About Robert

I am currently a Frontend Software Engineer II at Dexcare Inc. I have experience with ecommerce and healthcare websites. My skills involve using fronted frameworks like QwikJs and NextJs to build extremely fast, performant, mobile first web pages. Both frameworks mentioned use JSX and server rendered components to deliver their content. I'm open to other frameworks depending on their benefits. Some of the important features of frontend development I have experience with are SEO improvements, analytics, accessibility, security, and more. I've also been involved in design (UX), framework (architectural), and best practices discussions for our platforms.

Though I don't have extensive backend experience, I have developed some backend solutions, and have been involved in schema and architectural discussions for backend changes. I have worked with express, node, and Azure web apps for professional and personal projects. I would like to expand on this skillset in the future.

I started as a Computer Science major at Western Washington University (WWU). After receiving my bachelor's degree, I began pursuing a graduate degree, but when covid hit, I decided to step back from school to work on personal projects (this website being one of them and the portfolio page). Thanks to my efforts, I landed a job at WompMobile, which transitioned to my role at Dexcare. From there, I grew into the FE developer I am today. In my free time, I work on updating this website with the things I've learned. It originally was written in PHP, based on lessons from college. I have recently updated it to NextJs. Not everything is up to best practices, but it is still a work in progress.

I'm looking for new opportunities to expand my skillset. I've enjoyed my time in my current position but I believe I can learn more from different people, situations, and roles.

In the next five years, I'd like to see my professional skills grow and start a new position. However, I believe life is more than what we do for work. I'm working on learning Japanese and want to learn Korean next. My dream has always been to go to Japan, speak fluently, and enjoy the food, culture, and countryside (basically everything). Maybe I have too rosy of a perspective of a place I've never visited, but I've grown up watching anime. From that influence, I've looked into the culture, I find the language and perspectives it cultivates inspiring, and genuinely think it would be a great experience to visit.

My hobbies also include playing video games, reading, Kpop, hiking, camping, watching movies and tv shows, cooking, and drinking. I'm happy to discuss any of my hobbies with people. I know it may sound problematic to list drinking as a hobby, but I love to go to breweries to try new beers, take distillery tours, try wineries and more. Kpop has also had a big influence on my life. More than just wanting to learn Korean now as well as Japanese, but it has inspired me to go to more concerts (something I never did before). It has introduced me to more cultures, ideas, cuisines, and even a whole new drinking culture. (I swear I'm not an alcoholic). There's many things to learn about the world and other cultures. I hope these experiences keep finding me through media and expand my horizons even more.