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Sean Hayes
Verified Expert in Engineering
WordPress Plugins Developer
Naperville, IL, United States
Toptal member since September 20, 2019
Bio
Sean has 25 years of technology experience, technical leadership, and software application development expertise. He is an experienced developer and is passionate about delivering scalable, extensible, and optimal solutions using WordPress. Over the past 13 years of meeting client needs, he has a proven track record working with individuals, agencies, and enterprise organizations to deliver business-efficient services with WordPress.
Portfolio
Globally Recognized Sports Organization
Node.js, React, JavaScript, PHP
Gate39 Media
JavaScript, Linux, .NET, WordPress
Chicago Sun-Times
JavaScript, WP-CLI, WordPress
Experience
- PHP - 10 years
- WordPress - 10 years
- Git - 7 years
- WordPress Plugins - 7 years
- JavaScript - 5 years
- WordPress VIP - 3 years
- React - 3 years
- WordPress Multisite - 3 years
Work Experience
Senior WordPress Engineer
2020 - 2020
Globally Recognized Sports Organization
- Developed a React-based game selection tool that allowed the content editor to search by date games schedules from a remote API and with one-click create the content in the CMS, pulling in pertinent game-related data to the CMS.
- Created dynamic linking code that would allow content editors to have players, teams, and games linked to their public-facing URLs—something that would save time when reviewing editorial content for relevant links.
- Wrote unit tests for specific components of the CMS code, such as internal CMS permalinks and remote API permalinks.
- Participated in pair programming with multiple members of the CMS team and reported and contributed to daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and project increment planning.
- Onboarded new members to the team, acclimatizing them to the code base, the protocols of the team, and ideas behind how we built the CMS WordPress theme.
- Developed a React-based tool that prevented content from being published until configurable conditions were met: primary category setting, excerpt creation, featured image set, and post title entrance.
Technologies: Node.js, React, JavaScript, PHP
Director of Technology
2019 - 2020
Gate39 Media
- Provided technical leadership and software application development.
- Managed and mentored development team promoting best practices.
- Performed code quality checks and reviewed code with developers.
- Managed client projects and requirements. Planned developers' tasks.
- Architected software solutions to solve business problems.
Technologies: JavaScript, Linux, .NET, WordPress
Lead Developer
2014 - 2019
Chicago Sun-Times
- Implemented paywall software, support scripts, and create basic subscriber experiences.
- Improved editorial workflow by creating a homepage and section front customizer tools.
- Site migration for Chicago Sun-Times using WP CLI and remote data acquisition through legacy WordPress based JSON API.
- Led development efforts to deliver re-skinned and improved layout and functionality of https://chicago.suntimes.com/ - this included working with 3rd party brand and marketing firm and other business stakeholders.
- Increased information transfer within newsroom by connecting WordPress and paywall software to email service and Slack channels.
Technologies: JavaScript, WP-CLI, WordPress
WordPress Developer
2010 - 2018
creGROW
- Developed custom real estate WordPress plugin used by many commercial real estate firms.
- Developed Google Maps plugin to work with the real estate plugin and display property information and link to property pages.
- Created WordPress themes custom and configurable commercial real estate from design PDFs.
Technologies: WordPress Plugins, Plugins, PHP, WordPress
WordPress Developer
2014 - 2014
Culture 22
- Developed custom real estate solution for listings and transactions.
- Developed an internal professional services corporation team profile website.
Technologies: JavaScript, WordPress
WordPress Developer
2013 - 2013
Apartments.com
- Maintained advertising and corporate WordPress websites.
- Led weekly meetings with stakeholders to determine priorities and plan the workweek.
- Worked within an agile environment.
- Integrated and configured third-party analytic tools to track click and other interactive events and clicks for statistical reporting.
- Documented work projects, deployment processes, and provided feedback and reporting on projects.
Technologies: JavaScript, WordPress
WordPress Developer
2011 - 2012
Gate39Media
- Architected and developed multi-site WordPress conference theme for international Futures industry conference - one theme, two sites, custom service provider directory, and functionality.
- Researched and documented data backups and site recovery process.
- Provided guidance, process curation, and direction for junior developers/designers.
- Designed a landing page, and developed a microsite.
- Designed and managed a US $1,500+/month PPC Adwords campaign.
Technologies: JavaScript, WordPress
IT Director
2006 - 2011
RE/MAX
- Oversaw the technology management of 3 real estate offices.
- Created and supported residential real estate websites.
- Created and managed Adwords accounts.
- Designed, managed, and supported office network and telephony services, managing vendor relationships.
Technologies: Web Technologies
Project History
Featured Image Admin Thumb WordPress Plugin
https://wordpress.org/plugins/featured-image-admin-thumb-fiat/This free, open-source, plugin adds a column to the All Posts/All Pages and, where supported, the All Custom Post Type admin views. This column, Thumb, will display a thumbnail of the featured image or post thumbnail so you can easily determine the content that is missing an image.
Practical Guide to Schema
https://www.slideshare.net/seanchayes/schema-150614729I describe how Schema can add value to your website, the types of schema available and the many ways to apply that schema to your WordPress website.
Why You Should be Using Version Control for Development
https://www.slideshare.net/seanchayes/version-control-108421267An overview of version control, types of version control software, how to use it in your development workflow, and how it can be helpful for individuals as well as teams.
Skills
Libraries/APIs
jQuery, React, Node.js
Tools
PhpStorm, Git, WP-CLI
Platforms
WordPress VIP, WordPress, MacOS, Docker, Linux
Languages
HTML, CSS, SCSS, PHP, JavaScript
Frameworks
.NET, Laravel
Paradigms
Agile
Storage
MySQL
Other
WordPress Plugins, WordPress Multisite, WordPress Themes, Content Management Systems (CMS), Web Technologies, Plugins, iTerm2
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