Brandon Dove has been developing websites for over ten years. He started as an intern for a bloated dot com in the late 90s and is currently a co-founder of the Orange County based web design and development firm, Pixel Jar. Brandon spends most of his days hanging out with his two children and his nights working the graveyard shift. He has been developing websites with WordPress since version 1.5 and is now fully entrenched in the latest release. With a background in design, he specializes in creating custom themes with unique functionality for his clients. When he’s not coding or pixel pushing, he enjoys surfing, trips to the park and burritos.

Plugins Developed

• Conversation Starter
• Sency – Real Time Search
• Visual Login Errors
• Favicon Generator
• RSS Icon Widget
• Geocache Statbar Widget
• Spamshiv Spam Protection (lite)
• Spamshiv Pro

Accolades

Lead developer in the winning plugin (Conversation Starter) for WordCamp New York 2009.

Orange County WordCamp

Brandon is one of the organizers for the upcoming Orange County WordCamp. The event will take place in Orange County, CA in April of 2010. Anyone interested in attending, sponsoring, speaking or volunteering should visit the official site for more information.

I am an entrepreneur and  new media web producer living in the sunny city of Jacksonville, Florida.  I currently own and managing my own company, CIME4enterprises; which is a full-service marketing & advertising agency with focus on branding and Not-For-Profit development.

At CIME4, I lead the proprietary process technologies including: management of business relations and development, new business and internet solutions, new media strategies, SEO, direct marketing, technical business coaching, financial forecasting and small business mentoring.

My goal is to help businesses understand the value of having a viable social media & brand strategy by introducing high-touch, high quality client service & web marketing through heuristic methods, building solid corporate infrastructures and ongoing community collaboration.

Through the use of Six Sigma-styled methods paired with conceptualization and modeling, I am able to foresee the client’s visual landscape and identify opportunities throughout each stage of planning; including client business & technical consulting, social media strategy development and coaching, cost and expense reduction, corporate CRM and CMS integrations, website design and deployment.

To learn more about me, call me to arrange a free consultation at  +1-904-240-4910 or Toll Free at 1-888-821-0034

Current Teams & Projects

• Managing Partner, COO, CIME4enterprises, inc.
• Organizer, Social Media Breakfast Jacksonville
• Vocalist & Entertainer, Damien Lamar
• Publisher & Writer Member, ASCAP
• Founder, Motipure Music & Media
• Creator, GoCongregate
• Volunteer/Web Developer, Save Africa Global (a Non-profit organization)
• Web Developer, Operation Community Restore (a Non-profit organization)
• Board Member, Y.E.S. (Young Executive Society) – The University Club / Jacksonville

Past Teams, Projects & Work History

• HRIS Analyst – Acosta Sales & Marketing (via The CSI Companies)
• Client Services Supervisor at Residential RealEstate Review
• Personal Service Rep & Corporate Services Analyst – Wachovia Bank (formerly First Union)
• Volunteer/Web Developer, Literacy Pros of Jacksonville (a Non-profit organization)
• Creator, Newmediajax and speaker Jack & the Social Media Beanstalk: 10 Magic Beans to Enhance Your Business

Nick Armstrong of WTF Marketing is a founding member of WPCOOP that immediately jumped at the opportunity to contribute and provide some excellent articles to the WPCOOP blog including “Themes – To Premium or Not to Premium?” and “New WordPress Installation? Here’s 3 Must-Have Plugins“.

Nick’s active participation peaked my curiosity to learn more about him.  The WPCOOP completes a certain level of evaluation and discovery during the membership application process.  So we knew Nick had talent as a WordPress professional but without sharing extensive conversations and experiences with Nick, we didn’t really know him, as an individual.

Yes a designer’s or developer’s portfolio and client base can give you an idea of their style, skill level and possibly some insight into the way they do business, but its still a superficial representation of the artist, unless you know their story.

The following interview lends a few great insights to the real Nick Armstrong.

What are your favorite websites for design, features and functionality?

Would you believe it if I said I didn’t have any? Great design is only a google search away, these days. I’m so sick of the “web 2.0″ look or the “35 amazing Twitter design” link-bait lists. Bah.

Instead, show me an amazing photographer – a picture that looks like it could be from This American Life or on the Discovery Channel, and -that- is where I want to go with my design.

The idea of “cool” design is moving so rapidly (or maybe I’m so A.D.D.) that I just can’t pick the same few each week. Whenever I think about design I always go back to the same place: Star Trek. Mike Okuda.

You want to know what I dream about at night? Touch screens built with the interface from lcarscom.net

I saw the iPhone and damn near died.  Every button has a purpose, every motion a reason.

If my websites can be so simple, I’ve done right by the world.

What blogs do you read? Why these blogs?

I tend to avoid blogs; I’m an avid reader, so once I get started half the day goes by before I stop.  But XKCD is a must. I’m usually on Twitter or Facebook at least once a day, so I allow myself a link or two before I get back to work.

Give me 3 reasons why you love WordPress?

Great community, great code, and great usability.

What’s your elevator speech, your pitch to a potential client?

I don’t use elevator pitches – they’re too generic. I’ll introduce myself as a Web Strategist, someone who helps people tell their story online, but after that – I’m listening.

I listen for the specific words they use, how they say ‘em, what emotions are behind ‘em. I’m listening for the little things that make them who they are. Once I understand who they are and how they got there, I can generally know what I can do to help them succeed.

What are your main areas of expertise?

My main areas of expertise: web strategy, web design, and social media. People have asked me what makes a good Web Strategist. I ask them to play a game of Risk against me. Once they know what my friends know (that you don’t play Risk against Nick), they understand what a good Web Strategist can do.

If I had to choose one skill that I’m better at than anything else – I’d say I’m great at understanding people, which comes from being a proficient listener.

How do you differentiate yourself from other designers / developers?

My company name is WTF Marketing. It stands for exactly what you think it does – and I tell people, if you don’t get the acronym, you’re not in the target market.

Most designers or developers choose their name or something socially “responsible”. I sort of pride myself in being the likable outcast. I’m not a jerk (to most), but I’m not afraid to call it like it is, tell people what I think, and tell them the truth. I think there’s a lot of power in that.

I also really make it clear that I don’t do business with people I don’t believe in. I’d rather go broke than to do business with hucksters or thieves. So, the people I’m working with have the added benefit of having a very loud, very energetic cheerleader on their team.

I also make sure that 50% of my workload is pro-bono work, because I don’t think you can claim to be a good business person without enriching the community you serve.

What are your biggest aspirations as a designer / developer?

You know, I started out as a Microsoft Developer. I was never really good at it… and I’m a pretty bad designer in terms of artistic prowess, so… that’s not where my head is. My biggest aspiration has always been to change the world – by restructuring business to be more beneficial to a community.

I want to change the game. I think I’m working towards some big things. Maybe not as a designer and not as a developer, but as a business person and in changing what it is to be a business person.

Why did you join WPCOOP?

I want to help support the community of WordPress enthusiasts. There’s so many link-bait sites out there now and I saw the WPCoop and thought I could write some really good, really focused content and help some people out.

I think the idea behind WPCoop is a great one – the hall is rented, the orchestra is engaged, now it’s just time to see if we can dance (and if people’ll dance with us!)

Read More about Nick Armstrong