<h2>Answering “Why is this position a good fit?”</h2>
<p>I think the assistant position offers the opportunity to really see what people in Nashua are doing to build community, which is of special interest to me.</p>
<p>While I don’t have actual library staff experience, I have worked as a freelancer contracted to digital agencies to understand client desires and develop guidelines to guide subsequent work. I believe this could be useful within the context of a programming+marketing department. I also have experience working with mission-oriented groups:</p>
<ul>
<li>I have extensive experience moderating online forums and chat rooms.</li>
<li>I have participated in small non-profits as a member of their board.</li>
<li>I have defined and executed governance goals for local user groups that I have helped start.</li>
</ul>
<p>I am unusual for having strong skills in both computer technology and visual design. I enjoy combining tech with graphic design to create interesting solutions for people to experience:</p>
<ul>
<li>I have deep computer technology/programming experience that helps me overcome technical barriers, or find the right people who know how.</li>
<li>I have deep understanding of graphic design principles tuned to matching the needs of the message with the capabilities of the medium.</li>
<li>I am good at deconstructing challenges into different pieces, creating an adaptive plan tuned to the needs of stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
<p>For hard skills, I have relevant experience with graphics production from my freelance practice and past work with digital agencies:</p>
<ul>
<li>Audio, video, podcast, and livestreaming production.</li>
<li>Design and publishing software like Adobe Creative Suite.</li>
<li>Print design and production using local and remote presses.</li>
<li>Blogging systems for Internet-based publishing.</li>
<li>Managing scheduling, tracking, invoicing, resource allocation for projects.</li>
<li>Office productivity software (word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software)</li>
</ul>
<p>I believe I have ideals that overlap with the Nashua Library’s mission as a whole:</p>
<ul>
<li>I am deeply interested in creating psychologically-safe community spaces, because I think these are the foundation for happy and fulfilling social groups. As a freelancer, it was important to do that for myself.</li>
<li>I am deeply driven to share what I am learning and what I know with others in as authentic a way I can, and have many years of public blogging that shows my dedication to this idea.</li>
<li>I am excited to see what people do when they acquire knowledge that I have helped provide. I find seeing what happens rewarding.</li>
</ul>
<p>Being part of the library’s mission sounds like it would be challenging and fulfilling, given the diverse needs of our community! This position offers a chance to meet people face-to-face and have conversations about what they want to do, which I find very exciting. I would appreciate the opportunity to be part of an organization like NPL to advance their mission.</p>
<h2>Relevant Work Experience</h2>
<p>Freelance Learning Sciences Javascript Developer
Inquirium LLC
11/2014 - 07/2025
Created technical and design briefs from grant proposals. Designed and wrote software for networked graphics simulations in classroom-focused learning sciences research for several National Science Foundation grants and the Holocaust Museum in Illinois. Managed developer-related project details. Wrote documentation and planning materials.</p>
<p>Virtual Coworking Host and Moderator
DS|CAFE
08/2016 - Present
Founded and run online virtual coworking community as extension of personal website. Create and enforce code of conduct through active moderation. Balanced group mission with evolving needs of the community.</p>
<p>Freelance Designer
Self-Employed
07/1998 - 07/2025
Designed and shared popular productivity tools, produced printed versions. Customized blogging platforms for self-hosted personal websites, promoted self through decades of consistent posting, sharing thoughts on creativity and productivity. Produced a podcast with local creators.</p>
<p>New Media Designer
Interactive Factory
08/1998 - 08/2022
Provided expertise on interactive media design and development. Responded to relevant client RFPs, attended briefings as part of both proposal and project team. Created kiosks for Boston Museum of Science, design for Sky and Telescope.</p>
<h2>Education</h2>
<p>Rochester Institute of Technology
Master of Fine Arts Computer Graphics Design
Interactive graphics and computer animation
Class of 1995</p>
<p>University of Rochester
Master of Science Electrical Engineering
User interface design for mixed-signal circuit design
Class of 1992</p>
<p>Worcester Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering
Computer engineering
Class of 1990</p>
<h2>Software Skills</h2>
<p>Office Productivity Software:</p>
<ul>
<li>Excel, Word, Powerpoint
Adobe Creative Suite:</li>
<li>Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Premiere
Web Development</li>
<li>Wordpress, Eleventy, Node.js, HTML, CSS</li>
</ul>