Stories from the Hackery

Aaron Gertler graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

Before beginning down the road to becoming a front-end developer, I spent many years as a multimedia designer working in a number of various industries. I have always had a strong interest in technology and user interaction, and development spoke to me as a career where I could combine my love of design with even more logical problem solving and practical solutions to provide high-quality experiences to users. The more I immerse myself in UI/UX design and front-end development and the new technologies I'm exposed to, the more I grow to love this path.

Joe Overton graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

I’ve always been intrigued by coding. As a lifelong technology enthusiast and tinkerer, learning to code has been a next step that I have long assumed I would take. As an entirely self-taught musician, one of my greatest joys in life is learning and developing new ideas and abilities. I’m excited about embracing a new frontier of concepts and skills in my career as a developer.

Braxton Shoop graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

I was born and raised in Nashville and am proud to call this city my home. I'm an attorney by training but find that my real passion is in technology generally and software programming specifically.

Mori McCoy graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

With a background in chemical engineering and an endless drive to code, I obviously wear what drives me on my sleeve: problem solving and continuous team support! But why software over chemistry? It’s that “IT WORKS!!” feeling. It’s learning a language that can’t be spoken, but demonstrated. It’s continuously improving, learning, and sharing discoveries. It’s finding ways to make technology accessible for all. It’s motivating your team when the bugs seem impossible to find. It’s teaching someone a new skill and seeing their face light up when they finally fix their program. Who wouldn’t want to experience this and infinitely more?

Rick Blake graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

Before web development, I was a professional musician. While I enjoyed my time teaching and auditioning, after several years I realized that wasn't the career path I wanted to be on anymore. After a fellow musician told me about his switch to the web development field, I did my research and decided to independently study in order to decide if it was right for me. I enjoy the problem solving involved with coding and I am excited to be able to work in a field that has such a wide variety of job opportunities.

Austin Ring graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

My interest in the technology field began early in my life, but only starting in 2018 did I seriously consider it as a career option. Ever since then I have poured myself into both classroom and self study. I have found that both the creative and critical thinking aspects of software development combine to create a unique experience that I find compelling.

Joseph Tidwell graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

C#, .NET, SQL, Javascript, ReactJs Developer with previous experience in the insurance, financial, and sales industries. Previous Cryptologic Technician in the United States Navy, which is a fancy way of saying I was a signal analyst.

Parker Kelley graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

Parker is a recovering sales professional with a love for technology. In early 2020 before COVID, Parker was already planning on how to make programming into a career. Taking a position in an entertainment start-up, working in sales to create a sales system through Salesforce. The plan was to learn coding through Salesforce and go from there, but when COVID shut down the entertainment industry Parker found himself as one of the many American’s laid-off. He decided that now would be the best time to learn a new skill and pursue the career he always dreamed of.

Jennifer Starkey graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 43.

Prior to my jump into software engineering, I had a large focus in both retail and the food service industry. Coming from those environments, I learned early the importance of teamwork and communication. I've had a passion for coding and web development since I was a teenager and kept coming back to it throughout the years. Through talking with people in the industry and exploring on my own, I discovered that software engineering is more than meets the eye and would combine my love of learning, software, and teamwork. Upon completing my time at NSS, I hope to become a better engineer and a better teammate.

Kyle Yandow graduated with Part-Time Data Analytics Cohort 3.

Through a career working in the performing arts industry, I have come to understand the power of a well-told story, be it in a darkened theater or across a conference table. My top moments have come when creating and honing analytical tools and creating original analysis to tell the stories that lead to strong business decisions. At Nashville Software School I've expanded both my perspective on how a coherent data story can look, and the technologies available to me to tell that story.