Hello, I'm Alan. I'm a developer driven by creativity, curiosity, and the simple joy of building things that work beautifully.

My journey into technology wasn't a straight line, but a path guided by a growing passion for solving complex puzzles. It began with programming electives in college, but truly ignited during my time as a Purchasing Manager. There, I wasn't just managing procurement; I was on the front lines of technology, testing ERP system integrations, writing SQL queries to wrangle data, and troubleshooting system issues. I discovered a deep satisfaction in making systems work more efficiently for the people using them.

This real-world experience led me to dive deeper, first through the Salesforce Pathfinder program and then by teaching myself the foundational languages of the web: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. With these tools in hand, my perspective shifted from simply analyzing systems to actively creating them. This transition from user to builder solidified my path toward a career in development.

Today, I see development as the ultimate creative outlet. My professional philosophy is deeply influenced by my background, both in corporate settings and as a U.S. Army veteran. I approach every project with discipline, a commitment to teamwork, and the resilience to see a difficult challenge through to its solution. To me, a project is a success when it achieves a perfect balance: a beautiful, intuitive design on the front-end and elegant, efficient code powering it from the back. I believe the best applications empower users to get things done in a way that feels effortless. My approach is adaptable—sometimes I start with a detailed Figma design, other times I dive straight into the code, but I always let the unique needs of the project guide the process.

When I'm not at my keyboard, you can usually find me outdoors. I enjoy hiking, camping, and kayaking. That same drive for a challenge led me to summit Pikes Peak in Colorado—a long-held goal I set for myself while stationed at nearby Fort Carson as a soldier. I also love working with my hands, whether I'm building furniture, gardening, or exploring artistic mediums like watercolor, sumi-e, and wood burning. And of course, I always have my two canine assistants, Bruno and Franco, by my side.

This love for tackling new challenges extends from the trail to the terminal. Whether it's mastering a new artistic technique or navigating a complex problem, I'm driven by a deep-seated curiosity and a desire to grow. This mindset is what fuels my passion for technology and keeps me excited for the next problem to solve and the next skill to learn.

I am currently formalizing my skills through the Web Development program at San Diego Mesa College. I'm excited to deepen my expertise in full-stack frameworks like React and Node.js, expand my knowledge of cloud services like AWS EC2, and build upon my familiarity with modern database solutions, including NoSQL databases like MongoDB. I am actively seeking a full-stack developer role where I can contribute to a creative team and continue to build elegant solutions to interesting problems.

Let's build something great together.