Dan Herman

Penn State College of Medicine

web specialist
May 2016 - Present

Along with a colleague, I oversee the digital presence for the Penn State College of Medicine. This includes updating content, developing components and add-ons for the main College website in the LifeRay CMS, as well as developing, maintaining and updating content for our various WordPress websites that pertain to other audiences. I also develop internal tools and methods for various digital projects, including Google Analytics work, Google Tag Manager, SiteImprove and various front-end/back-end libraries to display unique content in JavaScript. I also advise and help develop our digital strategy.

Campbell, Harrington and Brear

web developer
Aug. 2015 - May 2016

Working for a full-service ad agency, I delivered internal and client web projects, including custom application development, ecommerce and traditional websites. This included a variety of front-end languages and back-end PHP work, updating/upgrading already developed themes and building them from scratch. I was responsible for planning and DevOps on all technical projects, as well as administering web servers, our internal email and storage servers. I worked across a variety of content management systems in order to fit to what the client is comfortable with. I also developed long-term strategy for the web business.

Aardvark Brigade

php developer
Nov. 2014 - Aug. 2015

For this digital web agency, working primarily in PHP, CSS, JavaScript and a seemingly endlessly expanding number of libraries and frameworks, I created front- and back-end deliverables for client websites – everything from pitching in on some SVG animation to back-end plugins for integrating Twitter/Facebook profiles with consultant microsites for a direct sales company. Working with the Aardvark Brigade brought me a fuller understanding of client relationships, a better grasp on time management and helping the client discover what works best for them, in addition to a multitude of new and improved technical skills.

York Daily Record

innovation editor/assistant editor
July 2012 - Nov. 2014

In carving out my role as Innovation Editor (a brand-new position) at this 24-7 news organization, I focused primarily on two key areas. The first, and most immediately visible, had me helping plan and execute public-facing projects, sites and tools to enhance our news coverage and brand focus. This included a new way to present databases online, several responsive-design projects and a video. The other aspect, which I considered just as — if not more — important, involved making sure that we were using technology internally to make people more efficient/reduce their workload. I also helped manage/train two direct reports. As assistant editor, I helped oversee the production of four daily newspapers, as well as weeklies and special sections, managing three direct reports and a dozen in total. In the digital sphere I worked on a number of projects, including social media tools, content curation tools, on-demand databasing tools, live election tools, and iPad apps.

Farmington Daily Times

presentation editor
Jan. 2011- July 2012

Though originally hired as the online editor, my position was never so narrowly defined at this daily newspaper. For the first nine months of my tenure, I served as a primary page designer, doing news pages around six times a week. While doing this, I also maintained our main website and created mini-sites for special events, as well as handling IT troubleshooting and maintenance. I oversaw all online and print design, and managing two full-time page designers and two photographers.

Pacific Northwest Inlander

copy editor
June 2010 - Dec. 2010

In addition to editing all print copy for clarity, structure, grammar and AP style for this weekly newspaper, I also edited external publications (the bi-monthly health magazine and advertising projects) and was responsible for final proofing on all publications. I wrote news, arts and culture stories for print, as well as biographies and health stories for the health glossy. I also contributed to the blog regularly (at least three times a week), including a weekly series that regularly drew three to four times as many readers as the average post.

Oxyfresh/Life Matters

web publication specialist
Sept. 2009 - June 2010

For this direct marketing firm, I helped with the development of several web properties and projects. I was in charge of the weekly newsletter to subscribers, helping with JavaScript/AJAX on the main site and assisting in the development of the site for a new product. Highpoints included integrating new technologies and methods into the work processes, as well as introducing automation for repetitive tasks that freed up time for more creative work.