Stories from the Hackery

Dan Ross graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

I began my career in software development while working in social work. My passion for helping others and solving problems made me great at my job, but the emotionally taxing environment pushed me to pursue new opportunities. In my search I discovered a passion for coding and started a new journey. Learning and working as a developer is a refreshing challenge. I love using my skills to find creative solutions to problems, and I am excited to pursue new opportunities to further my career.

Dylan Morris graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

Lifelong piano player turns software developer. I have a passion for creative thinking, working in teams, and keeping things efficient! I quickly discovered a love for software development as I noticed its unique combination of mathematics and art. I am excited to see where my career in software development takes me!

Eric Berringer graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

Before venturing into the tech world, it was a love for music that drove me to pursue a career in the industry. The physicality of an instrument like the drum set combined with a deep desire to collaborate with others creatively is what drove me to set my life on that course. The evolution of the music industry and music technology brought me more and more in touch with technology as the years went on. The collaborative nature of software development paired with the creative and problem solving elements seemed very enticing to me, which ultimately led me to NSS. The learning process has been challenging, but also equally as satisfying.

Alex Martin graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

I'm a full stack software developer in Nashville, TN. Born and raised in the same city, I studied music theory and composition in college. I worked my way through the music industry in Nashville, slowly finding myself in more and more technical roles - editing, producing, recording - until I found a special niche that serves both my fascination and the musician community, building and repairing guitar amplifiers while studying electronic engineering. I began studying what I consider the digital counterpart of circuit building with Python and JavaScript, ultimately enrolling in a 6 month bootcamp at Nashville Software School.

Kaitlin Kelley graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

Working at a startup the last few years taught me how to wear many hats, learn new skills quickly, and juggle an always changing list of projects and goals. My favorite projects were always those that challenged me or required digging into data to solve a problem. I started looking for an opportunity where I could work on those types of projects every day and found that Software Development rewards all of those capabilities and also provides tremendous opportunities for growth and a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Jake Froeb graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

After working almost every job in the restaurant I decided to pursue a career in software development. My skills problem solving, and adapting on the fly in a high paced team environment have helped guide my decision to enter the programming world.

Erica Thompson graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

Computers have been a part of my life since I was around 10 years old. Tinkering with computers inspired my career in technology when I started using that knowledge to fix other family member's computers to make spending money in middle school. I became certified at John A Logan College and my entry point into the tech world was repairing and troubleshooting the computers for local small businesses. I’ve been in the space for 6+ years, worked at Hype Media for 3 of them later as a DevOps Engineer for a non-profit. Finally, I have a love for helping companies and enjoy doing so by helping build scalable applications on a team utilizing modern technologies and solutions.

Nick Carver graduated with Web Development Cohort 46.

I have a better understanding of my purpose today. I grew up in Kentucky and went to school at Western Kentucky University where I received my B.A. in Mechanical Engineering. I then entered the realm of automotive manufacturing. During my three years in this role, I managed manufacturing line builds, implemented process improvement solutions, and fulfilled customer requests on teams of two to seven members. These years were invaluable in my understanding of myself, business practices, and efficient time management. Coming to understand myself is foundational to how you are able to see my site today. The mission, the "why", is now driving my actions. I found a lot of satisfaction in programming with simple flow-chart logic through a STEM program In high school. I was, however, on a course that would take me into mechanical process and design engineering. After a few years doing fieldwork and finding myself on a computer connected to a PLC, sensor, or a robot controller, I knew programming was truly what I enjoyed doing. I saved and applied to Nashville Software School and have not regretted it a single moment. I hope to share my enthusiasm of the world of technology with whoever is interested and, in turn, build great applications for people who need them.

Deanna Mix graduated with Web Development Evening Cohort 13.

I am an outgoing and aspiring Software Engineer in the Greater Nashville Area. Prior to making a move into the tech industry, I was a Teacher for five years with a masters degree in education. After much self-reflection, I realized that a passion of mine as a teen was writing code and building websites and I wanted to follow my interests.

Steven Zelenak graduated with Web Development Evening Cohort 13.

I am an avid gamer who loves to play minecraft and code. One day I hope to program my own game and graduating NSS put me one step closer to that goal!