Brian Houska Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

- Embarked on freelance web design career for change of focus and greater flexibility for parenting.- Meet with prospective clients interested in a new website to evaluate their needs, then submit a detailed proposal for a solution. - Once the proposal is accepted, generate wireframes using a variety of tools, generally Adobe XD and Photoshop.- Translate approved design to working web pages (for most clients, I’ve used WordPress).- Document any workflows the client might need help with (e.g. creating a new post).- Maintain and improve clients’ pre-existing websites.- Host sites on server instance from AWS EC2 with Plesk. For clients without domain name (and myself), manage DNS with AWS Route 53.- Ensure sites are properly tuned for security, SEO, and accessibility standards.- Configured 24-7 monitoring for all hosted sites so that any outages can be detected and resolved quickly.- Due to background in IT, regularly assist with computer and/or network troubleshooting

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

- Promoted to Systems Administrator, whereupon I owned installation, maintenance, and record keeping for all software and hardware used by company.- Obtained parts and assembled computers for use in resource-intensive engineering tasks.- When company adopted Microsoft Dynamics CRM to encompass both software and consulting clients, I managed all data migration, troubleshooting of reports, and documentation and training.- Supervised an external design firm to create a new look for company website, and migrate it to Drupal.- Introduced SharePoint to begin tracking file assets and documenting processes.- Part of employee group to establish company presence on and generate content for social media.- Solicited bids and oversaw installation of new VOIP phone system, then trained employees on its use.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

- Hired as temp worker to assist with sales and shipping of geomechanical software.- Self-taught PHP and MySQL to develop web-based system for tracking clients, licenses, quotes, and invoices.- Assisted with editing of software user manuals, written in LaTeX.- Worked with graphic designer to redesign company website, also moved it away from static HTML files towards database integration

Wrote capsule reviews of animated shows and movies for bimonthly magazine

Los Angeles, California, United States

- Managed and maintained front end of popular online shop, including photographing and entering new products- Oversaw all day-to-day technical matters for the website and two physical stores.- In words of company owner, “[R]evolutionized the position. No, really!”

Los Angeles, California, United States