my education with a focus on business, and within a year I knew it wasn't for me. I have always known that I was Programmed to Program, but I didn't realize it was something I could actually have a career doing. I was able to make this change early enough to graduate in 4 years with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Media/Internet and Interactive Systems.

When I'm Not Programming

Married. Clearwater, FL. Chase the Kitten. Lego. Sports. Heat. Dolphins. Comics. Reading. More Lego. Work/Life Balance.