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Benjamin Horst CV

BENJAMIN HORST
Astoria, NY
email: bhorst(at)mac.com

Key Skills

  • Web Application Product Development and Team Management
  • Web 2.0 and Wiki Community Administration
  • Open Source Software Community Development
  • Mandarin Chinese

Experience

Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York, NY: July 2011 – Present
Web Development Manager

  • Design and lead implementation of new features to optimize site utility;
  • Architect, design and manage development of social media features for Institute graduates.

Shapeways Inc, New York, NY: January – June 2011
Front-End Product Lead

  • Coordinated with company management and internal teams on strategic goals;
  • Prioritized and scheduled new site features for social asset sharing platform with ecommerce;
  • Managed development, UX and visual design team’s agile implementation process;
  • Created site architecture, feature requirements and page wireframes.

Six Apart, New York, NY: April 2009 – December 2010
Project and Product Manager

  • Developed project schedules and assigned tasks to developers and designers based on project Statements of Work;
  • Translated client requests into technical feature documents, architected the implementation of products, and created wireframes and implementation schedules;
  • Maintained regular client status communication;
  • Coordinated and assigned new project work to project managers;
  • Produced work estimates for project bids;
  • Established timelines, design, requirements and specifications for internal company product development.

Freelance, New York, NY: 2008 – 2009

  • XHTML/CSS and Drupal website development including information architecture, user interface design and project management (frequently in collaboration with SunRain Productions);
  • Open Source consulting (especially Microsoft Office to OpenOffice.org migrations);
  • Business development consulting and angel investor relationship management;
  • Web application product management for Ecolada.com’s affiliate shopping aggregator.

Air America Media, New York, NY: June – November 2008
Interactive (Web) Project Manager

  • Designed and developed feature enhancements for flagship web property and measured effectiveness of site changes;
  • Collaborated with outsourced, remote team of designers/themers, programmers and Drupal experts (Advomatic) to implement customized site features;
  • Trained internal users on best practices in content management.

Digital202, New York, NY: 2007 – 2008
Senior Project Manager

  • Translated client requirements into detailed web application featureset;
  • Planned and carried out development process with globally-distributed UI and programming team;
  • Designed graphical user interfaces, site process flow, and application logic for Drupal CMS-based websites;
  • Delivered final product to clients and arranged ongoing site maintenance packages.

SharedBook, Inc., New York, NY: 2004 – 2007
Product Manager, Community Manager and Information Architect

  • Translated business requirements into software feature list and development plan;
  • Designed graphical user interface and application logic for a web application;
  • Managed development process of outsourced team in Israel;
  • Maintained software specs using TWiki software;
  • Managed full-time graphic/HTML designer and seasonal intern;
  • Grew a community of developers interested in leveraging SharedBook’s public API.

Freelance Web Development and Graphic Design, Los Angeles, CA: 2003 – 2004

The Chazen Companies, Poughkeepsie, NY: 2001 – 2003
GIS Analyst and Planner

  • Conducted GIS research and analysis for urban planning and civil engineering problems;
  • Assessed site development potential using wetlands, soil, slope and orthophotographic data;
  • Collected and managed company GIS data resources;
  • Contributed to planning studies, Environmental Impact Statements, transportation studies, zoning and density analyses, and municipal master plans.

Vassar College Department of Geology and Geography, Poughkeepsie, NY: Spring 2003
GIS Lab Manager and Faculty Consultant

  • Supported faculty and student use of GIS software including MapServer, ArcMap, and MapInfo;
  • Managed and scheduled use of campus GIS computer lab;
  • Assisted faculty and student research projects;
  • Taught practical GIS workshops to department faculty and students.

Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA: 1999 – 2001
Help Desk Manager

  • Provided computer systems technical assistance to faculty, staff and students;
  • Instructed users in networking, large-format printing, GIS, CAD, modeling, graphic design, office suites and operating system software (Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows);
  • Managed summertime student employees’ day-to-day activities.

Education

Harvard Graduate School of Design: Master in Urban Planning, 2001

  • Webmaster, Harvard Urban Planning Organization (HUPO);
  • President, Harvard Mac Computing Group.

Vassar College: B.A., with Honors, 1999

Personal

References

  • Available upon request.

Et Cetera

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