From Retail Buyer to Software Engineer
My journey into tech began with a simple problem: inefficient inventory processes that took too much time. What started as building a solution to reduce processing time by 50% turned into a focus on creating quality-of-life software that genuinely improves people's daily experiences.
The Transformation Story
The transition from retail buyer to software engineer wasn't traditional, but it taught me important lessons about problem-solving, user empathy, and building maintainable systems that improve workflows.
Working as a produce buyer, I experienced how inefficient software can impact daily productivity and job satisfaction. When management introduced a new purchasing process that eliminated strategic decision-making in favor of manual data entry, I built a React Native app paired with a web backend that reduced processing time by 50%. The recognition this earned from store leadership, regional management, and colleagues across multiple locations confirmed I needed to become a software engineer.
I left retail in 2018 and joined Zylo as a Frontend Engineer in 2019. What started as solving a workplace problem became professional expertise as I quickly became the team's TypeScript adoption leader and played an instrumental role in growing our component library from 1 to 50+ production components over five years.
Today, I combine technical skills with empathy for user needs, building maintainable systems with accessibility in mind. I've developed a privacy-first approach to AI tool evaluation, creating custom workflow systems that enhance productivity while maintaining data security. This background gives me perspective on how software can improve quality of life for diverse users and teams.
Core Values & Approach
Solution Design
Problem identification and solution architecture. Identifying inefficiencies and business opportunities, then designing practical technical solutions from end-to-end.
Technical Foundation
Building reliable, fast, and maintainable systems. Focused on sustainable engineering practices, code quality, and technical depth with React, TypeScript, and modern tooling.
Human-Centered Focus
Creating software that improves daily life for users and developers. Accessibility-first design, developer productivity tools, and team enablement through mentorship and collaboration.
AI-Enhanced Engineering
Using AI workflows to improve engineering work. Developed 18+ automation templates and AI-assisted development processes that enhance productivity across all engineering areas.
Professional Journey
Senior Software Engineer
Building maintainable systems with 5+ years of React expertise, focusing on accessibility and quality-of-life improvements that make software work better for everyone.
Growth at Zylo
Advanced from individual contributor to senior engineer, growing the component library from 1 to 50+ production components, mentoring team members, and contributing to technical initiatives including accessibility improvements.
Joined Zylo as Frontend Engineer
Transitioned into professional software engineering at Zylo. Quickly became the team's TypeScript adoption leader and played an instrumental role in component library development.
Career Transition Decision
Left retail in 2018 to pursue software engineering full-time. The success of the inventory app and leadership recognition confirmed the need to become a professional developer.
Retail Buyer & Problem Solver
Worked as produce buyer managing inventory and operations while exploring technology interests. When management introduced inefficient purchasing processes, built a React Native solution that reduced processing time by 50% and earned recognition across multiple store locations.
Accessibility & Community Impact
As someone who is fluent in American Sign Language and deeply connected to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, I bring lived experience to inclusive design, building maintainable systems that work for everyone from the ground up.