About Me

Hi, I'm Steve, a Senior Software Engineer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. I bring a unique perspective to software development, combining nearly 6 years of engineering experience with over two decades in scientific research and education.

From Science to Software

My journey began in public & environmental health, where I spent six years as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. While serving the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, I attended also attended the University of South Dakota where I studied biology. After leaving the PHS, I attended the University of Tennessee where I earned a PhD in Botany and Population Genetics. I spent years conducting field research across the United States, performing genetics work in the lab, analyzing genetic data, and teaching at the university level. After serving as Assistant Professor and Herbarium Curator at Lincoln Memorial University for nearly 5 years, I transitioned into the software world. The shift wasn't as dramatic as it might seem - my scientific work involved extensive data analyses with command-line tools, Python, and R, as well as complex problem-solving. When I joined 24/7 Systems as an Application Specialist in 2018, writing technical documentation and software specifications, I discovered my passion for programming. I quickly moved through QA automation and mobile development roles before landing at my current position at Cadre5, where I'm now a Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead on several enterprise projects.

Technical Expertise

I am a full stack developer and front-end specialist. I can work throughout the stack with JavaScript and TypeScript, including on the back-end with Node.js. Where I really shine, however, is in the front end. I am a Vue specialist, having worked with it since early version 2 and into version 3. I have architected several large-scale Vue applications and have experience with Vuex/Pinia, Vue Router, Options and Composition APIs, and server-side rendering with Nuxt.js. I have built a mobile app from scratch to deployment using Quasar Framework. I built this site with Nuxt and Nuxt UI (see my blog post here).

My scientific background gives me a rigorous, analytical approach to software engineering - I believe in efficient solutions, thorough documentation, and clean, maintainable code.

What Drives Me

What excites me most about software development is solving real-world problems for clients and users. Whether it's building a maintenance inspection app for industrial clients or project management software, I approach each challenge with the same scientific rigor I applied to my research: understand the problem deeply, test hypotheses, iterate based on evidence, and document everything clearly. My teaching background (over a decade in the classroom) helps me effectively communicate technical concepts to fellow developers, stakeholders, and end users alike.

Beyond the Code

Outside of work, I maintain connections to my scientific roots. You can find my research publications on Google Scholar. My diverse background includes everything from vaccinating sled dogs in remote Alaska to genetic research with human liver cells - experiences that continue to inform how I approach problems today. Thanks for visiting. Reach out if you'd like to connect!