Cole Marshall

Senior Full-Stack Software Engineer

Devenir Group, LLC

2022 – Present

I build and manage robust, scalable fintech web services and products for the HSA (health savings account) investment industry, with a hand in every layer from the cloud infrastructure underneath to the public brand out front. I also automate key processes across the business.

• Architected and built the company's modern flagship API offerings in Node.js, with their AWS infrastructure authored entirely as code using CDK and TypeScript
• Lead contributor to the company's HSA investment portal assets and infrastructure: a Vue.js frontend backed by Laravel services and a dedicated authentication service
• Established the HSA investment portal's end-to-end test coverage from the ground up with Playwright
• Designed and built Devenir's public marketing website
• Created branding and logos for Devenir's product family, including myHSAinvestments, HSA Search, HSA Planner, HSA Research, and HSA Compass
• Introduced agentic AI tooling to the engineering workflow

Webmaster

MusicMaster, Inc.

2011 – 2022

As a full-stack developer, I was responsible for the design, frontend development, backend development, web server operations, and third-party API integration into the company's web-based tools. Additionally I contributed to the development of the online capabilities of the company's products, designed marketing material, and automated time-consuming tasks for support and sales staff.

• Designed and developed an extensive, custom eCommerce system with PhaseWare/Salesforce/Zoho/PayPal/Authorize.net integration, customer accounts, subscription management, contracts, invoices, and wide-ranging discount options among many other features (Sangus)
• Developed an online licensing system to determine legitimate access to the company's flagship software by its clients, which stays up-to-date in real time with integration into the company's customer resource management and accounting systems (Osiris)
• Search Engine Optimization: Optimized the MusicMaster website so that it appears as number one on Google for the company's primary keywords "music scheduling" and "music scheduling software"
• Created a RESTful API for Odin, a web-based administration system I created for company-wide use, using Slim that accepts and returns JSON or XML as needed, uses HTTP authentication, and includes extensive Markdown documentation (Munin)
• Managed two cloud-based Apache web servers, with load balancers, and a cloud-based MySQL database, which run the majority of the company's online assets, including the web sites and software API. The servers were maintained as PCI compliant, secure enough to store sensitive financial information (Asgard and Vanaheim)
• Designed the graphics for MusicMaster's massive 20' x 40' exhibit for the yearly NAB Show in Las Vegas
• Created a back-end administrative framework that manages all of MusicMaster's web applications, selectively giving its users the ability to access the site's administrative options; built on PHP and JavaScript, the system is designed to allow developers to rapidly create administrative user interfaces, the centerpiece being a form creation class that handles intricate error-checking with minimal parameters (Odin)
• Created a robust localization system with a reactive, easy-to-use administration that supports all UTF-8 languages, multiple software and web products, XML/CSV import/export of localization data (Nimrod)
• Developed an OData interface from scratch using PHP and Slim that allows Salesforce to integrate external data using Salesforce Connect (Tyr)
• Created a certification testing system for the MusicMaster Scheduling software, which displays questions that must be answered in a fixed time-frame, giving users the option to occasionally pass on a question, add time to answer, and remove one wrong answer from a question; administrative features include managing test questions with the option to include images and shuffle the order of the multiple choice answers, the creation of custom categories and custom difficulties, and a comprehensive look at how questions are statistically being answered (Athena)
• Created a newsletter management program that integrates into WordPress, turning postings into suitable HTML and text e-mails, sends previews to editors, gives subscribers and administrators easy-to-use subscription management options, processes returned mail, and removes and reports undeliverable e-mail addresses from the subscribers database (Mercury)
• Developed a detailed client station database accompanied by a responsive station player skeuomorph frontend that looks and works much like a car stereo (Locus)
• Created branding packages, designed user interfaces and outlined the user experience, and developed frontend styling for Blendella, where users can listen to and vote on the music they want to hear next
• Created MusicMaster's 30th Anniversary logo, which appeared on banners, shirts, plaques, and even packets of fruit snacks

Owner

Active Depth

2000 – Present

I've been actively involved in the online media industry with my own business for over two decades, during which time I've tackled many diverse projects for a multitude of different clients.

• Helped numerous individuals and businesses achieve a superior online presence
• Designed Catenary, a robust, futuristic typeface consisting of six core fonts and three display fonts, containing over 800 glyphs each. The typeface contains Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic characters; small caps; world currencies; arrows; ornaments; lining numbers; old style numbers; subscripts; superscripts; fractions; and ligatures.
• Administration of the Central Outpost, a community for online gaming groups, for over 15 years. The site receives tens of thousands of unique visitors monthly, hosting over 5,000 clan accounts and nearly 7,000 user accounts. I manage every aspect of the site from the graphic design, user experience, front-end development, back-end development (the entire site operates on a custom content-management system), copywriting, community relations, marketing, finances, and even technical support. Development and upkeep are entirely funded through donations from users.
• Produced over 100 computer-generated images designed for desktop wallpapers, many in 5K and print-ready resolutions, available to use for free

Front-End Web Developer

Getty Images

2009

I was brought on for a six month contract to help a team of developers meet tough deadlines in the implementation of XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript to present some of the company's web site projects in the designer's specifications.

• Front-end development for Photos.com redesign
• Front-end development for MLB, NASCAR, NBA, and PGA photo portals

Web Designer & Developer

Raichert Media, Inc.

2006 – 2008

I performed root-level maintenance on the company’s dedicated server, and I also assisted with web design and development for the company’s clients as needed.

Teaching Assistant

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

2007 – 2008

As a teaching assistant for the Interactive Multi-Linear Narrative (game design) class, I provided technical direction and advice as the programming lead for two Flash-based computer game projects.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interactive Media

2008

A passion for both art and computer technology lead me to study Interactive Media at MCAD. The program focused on interaction design, user interfaces, graphic design, typography, motion graphics, information architecture, development, and working with clients. Interested in how users interface with entertainment applications, I took courses on video game history and their design, helping teach the game design class for two years. I also supplemented my studies in courses on photography, film, sound, and even 3D modeling and animation, which has allowed me to add unique assets to my work.

• Interactive Media
• Web Design
• Graphic Design
• History of Graphic Design
• Art History
• Typography
• Animation
• Motion Graphics
• 3D Modeling
• 3D Animation
• Photography
• Film
• Sound
• Game Design
• History of Video Games
• Game Level Design
• Short Story Writing
• Novel Writing
• Screenwriting

Frontend Web Development

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• Vue.js
• mobile/responsive design
• cross-browser compatibility
• search engine optimization
• Sass
• jQuery

Backend Web Development

• PHP
• Node.js
• Python
• MySQL
• REST
• API development
• XML
• JSON
• Git
• Apache
• automation
• cloud DevOps
• AWS
• infrastructure as code (AWS CDK)
• unit testing
• end-to-end (E2E) testing
• Playwright
• Jest

Web Design

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe After Effects
• Graphic Design
• Motion Graphics
• Typography
• User Interface (UI) Design
• User Experience (UX) Design

Scott Wirt

CTO of MusicMaster, Inc.

It was my pleasure to have Cole on my team at MusicMaster for more than 10 years. He is both a gifted web developer and a talented artist. During his time here, I placed many challenges before him and he never failed to find a solid, creative solution to accomplish the goal. I was always impressed by his ability to manage a wide variety of projects and responsibilities while maintaining focus on priorities and deadlines. Cole will be missed at MusicMaster but I know that he will be an awesome addition wherever his career takes him.

Laurie Knapp

CEO of MusicMaster, Inc.

MusicMaster is fortunate to have benefited from Cole's many talents for over a decade. Among the many things that stand out about Cole are his versatility and his work ethic. Brought on initially as a Webmaster, Cole was always willing to expand into additional projects and soon his talents were being used to enhance nearly every aspect of our business. He designed and built a back-end system for our company that's used in countless ways to integrate and improve our operations. Whenever a new feature was requested, it was always done sooner than we expected. In fact, I was constantly amazed by how quickly Cole would respond to and solve any issues that I brought to him.

In addition, Cole is just an all-around pleasant person to work with. He is always professional and his positive attitude is infectious. He is extremely knowledgeable and skilled in his field, and this gave our management team the confidence that we could rely on him to take our ideas and execute them to the highest level - even beyond our expectations. In addition to his technical side, Cole also excels in creative projects, and is a gifted writer and designer. During his time here, Cole created many graphics elements for us, from logos to trade-show booth art. The impact of Cole's work will continue to benefit MusicMaster even beyond his tenure here, and any company will be better for having him onboard.

Dave Hoefler

Senior Product Owner at Getty Images

Cole and I worked closely on a few projects for Getty Images. His work was top notch. He's easy to work with and offers great insight into solving problems in a creative, tactful, and efficient manner. He picks up on new skills very fast. I enjoyed working with him, and I'm sure anyone else who works with him in the future will agree with me on that. He's very friendly, and easy to get along with, which are two qualities that make the work environment a very enjoyable place.

PC Gaming

• FPSs
• RPGs
• RTSs

Art

• Digital
• Design
• Pen
• Photography

Writing

• Short Stories
• Novels