Chappy Strydom Email & Phone Number

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

My time at Innova was an incredibly rewarding journey where I expanded my expertise across various domains. I had the opportunity to complete around 20 diverse projects while concurrently managing several hundred hosted websites. Moreover, my role allowed me to delve deeply into digital marketing strategies, equipping me with a comprehensive understanding of leveraging digital platforms for optimal results. This experience significantly augmented my skills in project management, website hosting, and honed my proficiency in digital marketing strategies and implementations.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

During my time at the company, I was given the opportunity to be the first in-house web developer, a position that was previously outsourced to a third-party company. As the in-house web developer, I was responsible for all aspects of web development, including development, maintenance, and security, for a diverse range of clients in industries such as medical, snack, and dairy brands. In addition, I was responsible for setting up and maintaining the company's hosting services and implementing a production cycle for all retainer clients and projects.Along with my web development responsibilities, I played a key role in the company's digital marketing efforts. This included assisting with the strategizing and implementation of Google Search Ads, as well as maintaining Google My Business profiles and generating Google Analytic reports for our clients. My experience in web development and digital marketing allowed me to provide a well-rounded service to our clients, and I take pride in the success we achieved together.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

After years of professional experience in the tech industry and freelance work in e-commerce and digital marketing, I decided to rebrand my freelance company, Digital Data. I shifted away from hardware and support to specialize in web and app development, with a focus on lead generation. I wanted to travel while also building my portfolio. During this time, I also started my own online male clothing and accessories brand, Ramstal, as well as an online pet supply store called Feather & Paw.For a couple of years, I settled in Nieu Bethesda, and with Feather and Paw being the most successful of my ventures, I eventually relocated back to Port Elizabeth. My house was getting crowded with squeaky toys and smelling of doggy treats and dips. I rented a small building, with no intention of opening to the public since it was in an industrial area. As the business grew, I moved into a bigger building further down the road and worked with top brands such as Montego, Ideal, Qualipet, AVI Products, Marltons, Aqua Plus, and Trusty. Even the occasional passerby would stick their head in.However, in January 2020, we had a terrible incident where we were robbed, and I was stabbed in the arm, requiring over 30 stitches. This happened just before the Covid pandemic began spreading, making courier and importing services difficult to manage. With all the uncertainty and challenges, I decided to end all ventures and return to a full-time position. Despite the setback, I have no regrets about pursuing my passions and taking a chance on my dreams.

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

I began my career in the IT industry as an IT technician, where my responsibilities included building computers that would eventually be sold in large furniture and appliance retailers. In this role, I loaded Windows XP, cloned and Sysprepped the computer systems, and configured them for use. At the peak of my productivity, I was averaging around 200 computer builds per week.From there, I transitioned to a technical support specialist position. In this role, I repaired computer components and maintained warranty control for a range of top-tier brands, including MSI, Foxconn, Seagate, ASUS, Intel, AMD, Kingston, and more. Additionally, . This included managing the network infrastructure and performing on-site server maintenance and backups.Later on, I was transferred to a retail partner where I provided on-site technical support and managed warranty control for a few years. During this time, I represented the company alongside other technicians and sales representatives from rival brands and suppliers.After another transfer spending two years in sales at a sister company, I realized that I missed the technical aspects of my previous role. With the market shifting from hardware components to blank CDs and DVDs, laptop bags, optical drives, and other peripherals, I felt that my technical skills were being underutilized. As a result, I requested to be transferred back to a technical position.Finally, I was assigned to a non-IT company within the shareholders group, where I was responsible for maintaining the network infrastructure and providing on-site support until the group dissolved. Throughout my career journey, I gained a vast amount of experience and knowledge, honing my technical and interpersonal skills, which allowed me to navigate the ever-changing industry with ease.