Mike Demers

I’m a software developer specializing in online applications. I’ve worked at large companies and small start-ups. I’ve led projects and built development teams. I’ve created sites such as the Attack Ad Generator, Lyric Rat, Tweet Bricks, and BlameDrewsCancer. I’ve written tutorials and plug-ins for jQuery and Ruby on Rails.


CTO - You Said It

Aug 2007 - present

Developed white-label Question & Answer site for online communities that powers the popular Question Land site at The Stranger, one of the leading alternative newspapers in the US. Product integrates with Facebook through the Facebook API & Facebook Connect and was built using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Javascript, jQuery, and dojo. Service offers SEO-optimized site, full administrative back-end, web-service API and identity integration support through OAuth.


Founder / Developer - 9Astronauts

May 2006 - present

Founded 9A as an umbrella for small projects, open source code and technical writing. Created and launched BlameDrewsCancer, Tweet Bricks, Lyric Rat, veetweet and the Attack Ad Generator. My work has been featured on TechCrunch, Mashable, Read Write Web, Ajaxian and The Next Web. Created the TweetBar a Firefox add-on that puts Twitter in the sidebar of the browser and one of the first third-party Twitter applications.


Senior Software Developer - Pluggd

Jun 2006 - Aug 2007

Led the development of an online audio directory and participated in the creation of Pluggd’s innovative HearHere audio search technology. Helped present the technology at the DEMO conference. Site featured full community functionality as well as Twitter integration and was built using Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Javascript, Prototype, Scriptaculous and MySQL.


Software Development Engineer - Amazon.com

Oct 2004 - Apr 2006

Created an automated test bench for the core web server platform that powers amazon.com.

The test bench deployed the web server platform and content to a test server and ran a series of benchmarks against the deployed server, optionally sending notifications if the results exceeded customizable thresholds. Created a web console for my test bench that displayed the generated benchmarks as well as computed trends in numerical and graph form along with detailed information about the changes present in this deoployment. Maintained core web server platform by adding new features, fixing bugs, and providing on-call support.


CTO & Co-Founder - Inteo

Dec 2001 - Jul 2003

Designed and built high-availability web and application hosting cluster using commodity level hardware running Linux OS and a combination of third party and custom software. Created SMASH, the Scalable Mail Architecture for Shared Hosting, a custom Email (SMTP/POP3) Server and mail storage solution built to take advantage of the clustered environment. Created account manager software using perl and mod_perl that presents a simple, intuitive interface for hosting clients. Handled all aspects of technical development including data center selection, source control, custom billing software, off-site backup procedures, system testing and documentation.


Director of Development - Mystyc New Media

Jun 2001 - Dec 2001

Established a software development department at a growing web design shop with the aim of shifting the strategic focus of the company. Handled sys-admin tasks, created an intranet and client extranet, hired new staff, and ran weekly training lunches to refocus existing staff. Created modular application framework and components for reuse in development projects including a niche real estate listing and search service (http://www.antiquehomesmagazine.com/), an oil tanker scheduling application and shipper extranet (http://www.pmpl.com/), and a careers application, physicians database, and content management system for a hosiptal (http://www.mercyhospital.org/).


Contract Software & Database Engineer

Jun 2000 - Jun 2001

Participated in various projects as an independent contractor for clients such as Fairchild Semiconductor US Foodservice (NextDayGourmet.com) and the Cognex Corporation.


Senior Software Engineer - Block Financial; Genuity (Formerly: GTE Internetworking and BBN)

Sep 1999 - Jul 2000

Developed secure back end to accept tax returns for H&R Block’s first Online TaxCut system and their Kipplinger TaxCut PC Software. Implemented real-time Credit Card processing through CyberCash payment gateway. Maintained system as it handled 750,000+ returns in the 3+ month tax season.


Software Engineer - Thomson Financial

Oct 1997 - Sep 1999

Developed an intranet tool that provided access to production data in Thomson’s MarketMatch global trading system. Worked on MarketMatch back-end application code (written in C++, utilizing Tuxedo middleware) as well as the front end code (written in Java). Worked on Sybase back-end of trading system associated with the London Stock Exchange, adding new functionality and supporting existing system.


C/C++ Programmer - Unicam Software

Jan 1997 - Oct 1997

Developed DLL application extensions to existing product suite of Windows NT-based Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. Development included creating advanced decision making algorithms in order to generate optimized machine level instructions for robotic manufacturing equipment. Debugged existing interfaces and consulted on future interface designs.


BS Computer Science - University of New Hampshire

1992 - 1997