Web Apps Developer / Trainer
Jeff Moser
Jeff has worked nearly two decades as a developer on many high-profile websites. These experiences and others have contributed to the building blocks of his career. Besides writing code, he also enjoys writing and editing prose. He has ghost-written online content for several clients and writes on multiple blogs. Blog topics include technology & programming, religion & philosophy, island living…and anything else he finds interesting when the coding is complete.
In 2018, Jeff took on a new role as a trainer for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. He facilitates classes as an MSF RiderCoach at state-sponsored classes and for Harley-Davidson’s Riding Academy.
If you want to get in touch with Jeff, feel free to contact him or add him on Twitter. For more information on Jeff, scroll down for his full bio. Also, please encourage him to never again write about himself in third-person.
My tech background
Sometime back in the dark ages of the B.I. years (Before Internet), I learned to program in Basic on an Apple IIe and an Atari 800XL. (That should date me for the die-hard nerds out there.) I enjoyed creating simple programs, and picked up quickly on programming constructs. Despite my family’s encouragement later on, I didn’t want to study Computer Science in college. I told them I didn’t want to sit in front of a computer screen all day.
Instead of Computer Science, I studied Communications in college. I enjoyed writing, radio, video, public speaking. You know…anything media-related in the days before the Internet. Although I had planned to work as a press secretary or speechwriter for a politician (what was I thinking?), economic factors pushed me into something more practical: sales.
I worked in sales and management for about ten years. It went well, but I only felt any satisfaction when a consultative style of sale prevailed over the “hard sell.” I’m just not the type of person to lean hard on someone to make a purchase. I’d rather make sure they get what fits their needs, even if I don’t offer it. That’s a tough concept to explain to some people, but I believe it’s a better way to do business.
I broke out of sales and made a connection back to my university studies in 2000, when I became a technical writer for a Fortune 500 company. During that time, I adapted my programming skills to this new thing called the World Wide Web. When my department head found out I could code, I began splitting my time between writing user manuals and writing code for the documentation portion of the company website.
From there, I dove head-first into full-stack web development and IT operations at a start-up. We built and supported high-profile college and high school sports sites. I learned Linux and database admin skills in a trial-by-fire atmosphere, babysitting servers for Friday night football and making quick patches during March Madness.
Ever since then, I’ve been hooked. I’ve worked as a full-stack web developer and devops engineer. I’ve worked on and supported sites ranging from that Fortune 500 company, state and local governments, a few mom-and-pop storefronts, and lots of high-visibility sites in between.
Now I spend nearly all my time in front of a computer screen…and I love it.