Changing How the World Works.
 
 
  • Feedback:   (5.00 of 5)
  • Percentile: 99%
    Based on 1 feedbacks
Total oDesk hours:
99
Location:
Champaign, United States (GMT-06:00)
English Skills: (self-assessed)
5.0
Member Since:
August 6, 2008
Last Worked:
November 20, 2008
Current Assignments:
6
Total Assignments:
7
oDesk Ready:  
Yes
 
 
 
 

Paul Kaiser - Wordpress Expert; PHP/MySQL Pro - Freelance Programmer / Developer, United States

Since 1998, I have developed numerous websites using various technologies. My expert knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and MySQL helps me accomplish nearly anything an employer wants on the web. I will help you get Wordpress to do what you need, and integrate it with most any other web system. If Wordpress is not the right tool, I help you meet your goals with another system. I also have used Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, and other graphic design applications extensively since...
See All Work History & Feedback (7 items, 1 with Feedback)
Recent Work History & Feedback
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Hours Feedback
29090 10/2008 - Present Need help improving my Blogsite (wordpress, widgets, theme, user thumbnails, etc.) 4 hrs
57342 09/2008 - Present WordPress Content Management for Website 12 hrs
61582 10/2008 - Present Senior WordPress Developmer 32 hrs
46457 08/2008 - Present Wordpress Redesign, Update & add ecommerce 38 hrs
51451 10/2008 - Present Wordpress Plugins/Widget Programmer 12 hrs
See All Tests Taken (14 items)
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
Ecommerce Test 4.40 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 08/21/2008 29 min
Editing Skills Certification 4.60 99% TOP 10% 09/24/2008 15 min
Creative Writing Certification 4.50 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 09/22/2008 10 min
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Test 4.10 98% TOP 10% 09/24/2008 28 min
Wordpress Test 4.00 98% TOP 10% 3rd Place! 08/08/2008 37 min
Recent Candidacies
Job Opening Title Initiated By Date
Wordpress Rockstar Buyer October 26, 2008
Experienced WordPress Developer Provider October 14, 2008
Wordpress CSS/HTML Theme Needed from Photoshop Mock-up + Installation Provider October 2, 2008
Job Category Interests

Web Development

Software Development

Writing

Graphic Arts & Design
Skills
Skill Experience Level Last Used Description
MySQL development 6 yrs 4.0 2008 Since managing student media websites at Illini Media Company in 2002, MySQL has been my main relational database management system used for website projects. In 2002, I started using MySQL 3. In 2005, I became MySQL Certified training on MySQL 5.
PHP Programming 6 yrs 4.0 2008 http://ci.champaign.il.us/
Since managing student media websites at Illini Media Company in 2002, PHP has been my main tool in earning a living. In 2002, I started using PHP 3. From collaboration on open source projects, to building solutions from the ground up, I can make PHP do just about anything on the web.
RealBasic cross-platfrom development 9 yrs 4.0 2008 I have used the RealBasic programming environment to create cross-platform desktop applications since the year 1999. I marketed many of my finished products myself to the Graphic Arts market, including:
  1. ImageExtractor -- gives access to images embedded in a number of file formats.
  2. TIFFTool -- gives low-level access to the true contents of TIFF format images, allowing editing and corrupt-file repair.
  3. EZLayout -- provides rudimentary layout of multiple pages for printing plates.
Other tools have been developed by me for other authors who continue to update and market the software, including:
  1. Critical Thinking -- educational logic tutor and testing tool.
  2. Cloud 9 Music -- educational music tool
  3. Keyboard Kapers -- educational music tool
  4. Timesketch Editor -- educational music tool
WordPress 3 yrs 5.0 2008 http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Projects: Web content management systems.
These systems allow secretarial staff with basic skills to add and edit content on a number of government websites.

Responsibilities:

  • Installing Wordpress
  • Gathering requirements from staff and mangement
  • Customizing Wordpress by developing plugins and modifying templates
  • Training staff
 
Some of my Wordpress work:
http://ci.champaign.il.us/
http://cctownship.com/
http://mayorsbirthdayclub.org/
http://goodlearning.com/
Certifications
Date Earned Name Score Percentile Organization Description
No Certifications
Employment History
From To Company Title/Role Description
11/2004 Present City of Champaign Webmaster / Team Lead

The City of Champaign is a municipal government organization in a Big Ten university city, with over 500 employees. I manage all facets of the City's public websites and internal employee websites.

Responsibilities:

  • Usability testing and interface design.
  • Producing HTML / CSS / JavaScript code to match designs.
  • Developing back-end solutions in PHP and MySQL.
  • Protecting websites from security threats.
  • Training City staff in using graphic design tools and in managing website content.

Public projects:
http://ci.champaign.il/us/
http://cctownship.com/
http://mayorsbirthdayclub.org/

Internal projects:
Cityweb employee website
08/2004 11/2004 News-Gazette Web Developer / Independent Contributor

The News-Gazette is a large newspaper serving the Central Illinois area. I performed basic web programming and content management tasks.

Responsibilities:

  • Enhancing existing web content management system in Cold Fusion.
  • Publishing news content from Saxon publishing system to the web.
  • Developing new content management system in PHP / MySQL.
06/2002 08/2004 Illini Media Company New Media Coordinator / Team Lead

Illini Media Company is the student media organization for the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. They hire students to run media outlets, including a radio station, newspaper, weekly magazine, yearbook, and various other publications. Each publication has a website, as well.

Responsibilities:

  • Hiring, training, and managing new student employees.
  • Working with traditional media managers to set website goals for each production.
  • Managing web development projects to produce new content management systems.
  • Managing Linux server hardware, backups, and archival processes.
  • Managing upkeep of more than 40 Macintosh workstations.

Examples of Illini Media websites:
Other Experience
Emergency Communications Technician

I work as a communications technician on an "ITECS" (Illinois Transportable Emergency Communications System) trailer. ITECS trailers are deployed throughout the state of Illinois to aid communications in the event of disasters.

Responsibilities:

  • Satellite phone and internet connectivity
  • Wireless access point administration
  • VHF, UHF 400, UHF 800, and StarCom radio maintenance and troubleshooting
  • ACU-1000 crossband repeater setup
  • Remote telephone system setup and maintenance

I've worked on the ITECS system since they were first deployed in Illinois in 2006.
Education
From To School Degree Area of Study Description
08/1989 05/1992 Southern Illinois University Bachelors Mechanical Engineering Studied engineering with some unrelated courses in business management, journalism, advertising, and graphic arts.

[+] enlarge
  • Project Title: The Skate Authority Blog
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 10/23/2008
  • Category: Web Development > Web Programming
  • URL: http://www.theskateauthority.com/blog/
  • Description: This client contacted me to make a Wordpress theme that matched the rest of his non-Wordpress site.

    After completing the theme, I also ended up helping with the following:
    1. Installing Wordpress automatic updater.
    2. Updating Wordpress.
    3. Installing and configuring Google analytics.

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  • Project Title: PSD to Wordpress Conversion
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 10/23/2008
  • Category: Web Development > Web Programming
  • URL: http://singer22blog.com/
  • Description: This client sent a Photoshop document and wanted a Wordpress theme to match as closely as possible. This conversion presented some challenges, as some areas that are traditionally text-only in a Wordpress theme had to become images in order to preserve an exact type font per the customer.

    Once the theme was completed, I also helped the client:
    1. Update Wordpress.
    2. Update some plugins.
    3. Add an ad-banner system, manageable from within Wordpress.

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  • Project Title: Midwest Homeschool Convention Wordpress design and coding
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 10/10/2008
  • Category: Web Development > Web Design
  • URL: http://cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com/
  • Description: I redesigned this website for an ongoing oDesk job. I provided:
    1. New site design
    2. Complete logo design for web and print
    3. Updated wordpress backend with email list integration
    The next step for this client is to add e-commerce options, which I will be providing.

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  • Project Title: Firefactor Joomla to Wordpress Conversion
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 08/15/2008
  • Category: Web Development > Web Programming
  • URL: http://firefactor.net/
  • Description: I converted this Joomla-based site to use Wordpress. The client consulted with me on which plugins to use. I trained the client in Wordpress administration so they could update it themselves.

    This site's number one goal is to get students registered for Firefactor Academy. I installed a registration form system to meet the client's needs.

    At the end of the conversion, the client wanted the installation at "firefactor.net/wp/" to be available at "firefactor.net" and to never reveal the "/wp/" to site visitors. I took care of this setup as well.

    I continue to consult with this client as their needs evolve.

[+] enlarge
  • Project Title: Municipal Government Website Redesign
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 08/04/2008
  • Category: Web Development > Web Design
  • URL: http://ci.champaign.il.us/newcity/
  • Description: I did usability studies, consulted with the client's staff, and consulted focus groups in the community to form a basis for this site's redesign. The primary goals of this redesign were:
    1. Break out of a "department-centric" information architecture.
    2. Address several usability issues.
    3. Improve Accessibility issues (Section 508 and beyond.)
    4. Improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of the site.
    5. Allow visitors to customize their color scheme.
    6. Provide attractive but relevant multimedia.
    This new design has not yet launched as the client's live site. Their City Council has approved the new design, and it is expected to go live in early September 2008.

    The project URL is for the online mockup, which includes the home page and a few second-, third-, and fourth-level page designs.

[+] enlarge
  • Project Title: City of Champaign Township XOOPS to Wordpress Conversion
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 12/15/2007
  • Category: Web Development > Web Programming
  • URL: http://cctownship.com/
  • Description: I converted this site from the XOOPS content management system to Wordpress. I trained secretarial staff in updating content and working with plugins in the administrative interface.

    I continue to consult with this client as their needs evolve.

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  • Project Title: City of Champaign Content Management Enhancements
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 11/08/2004
  • Category: Web Development > Web Programming
  • URL: http://ci.champaign.il.us/
  • Description: I integrated various tools into the client's existing website. Some examples are:
    1. Parking ticket and permit payments - ecommerce.
    2. Online surveys.
    3. Online Police complaint forms.
    4. Photo galleries.
    5. City Council video archives.
    6. Adding RSS Feeds.
    7. Adding Email subscription service.
    8. Adding ability to post emergency messages via email.
    9. Adding ability to look up building permits online.
    I continue to work with this client as an employee.

[+] enlarge
  • Project Title: Critical Thinking Cross-Platform Logic Software in RealBasic
  • Attachment: none
  • Completed: 08/01/2001
  • Category: Software Development > Desktop Applications
  • URL: http://critical-thinking-lab.com/_wsn/page3.html
  • Description: Critical Thinking (CT) is a learning tutorial and exam application for "Introduction to Logic" courses. It is bundled with a college-level textbook, and has received rave reviews.

    Originally, I was asked to port the Visual Basic version of CT to the Macintosh, using RealBasic. After a successful port, my client asked that I take over the Windows development on the project as well. From 2001 to 2008, I have been the sole developer for the Macintosh and Windows versions of this software, making yearly updates as new features are requested.
Hourly Assignment History
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Hours Feedback
29090 10/2008 - Present Need help improving my Blogsite (wordpress, widgets, theme, user thumbnails, etc.) 4 hrs
57342 09/2008 - Present WordPress Content Management for Website 12 hrs
61582 10/2008 - Present Senior WordPress Developmer 32 hrs
46457 08/2008 - Present Wordpress Redesign, Update & add ecommerce 38 hrs
51451 10/2008 - Present Wordpress Plugins/Widget Programmer 12 hrs
32310 11/2008 - Present Wordpress Whiz For Design And Custom Hacking 1 hrs
Fixed-Price Assignment History
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Paid Feedback
60547 10/2008 - 10/2008 Website Developer —
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
Ecommerce Test 4.40 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 08/21/2008 29 min
Editing Skills Certification 4.60 99% TOP 10% 09/24/2008 15 min
Creative Writing Certification 4.50 99% TOP 10% 1st Place! 09/22/2008 10 min
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Test 4.10 98% TOP 10% 09/24/2008 28 min
Wordpress Test 4.00 98% TOP 10% 3rd Place! 08/08/2008 37 min
English Test (Sentence Structure) 4.90 97% TOP 10% 08/08/2008 9 min
CSS 2.0 Test 4.40 97% TOP 10% 08/08/2008 27 min
Adobe Photoshop 6.0 4.00 95% TOP 10% 08/08/2008 16 min
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers 4.80 90% TOP 10% 08/08/2008 14 min
Online Article Writing and Blogging Test 3.50 87% TOP 20% 09/22/2008 12 min
MySQL 5.0 Test 3.40 84% TOP 20% 08/08/2008 32 min
HTML 4.01 Test 3.90 83% TOP 20% 08/08/2008 35 min
PHP5 Test 4.00 83% TOP 20% 08/08/2008 33 min
Technical Writing Skills Certification 3.50 76% 08/08/2008 24 min