Justin Velander Holt

**** **** ******** ****** #** · Chicago, IL 60647

312-***-**** · ac8vy8@r.postjobfree.com

COVER LETTER

Dear Hiring Manager,

For the past five years I literally donated my body to science for the purpose of getting out of debt and saving up tuition to acquire a new skill set. I crisscrossed the country countless times in pursuit of clinical trials. I navigated my way through downpours and blizzards, spin outs and wrecks, professional rejection and personal heartbreak. All-too- frequent 21+ hour drives. 250+ days per year in a controlled environment doing not-so-hard time. (Think of living in a dorm with labs attached.) Thousands of blood draws for the hope of medical breakthroughs and a sizable nest egg.

Simply, it’s a been a bizarre and contentious journey to even begin learning code. But learn code I did. After 18 months of online tutorials, one-on-one mentoring and a 9-week intensive boot camp in Rio de Janeiro, I'm now at a point where I'm eager to launch my career as a full stack developer. The only problem is not knowing exactly how to proceed. The deeper I delve into web development the more I've discovered that there's a wide chasm between acquiring knowledge and applying it (let alone getting paid for it). And while there is much to be gained building personal apps and contributing to open-source projects, let’s be honest: my best chance of getting ahead will require finding people who want to help me succeed on this new (and daunting) path.

So I'm seeking mentors to offer direction. I'm seeking a team to keep me from going adrift. I'm seeking secure employment and glowing references, and I'm determined to put in the due diligence to earn both. After years of struggling on my own, I intend to bridge this gap between learning and doing by giving my focus and dedication to those who will take a chance on me.

I've worked so hard just to get here. I'm looking forward to traveling farther, working smarter, living brighter - and to no longer be doing it alone. Quo imus,

Justin Holt

Justin Velander Holt

3735 West Diversey Avenue #2F · Chicago, IL 60647

312-***-**** · ac8vy8@r.postjobfree.com

EXPERIENCE

Full Stack Developer (OntheCodeAgain.com) December 2018 – Full Stack Developer Present

Advancing skills with Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, jQuery, React, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap and SQL Auditor - Phase I Medical Trials March 2016 –

Auditor (Contract) Present

Collating and organizing paperwork for individual Phase I medical trials for facilities nationwide, ensuring accuracy and compliance per pharmaceutical drug sponsors’ guidelines Freelance Editor/Copywriter Chicago, IL May 2013 – Editor · Copywriter January 2018

Short-term and per diem assignments writing, proofreading, revising, editing and critiquing media mail, brochures, advertisements, essays, blogs and manuscripts BMO Capital Markets Chicago, IL February 2012 –

File Clerk – Trust & Operations May 2013

Reorganizing paper filing systems of Trust & Operations (T&O) division in preparation of upcoming audits

Converting T&O paper filing systems to digital formats

Maintaining T&O paper and digital archives regarding trusts, confirmations and statements Inland American HOLDCO Management Oak Brook, IL September 2011 – Project Coordinator November 2011

Collating hundreds of documents into interoffice archive for corporate campus that available for lease

Researching news articles for information on job growth programs, future public transit works, city/county/ state initiatives (corporate relocation, tax incentives, etc.) and the leasing/sale of similar corporate campuses

Prepping rent roll specs by way of VLOOKUPs (MS Excel) for upcoming company audit The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody (Novel) Chicago, IL October 2010 – Creative Consultant · Editor August 2011

Intensive editorial work on 223-page manuscript for Chicago novelist, musician and playwright John Pierson focusing on narration/POV, structure, plot, character development, dialogue, continuity, rhetoric and rewrites

Acting as creative consultant for additional scenes/dialogue that help further story and strengthen underlying themes

Citadel Investment Group Chicago, IL March 2007 –

Data Entry Specialist · Database Management November 2009

Editing, updating and maintaining Securitized Products Group (SPG) database

Analyzing mortgage prospectuses and pooling and servicing agreements to extract relevant information

Processing daily bid/offer lists and monthly remittance reports into specialized MS Excel database to be used as reference guide by global network of financial analysts

De facto team leader regarding continuity within databases as well as discussions with programmers and supervisors on how data systems could be streamlined for easier access Sprint Nextel Reston, VA July 2006 –

Data Entry Specialist October 2006

Sorting and filing two separate directories into one integrated system for insurance division

Transferring contact information for 10,000+ business clients from paper contracts to intranet database

Supervisor of five employees for the purpose of ensuring continuity for both paper and digital registries Clio Awards Chicago, IL January 2000 –

Administrative Assistant · Database Editor June 2006

Assisting with data entry, filing, proofreading, stocking/ordering supplies, sorting mail and answering phones for international advertising awards show

Maintaining and supervising Client and Entries databases (approx. 12,000 names and 13,000 annual submissions, respectively)

Editing and revising final proofs of Shortlist and Winners books (approx. 300 pages each)

Acting Supervisor of Clio Festival Registration: greeting and registering 1200+ attendees; maintaining guest lists for gala events; customer service; handling payments; sorting gift bags; arranging signage; organizing displays and supervising student volunteers throughout week-long festival in Miami SKILLS

Mac OS X, Linux and PC proficient, 70 wpm, MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint), Ruby, Ruby on Rails,JavaScript, jQuery, SQL, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap Github, Heroku, FileMaker Pro, QuarkXPress and Cubase SX EDUCATION

Le Wagon Rio de Janeiro, BR October 2018 –

Intensive Coding Boot Camp December 2018

ENTREPRENEURIAL

The Penguin’s Tuxedo Chicago, IL August 2008 –

Founder · Lead Organizer Present

Founder and lead organizer for not-for-profit event promotions platform that specializes in outings to cultural events/productions at discount rates to subscribers

Networking with artists/entertainers, venues, managers and publicists to coordinate group rates and incentives

Justin Holt – Voice Over Chicago, IL February 2005 – Voice Over Artist Present

BFN Networks (BFNinYourEars.net) Chicago, IL February 2000 – Founder · Producer · Music Promoter June 2014

Founder and producer of BFN Networks podcasting station and host of weekly podcasts Noble Efforts, The Sound Of You & Me, Secondhand Neon and Bring Back The DJ

Editing and mastering episodes, skits and interviews for web streaming/podcasting

Writing copy for all episode guides and interview summaries

Networking with artists, management, publicists and label reps for the purpose of discovering new music and scheduling band interviews

Comprehensive web site building and maintenance (HTML) REFERENCES

John Kania

Risk and Controls Self-Testing Manager

BMO Harris Bank (AML)

111 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312-***-****

Ricardo Torres

Team Lead T&O

BMO Capital Markets (GKST)

111 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312-***-****

John Pierson

Hope And Nonthings Publishing

5059 West Winona Street

Chicago, IL 60630

E-mail: ac8vy8@r.postjobfree.com

Mary Keigher

Clio Awards

200 West Jackson, Suite 2700

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Phone: 312-***-****

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