Stephen Bennett Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma, Us

Westport, Connecticut, Us

Zaelab is a trusted digital commerce consultancy. Through continuous innovation, Zaelab removes the complexity and friction of digital platform implementation and operations. Zaelab gives its clients best-in-class tools and insights so that they can deliver exceptional customer experiences.As a Principal JavaScript Architect, I led the planning and execution of headless e-commerce storefronts on both Shopify and BigCommerce leveraging Next.js & Vercel. My role involved working directly with clients to understand their requirements and translating those needs into technical specifications and detailed project plans.• Leadership in Headless E-commerce Development: Led all planning and execution for headless e-commerce storefronts on both Shopify and BigCommerce. Ensured the delivery of scalable, performant, and high-quality e-commerce solutions.• Client Collaboration and Requirement Analysis: Worked directly with clients to understand and unpack their requirements. Translated business needs into technical specifications and actionable plans.• Mentorship and Team Collaboration: Paired with and mentored other engineers, fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment. Conducted code reviews and provided guidance on best practices and coding standards.

Malden, Massachusetts, Us

As a Principal JavaScript Architect, I led the planning and execution of headless e-commerce storefronts on both Shopify and BigCommerce leveraging Next.js & Vercel. My role involved working directly with clients to understand their requirements and translating those needs into technical specifications and detailed project plans.• Leadership in Headless E-commerce Development: Led all planning and execution for headless e-commerce storefronts on both Shopify and BigCommerce. Ensured the delivery of scalable, performant, and high-quality e-commerce solutions.• Client Collaboration and Requirement Analysis: Worked directly with clients to understand and unpack their requirements. Translated business needs into technical specifications and actionable plans.• Mentorship and Team Collaboration: Paired with and mentored other engineers, fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment. Conducted code reviews and provided guidance on best practices and coding standards.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

As the Director of UI Engineering, I drove the strategic migration of the hotels product from a Ruby application with a React front-end to a Next.js application deployed on Vercel. This transition leveraged pre-existing Python backend services to modernize and simplify engineering efforts, making the technology stack more accessible and lowering the barrier for hiring UI engineers.• Strategic Migration and Modernization: Led the migration of the hotels product from a Ruby application with a React front-end to a Next.js application deployed on Vercel. Leveraged pre-existing Python backend services to modernize and simplify engineering efforts.• Technology and Innovation: Kept the technology team at the forefront of industry trends, adopting cutting-edge tools and practices. Drove continuous improvement and innovation within the UI engineering team.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

As the Lead Full Stack Developer at Smarter Travel, I was hired to spearhead the optimization and enhancement of the user interface for the company's hotels product. My initial projects focused on improving the pre-existing hotels product to deliver a better and more engaging user experience.Full Stack Development: Managed the development process from front-end to back-end, ensuring cohesive integration and performance. Utilized React for front-end development and Python services for back-end functionality to build robust and scalable solutions.Project Leadership: Directed initial projects aimed at enhancing the pre-existing hotels product. Coordinated with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality improvements and features.Performance Optimization: Conducted thorough analyses and implemented optimizations to improve the speed and responsiveness of the hotels product. Applied best practices in coding, testing, and deployment to ensure optimal performance.

Malden, Massachusetts, Us

As the Director of Software Innovation | Headless, I led the strategic drive to adopt and implement headless e-commerce solutions, significantly enhancing the flexibility and performance of our platforms. My role involved guiding the development of scalable headless architectures, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring that our technology team remained at the forefront of industry trends.• Strategic Leadership in Headless E-commerce: Led the strategic initiative to adopt and implement headless e-commerce solutions. Guided the development of scalable, performant headless architectures to enhance the flexibility and efficiency of e-commerce platforms.• Internal Tooling and Workflow Optimization: Spearheaded the creation and implementation of internal tools to streamline development workflows. Ensured that tools and processes enhanced development speed without compromising on quality.• Collaboration and Cross-functional Integration: Worked closely with operations, project management, and other engineering leaders to define and refine workflow processes. Promoted cross-functional collaboration to ensure cohesive and efficient project delivery.

Malden, Massachusetts, Us

As the Director of UI Engineering at Trellis, I played a critical role in building and leading a high-performing UI team. Starting with just 2 members, I successfully expanded the team to 15, recruiting and mentoring top talent to deliver best-in-class user experiences.In collaboration with operations, project management, and other engineering leaders, I defined and optimized workflow processes that ensured the efficient and effective delivery of high-quality UI projects. My focus on continuous improvement and innovation kept the technology team at the forefront of industry trends, adopting cutting-edge tools and practices.• Team Building and Leadership: Expanded the UI team at Trellis from 2 to 15 members, recruiting and mentoring top talent. Fostered a collaborative and innovative team culture focused on delivering best-in-class user experiences.• Process Development and Optimization: Collaborated with operations, project management, and engineering leaders to define and optimize workflow processes. Ensured efficient and effective delivery of high-quality UI projects, aligning with company objectives and client expectations.• Knowledge Sharing and Professional Development: Led lunch and learn sessions to share knowledge and best practices within the UI team. Encouraged ongoing professional development and skill enhancement among team members.

Malden, Massachusetts, Us

As a UI/UX Engineer, I played a pivotal role in designing and developing user interfaces for our e-commerce platforms on Magento and Shopify. Working within a small, agile team, I was responsible for creating intuitive and engaging user experiences that met the needs of our customers.• User Interface Development: Designed and implemented user-friendly interfaces for e-commerce platforms, primarily built on Magento and Shopify. Ensured optimal user experiences through intuitive and responsive design.• Design to Development Workflow: Established and refined design-to-development workflows, enhancing efficiency and collaboration within the team. Facilitated seamless transitions from design concepts to functional, high-quality code.• Innovation and Best Practices: Stayed current with the latest UI/UX trends, tools, and technologies to continuously improve the design and development process. Promoted best practices in user experience and interface design to ensure a consistent and engaging customer experience.

Launched a new e-commerce platform supporting $10 million in revenue under an aggressive deadline with a small team of four developers. The platform enabled the marketing and merchandising teams to swiftly respond to trades and market trends, optimizing product assortment for maximum sell-through.• Leadership in Development: Lead front-end development for the new e-commerce platform and CMS, achieving a 25% increase in business and significant improvements in UX.QA Automation: Implemented automated testing tools for QA engineers using PhantomJS and CasperJS, enhancing speed to market and consistency in our testing suite.• Custom Development: Developed a custom theme within the Craft CMS environment.

Actively engaged in the creative process while implementing streamlined workflows. Collaborated with the SVP of Product and Marketing on the overarching strategy and execution of a world-class GTM strategy.• Strategic Collaboration: Worked closely with the CTO to enhance automated workflows, simplifying complex processes and systems, enabling designers to focus on high-value tasks.• Technology Integration: Introduced new 3D software to the creative department and lead workshops for a seamless transition, resulting in a 60% increase in GTM efficiency. This enabled the addition of more leagues and players, and the ability to capitalize on market opportunities without increasing overhead.• Department Development: Identified and implemented the technology stack for the newly established Interactive | Technology department.

Fostered growth by encouraging designers to step out of their comfort zones. Implemented new processes that challenged them professionally, sped up workflows, and enhanced overall product quality. Defined and standardized product and packaging templates for use across multiple leagues, ensuring consistency and quality in collaboration with the Director of New Product Development.• Strategic Collaboration: Partnered with the SVP of Product and Marketing to develop a more engaging vision for the consumer and brand, establishing a clear voice and creative platform across all channels. Conducted focus groups to refine messaging and creative strategies, boosting omni-channel sell-through.• Workflow Innovation: Developed a fully automated workflow for product creation, resulting in a 400% increase in product deployment.• Process Management: Managed, documented, and conducted in-house workshops on new processes and workflows.

OYO Sports is a sports licensed fan engagement company. Current licensed products include the MLB,NFL,NHL,MILB,CLC,CLPA and many more to come!

Collaborated closely with the CEO to shape the overall vision for the product and company. Defined and developed product and packaging templates, and actively contributed to setting up the production facility.• Technology Identification: Researched and selected technologies for the early-stage company.• Product Development: Created, developed, and launched minifigure and buildable sets for MLB, NFL, and NHL.• Team Leadership: Managed a multidisciplinary team of designers, providing creative direction for product design, retail, e-commerce, show graphics, advertising, email campaigns, and site development.• Process Optimization: Introduced a new technology stack to enhance and accelerate art production.

working with various clients on whatever their need at the time was.Various projects included:Brochure design.Web design mockups.Brand identity. Flash animation.

Contract worker for Instant Sign Center.Daily requirements included: prepping files for print.using cut vinyl plotters. sign building.car wraps.

Certification, Graphic Design / Web Design

Diploma, Commercial And Advertising Art