
James Strocel
Verified Expert in Engineering
Full-stack Developer
Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Toptal member since January 8, 2025
James is a senior full-stack developer specializing in Ruby on Rails, WordPress, and Shopify. He has 20+ years of experience working in diverse industries, including real estate, eCommerce, emergency services, and government agencies. James excels in finding new efficiencies in legacy software—saving his clients thousands of dollars and generating millions in revenue.
Portfolio
Experience
- JavaScript - 20 years
- HTML - 20 years
- PHP - 20 years
- MySQL - 20 years
- Ruby on Rails 7 - 15 years
- ArcGIS - 14 years
- REST - 10 years
- AWS SDK - 10 years
Availability
Preferred Environment
Ruby on Rails 7, JavaScript, React, PHP, WordPress
The most amazing...
...thing I've developed is a database app for Shopify that produced $2 million in revenue for a single client.
Work Experience
Senior Software Developer
Place
- Created a script for the app's user offboarding process that saved the company $10,000 a month.
- Fixed bugs and maintained an automated testing regime over at least five high-volume microservices.
- Implemented and documented technical onboarding processes for new hires.
Senior Software Development Manager
Fire Parts
- Developed the number one eCommerce site for gas fireplace parts on the internet.
- Maintained a database of 10,000+ fireplace manuals that synced thousands of SKUs across Amazon, Shopify, and eBay.
- Oversaw and implemented warehouse picking, packing, and scanning procedures.
PHP & WordPress Developer
Dyrand Systems
- Created a WordPress app that allowed users to trade in internal combustion engine cars for electric or hybrid vehicles.
- Integrated provincial vehicle identification, car insurance, and offsite cloud databases.
- Designed the user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Web Developer
Speed Shift Media
- Built a JavaScript tracking software for automobile dealer websites.
- Created back-end forms that allowed automobile dealers to manage their online advertising campaigns.
- Participated in design discussions that determined the product roadmap.
Rails Developer
Interlinked Technologies
- Developed registration, assessment, and individual education plan systems for Regent Christian Academy.
- Oversaw and implemented a transition from Magento to Shopify.
- Developed a scraping software that interacted with Netflix's REST API.
Application Developer
i-Open Technologies
- Built an HTML5 mapping app for the District of North Saanich's emergency services.
- Created a mapping site of fossil fuel resource deposits for the oil and gas industry.
- Developed an online floorplan display system for Jones Lang LaSalle.
Owner/Operator
V2S Web Design
- Designed websites using WordPress and Zen Cart content management systems.
- Built a social media tracker in Ruby on Rails that consumed data from the Facebook API.
- Developed a client-patient communication platform in Ruby on Rails.
Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician
Government of British Columbia
- Standardized and acquired soil data from many municipalities for the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
- Used water purveyor, water license, and aerial and groundwater data layers to indicate water sources for each lot in the Nicola, Bonaparte, and Similkameen valleys.
- Generated land use and water demand reports for the Okanagan, Nicola, Bonaparte, and Similkameen Valleys.
Assistant GIS Instructor
BCIT
- Provided students with research and programming strategies for completing their GIS final projects.
- Answered questions regarding course material on aerial map classification, stereoscopic image processing, and various web mapping services.
- Supervised GIS computer lab time and offered technical assistance where needed.
CAD/GIS Specialist
Franz Environmental
- Translated CAD data to GIS format using tools such as Spatial Analyst, AutoCAD, and FME.
- Reviewed and translated government schematics of dumping sites on the BC-Alaska Highway.
- Presented data that contributed to the cleanup of the dumping sites.
GIS Technician
City of Maple Ridge
- Optimized and maintained the ArcSDE database for the District of Maple Ridge.
- Programmed and implemented utilities for use with the ArcSDE database.
- Created maps for use in various city departments, including electrical service areas, community policing maps, multifamily strata, and bylaw violations.
Customer Support Representative
eBay
- Assisted customers in accessing accounts, posting items for sale, and resolving disputes through a proprietary online chat system.
- Accessed information on eBay interface and procedures to help resolve tickets.
- Maintained a high-volume resolution rate for tickets.
Document Scanning Technician
Cascade Law
- Created a workflow process for the archiving and disposal of legal documents.
- Scanned legal documents into TIFF image format for storage on optical media.
- Provided general computer help for the Aldergrove office.
Application Programmer
Environmental Criminology Research
- Designed a user interface update for Rigel, a criminal profiling software package.
- Implemented the changes for the ArcGIS and MapInfo versions of the software.
- Created a presentation of the changes for my final GIS project at BCIT.
Senior Tier 1 Call Center Technician
V-link Solutions
- Supported wifi hotspots in hotels and truck stops all over North America.
- Trained new call center technicians in our corporate procedures.
- Assisted clients in restarting routers, changing VPN settings, and retrieving passwords.
QA Analyst
Electronic Arts
- Provided quality assurance on the career mode of Need For Speed Underground 2.
- Conducted quality assurance for the league mode of Rugby 2005.
- Created documents detailing procedures for reproducing bugs found in AAA titles.
Experience
Fire-parts.com Website
http://www.fire-parts.com/YouTube Watch Later Cleaner
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/youtube-watch-later-clean/onbmpkohankjignfhdedhjdnoaekcidm/Campaign Builder for Warhammer 40,000
Education
Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) - Burnaby, BC, Canada
Associate Degree in English Literature
University of the Fraser Valley - Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems
University of the Fraser Valley - Abbotsford, BC, Canada
Skills
Libraries/APIs
ArcGIS, Shopify API, jQuery, Shopify Storefront API, Stripe, Google Analytics API, REST APIs, Liquid, React, Node.js
Tools
GitHub, Shopify Plus, Git, Google Analytics, GIS, Web GIS, AWS SDK, RabbitMQ, Microsoft Silverlight, Microsoft Access, FME, AutoCAD, ArcObjects, Visual Studio, MapInfo, VPN, Hotwire
Languages
JavaScript, HTML, CSS, PHP, Ruby, Java, Python, TypeScript, HTML5
Frameworks
Ruby on Rails 7, Ruby on Rails 6, Ruby on Rails (RoR), Bootstrap, React Native, Angular, .NET, ASP.NET, Tailwind CSS
Paradigms
REST
Platforms
Shopify, Linux, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ArcGIS Server, Docker, Kubernetes, WordPress, Linksys, Windows
Storage
PostgreSQL, MySQL, Elasticsearch, Redis, Amazon S3 (AWS S3)
Other
Full-stack, eCommerce, APIs, Shopify Customizations, Shopify Design, Back-end, API Integration, PayPal, Custom Shopify Apps, Mapping, Maps, Data Scraping, Web Scraping, Algorithms, Data Structures, Code Review, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Networks, Operating Systems, Writing & Editing, ArcGIS API, Amazon RDS, ArcSDE, IRIS, Microsoft Office, DevTrack
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