POPULARITY
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, we learn about Code Campfire, a new community initiative founded by NSS grad Preston Robbins. Joined by Lynn Samuelson, they discuss how Code Campfire supports Nashville Software School graduates and other juniors in tech with projects, mock interviews, and gamified job search tactics. Preston shares how the idea came to life from a simple need for peer support, while Lynn dives into how hands-on projects are equipping participants with the practical experience to keep their skills sharp. We also discuss Code Campfire's weekly sessions, where mock interviews, resume reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions keep participants engaged and building connections. Whether you're a recent bootcamp grad or an experienced tech professional looking to give back, Code Campfire is the place to grow your community and your skills. Tune in to learn how you can join in. 00:00 Introduction to Stories from the Hackery 01:50 Meet the Guests: Preston Robbins and Lynn Samuelson 05:57 What is Code Campfire? 09:57 Challenges and Iterations 15:02 The Importance of Projects 20:13 Project Structure and Roles 25:23 Projects Beyond Tier 1 31:25 Gamification of the Job Search 33:03 How to Get Involved with Code Campfire 41:18 Final Thoughts and Technology Guilty Pleasures Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com Code Campfire: https://codecampfire.org
In the latest episode of Stories from the Hackery, we catch up with Steve Brownlee, Nashville Software School's lead full-stack software development instructor, for a behind-the-scenes look at how he rebuilt an application we used for pre-work that was discontinued several years ago using an open-source agentic AI tool. The result? A working prototype that would've taken much longer to code by hand—and a glimpse at how AI is reshaping software development. Watch Steve's Demo here: https://youtu.be/RWhONVTO2oQ?si=KmC8cxhHyCVARKI0&t=1855 00:00 Intro: Meet Steve Brownlee 01:16 Case Study: Building an Application with Roo Code 04:17 The Pre-work Application's Background and Purpose 06:58 Initial Prompts and First Impressions 09:33 Refining the Code and Overcoming Challenges 18:55 Adding Features and Enhancements 22:38 The Role of Experience in Using AI Tools 26:14 Future of Junior Developers in an AI-Driven World 30:55 Interlude - You can view Steve's demo here: https://youtu.be/RWhONVTO2oQ?si=KmC8cxhHyCVARKI0&t=1855 31.21 The Role of AI in Software Development 34.47 Future of Software Development 50:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com Roo Code: https://github.com/RooVetGit/Roo-Code Anthropic/Claude LLM: https://claude.ai Monaco Code Editor: https://microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor/
Life-long learning can open doors you never imagined. In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, we talk with Chris Miller, an NSS alumnus who pivoted into software development after studying jazz composition and bass performance in college and recently tackled a high-stakes project supporting one of the largest live-streaming events in the world. Chris shares how skills he developed as a musician provided the foundation for a growth-filled software development career. We also explore the value of knowing how to learn—whether it's troubleshooting backend systems, understanding new technologies, or embracing generative AI as another tool in the developer's toolbox. Whether you're just starting your NSS bootcamp, navigating unfamiliar technologies, or simply inspired by stories of growth, this episode highlights the power of continuous learning. It's a story about how curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to step into unknown territory can shape an extraordinary career. 00:00 - Intro: Meet Chris Miller 02:34 - From Music Major to Software Developer 06:01 - Early Career Experiences at Aspire and CareBridge 15:00 - Moving to HCA and Tackling Large-Scale Healthcare Data 18:52 - Joining Tubi: Initial Projects and Technical Curiosity 21:02 - Scaling Challenges: Preparing to Stream a Major Live Event 24:37 - Musicianship, Mindset, and the Art of Continuous Learning 29:38 - Tubi Scaling Project 36:21 - Key Lessons from Scaling Under Pressure 39:50 - Generative AI: Skepticism, Practicality, and Future Outlook 51:26 - The Role of Understanding in Software Development 56:54 - Closing Thoughts and Reflections Links from the show: Nashville Software School – https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com Tubi – https://tubitv.com HCA Healthcare – https://hcahealthcare.com CareBridge Health – https://www.carebridgehealth.com Aspire Health – https://www.aspirehealthcare.com
Generative AI Levels the Playing Field for Neurodiverse Technologists | Stories From The Hackery by Nashville Software School
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, John Wark, founder and CEO of Nashville Software School, talks with Charlie Apigian, a well-known figure in Nashville's tech community with a significant academic background. Charlie discusses his journey from academia to consulting, the importance of bridging the gap between education and real-world application, and how his company, Data Inspire, integrates eager new coders into meaningful projects. The episode dives into the evolving roles in tech, particularly data engineering, and the impact of generative AI. Charlie also emphasizes the importance of teamwork, community building, and continuous learning in the fast-paced tech world. 00:00 Introduction to Stories from the Hackery 01:51 Meet Charlie Apigian: From Detroit to Data Science 04:13 The Value of Skills 05:39 NSS Success Story: From Musician to Developer 11:22 The Role of AI in Accelerating Projects 23:52 The Importance of Data Engineering 27:57 Evolution of Data Roles 29:11 Challenges in Data Engineering 29:37 Importance of Reliable Data 31:24 Complex Data Architectures 34:30 Learning and Adapting in Tech 37:33 Teamwork and Project Management 43:20 Community and Future of AI 46:01 Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com Data Inspire: https://datainspire.co/ Data Science Nashville Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/data-science-nashville/ LBMC: https://www.lbmc.com/ Belmont University: https://belmont.edu Middle Tennessee State University: https://datascience.mtsu.edu/ Nashville Technology Council: https://technologycouncil.com/
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, we hear from Jordan Rosas, a graduate of Nashville Software School's Web Development Cohort 29. Jordan shares his journey from working at an Amazon warehouse to becoming a Software Engineer and building SocialWaive, a social media management application. Jordan shares insights into his career progression, the challenges of creating a social media management tool, and how he leverages various AI technologies including generative AI, machine learning, and NLP. He discusses using tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT in both his professional and side projects, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving skills, building for real users, and the evolving nature of tech roles. Jordan also touches on the business aspects of developing a product and offers advice for newcomers to the tech industry. 00:00 Introduction to Stories from the Hackery 00:38 Meet Jordan Rosas: From an Amazon warehouse to Software Engineer 04:22 Jordan's Side Project: Building SocialWaive 06:02 Using Generative AI in Development 11:38 Challenges and Benefits of AI Tools 19:02 Learning and Implementing Machine Learning 24:18 Exploring AI Capabilities for SocialWaive 29:11 The Importance of Prompt Engineering 38:30 Lessons Learned from Building a SaaS Product 41:41 Advice for Aspiring Tech Professionals 44:01 Closing Thoughts Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com How are NSS Alumni Using Generative AI Tools on the Job (Survey 2024): https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2024/06/26/how-are-nss-alumni-using-generative-ai-tools-on-the-job SocialWaive: https://www.socialwaive.com/ GitHub CoPilot: https://github.com/features/copilot Hugging Face: https://huggingface.co/ “The End of Programming as We Know It” by Tim O'Reilly: https://www.oreilly.com/radar/the-end-of-programming-as-we-know-it/
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, we talk to Ryan Bishop, a Nashville Software School (NSS) graduate, about his journey into software development and his experiences with generative AI. Ryan shares how prompt engineering has become a critical part of his work, discussing its applications in both coding and management. He provides insightful advice for new developers and emphasizes the importance of keeping a growth mindset. Tune in to learn how generative AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot are reshaping the way developers work, and how Ryan has integrated these tools into his daily workflow. 01:33 Meet Ryan Bishop: From Self-Learner to Software Developer 06:18 Prompt Engineering and Contextual Use 12:20 Use Cases for Generative AI 24:53 Coding with AI: Benefits and Challenges 30:52 Learning to Write Prompts 33:01 Navigating the Overwhelming World of AI Resources 35:14 Teaching Generative AI to Beginners 42:11 Generative AI as a Learning Buddy 49:24 The Influence of Christopher Alexander 57:29 Rediscovering Art with Technology 01:00:38 Final Thoughts Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com How are NSS Alumni Using Generative AI Tools on the Job (Survey 2024): https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2024/06/26/how-are-nss-alumni-using-generative-ai-tools-on-the-job A Pattern Language - Christopher Alexander: https://a.co/d/9g7vSp8 Telehack.org - https://telehack.org
In this episode of Stories From The Hackery, we chat with Spencer Sharpe and Jack Parsons, two NSS graduates and lead software developers. We catch up on their journeys of transitioning from music to tech and explore the impact and utilization of generative AI tools in their current roles. They also share their insights on the evolving landscape of software development. Listen in for their advice on leveraging AI tools, maintaining code quality, and shaping a career in tech today. SHOW NOTES 00:00 Introduction to Stories from the Hackery 00:37 Meet the Guests: Spencer Sharpe and Jack Parsons 02:34 Musical Backgrounds and Career Shifts 9:52 Generative AI Tools and Productivity 17:31 Generative AI for Unit Testing 19:21 Quality and Context in AI-Generated Code 29:12 AI in Code Review 29:29 The Required Human Element 31:53 Training and Assessing Junior Developers 37:52 Resources for Learning to Use Generative AI 42:18 Advice for Aspiring Tech Professionals 44:06 The Future of Software Engineering 50:33 Technology Guilty Pleasures 52:19 Final Thoughts Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com How are NSS Alumni Using Generative AI Tools on the Job (Survey 2024): https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2024/06/26/how-are-nss-alumni-using-generative-ai-tools-on-the-job Ethan Mollick: 15 times to Use AI and 5 Not to https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/15-times-to-use-ai-and-5-not-to Prompt Engineering LLMs by John Berryman and Albert Ziegler https://www.amazon.com/Prompt-Engineering-LLMs-Model-Based-Applications/dp/1098156153/
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, John Work, founder and CEO of Nashville Software School, sits down with NSS graduates Pemberton Heath and Rob Schulteis to discuss their careers post-NSS. They share insights on how they have integrated generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude into their daily work routines, focusing on generative AI as a learning and productivity aid. The conversation also delves into the evolving skills needed for tech careers and the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on generative AI for learning when you're first starting out. Tune in to hear real-world applications and thoughtful reflections on the impact of generative AI on professional growth and learning in the tech industry. Show Notes: 00:00 Introduction to Stories from the Hackery 00:33 Meet our Guests: Pemberton Heath and Rob Schulteis 02:23 Pemberton Heath's Journey to Full Stack Development 06:39 Rob Schulteis' Path from the Music Industry to Data Analytics 14:00 Using Generative AI Tools for Learning 33:21 Prompt Engineering and Effective Generative AI Use 38:25 Adding A Human Touch & Generative AI's Infinite Patience 42:00 A Tool To Fight Imposter Syndrome 43:45 Using Generative AI to Write Code 47:18 Challenges of Generative AI in Learning Environments 51:06 Understanding Codebases with Generative AI 58:52 The Evolving Role of Developers 01:05:04 Integrating Generative AI in Education 01:18:36 Final Thoughts Links from the show: Nashville Software School: https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com How are NSS Alumni Using Generative AI Tools on the Job (Survey 2024): https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2024/06/26/how-are-nss-alumni-using-generative-ai-tools-on-the-job The Effects of Generative AI on High Skilled Work: Evidence from Three Field Experiments with Software Developers: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4945566 Can GenAI Actually Improve Developer Productivity?: https://resources.uplevelteam.com/gen-ai-for-coding The Impact of Large Language Models on Programming Education and Student Learning Outcomes: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/10/4115 Coding on Copilot: 2023 Data Suggests Downward Pressure on Code Quality: https://www.gitclear.com/coding_on_copilot_data_shows_ais_downward_pressure_on_code_quality Onboarding to a 'legacy' codebase with the help of AI: https://martinfowler.com/articles/exploring-gen-ai.html#memo-09
From cosmetology to automotive technology, building construction, plumbing, machine maintenance, and even coding, there are many programs right here in Middle Tennessee available to anyone looking to step into a new career. Today, we're talking with people who chose a trade school or apprenticeship path to hear about their experiences — and about the careers they've built since graduating.This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys.Guests Kevin Harrison, Vice President TCAT Nashville Jerry Campbell, HVAC student, TCAT Nashville Sam Petschulat, Executive Director Music City Construction Careers MC3 KeOndra Grayson, First-year Sheet Metal Apprentice at Sheet Metal Workers Local 177 Charnissa McKinney, Software developer at TDOT, graduate Nashville Software School Sarah Saturday, Software developer at HCA, graduate of Nashville Software School
Explore UI & UX design with Susan Culkin, a senior product designer and instructor at Nashville Software School. In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, Susan shares insights on the evolving field of user experience design, the importance of collaboration between designers and developers, and how she's giving back to the tech community through teaching and philanthropy.
In this episode of Stories from The Hackery we catch up with Data Science 3 alumni Dibran Rexhepi, a former biology graduate turned data engineer and now instructor for the Part-time Analytics program at Nashville Software School. From his humble beginnings in a chemistry lab to discovering the world of programming through a bioinformatics class, our guest shares how he found his passion for coding. Tune in as Dibran reflects on his experience at Nashville Software School, the challenges he faced, the lessons learned, and how he now gives back by teaching others. Are you or someone you know ready to begin your NSS Journey? Visit our website to learn more about our upcoming programs and apply today! https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com/calendar/upcoming-programs/ Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:54 - Transition to Tech 03:30 - Discovering Nashville Software School 05:03 - Embracing Challenges 06:46 - Teaching and Giving Back 07:45 - Thriving Amidst Challenges 09:05 - Mentoring and Growth 11:24 - Advice for Aspiring Developers 12:34 - Insights from Industry Experience 15:30 - Reflecting on NSS Experience
As we continue to discuss generative AI on Nashville Software School's podcast, Stories from the Hackery, Founder and CEO John Work and lead Data instructor Michael Holloway, dive into various techniques for leveraging large language models (LLMs) like generative AI. They explore the potential of using hosted public LLMs via chatbot interfaces and discuss strategies for embedding LLMs into applications. One such technique discussed is the use of a prompt engineering, which involves wrapping the LLM API to tailor user prompts for more effective responses. They also discuss more advanced techniques like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), which involves using external data to tailor LLM responses further. This approach helps mitigate challenges like hallucination and ensures contextually relevant responses. Additionally, they touch on fine-tuning LLMs for specific applications, which requires more computational resources and domain expertise. John and Michael highlight the importance of having machine learning skills to implement these techniques effectively. While fine-tuning LLMs may require specialized skills and resources, the emergence of smaller LLMs makes certain applications more accessible. They also mention the potential of multi-agent models for deeper and more focused outputs, indicating an exciting direction for LLM applications. For more information on the evolving landscape of LLMs and the need for organizations to stay informed about these advancements to harness their full potential in this episode of Stories from the Hackery by Nashville Software School. START YOUR NSS JOURNEY To learn more about Nashville Software School and our upcoming programs, visit our website at https://NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com SUPPORT NSS Want to support NSS in our mission to teach adults skills needed for careers in tech? Visit our website to donate to the scholarship fund and learn about other volunteer opportunities! Nashss.com/Give CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction 01:57 - Public Chat Bot Usage 02:47 - Prompt Engineering 03:21 - Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) 3:57 - Fine Tuning of Models 04:37 - Technical Implementation 05:10 - Product Engineering and Its Role 08:17 - Implementing Prompt and Product Engineering 10:15 - Utilizing External Context with RAG 11:20 - Responsible AI Considerations 16:57 - Overcoming Challenges and Limitations 23:53 - Future Trends and Considerations 29:48 - Prompt and product engineering techniques
In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, Founder and CEO of Nashville Software School, John Wark, sits down with lead analytics instructor, Michael Holloway, to provide insights into the impact of generative AI tools like ChatGPT on data analytics and data science. They highlight the importance of human oversight and contextual understanding in leveraging these tools effectively as well as strategies for adapting programs at Nashville Software School to prepare students for evolving roles in data analytics and data science are discussed, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and skill development. START YOUR NSS JOURNEY To learn more about Nashville Software School and our upcoming programs, visit our website at https://NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com SUPPORT NSS Want to support NSS in our mission to teach adults skills needed for careers in tech? Visit our website to donate to the scholarship fund and learn about other volunteer opportunities! https://Nashss.com/Give CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction. 03:10 - An overview of data analytics and data science. 04:30 - The evolution and impact of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and their role in supporting data analytics and data science tasks. 05:33 - Similarities and differences between software development and data analytics/data science are explored, focusing on how generative AI tools transform learning and work processes. 06:31 - Similarities in using generative AI tools for coding tasks and the importance of understanding contextual knowledge and problem domains. 08:12 - Key differences between software development and data analytics/data science, such as exploratory nature and iterative problem-solving approaches, are highlighted. 10:18 - The iterative exploration process in data analytics is discussed, emphasizing the need for planning, design, and contextual understanding of the data. 12:10 - Limitations of generative AI tools like ChatGPT in reasoning and understanding complex data contexts are explained. 13:05 - Capabilities and limitations of generative AI tools, emphasizing their dependence on training data and human validation. 17:42 - The importance of human oversight in using generative AI tools. 22:58 - Domain expertise in data analytics and data science tasks, emphasizing the limitations of generative AI tools. 24:48 Training strategies at NSS to prepare students for evolving roles in data analytics and data science. 46:08 - Strategies for adapting training content to incorporate skills relevant to generative AI tools. 01:04:2 - Closing.
In this Alumni Spotlight episode of Stories from the Hackery, we catch up with Full-time Web Development Cohort 22 alumna Kimmy Bird to discuss her NSS journey. From her time as a product owner at an international education company to now working as an Elixir backend developer in Germany, hear about the diverse paths NSS graduates have access to in the tech industry after graduation. Connect with Kimmy on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-j-bird/ Learn more about Nashville Software School and begin your own journey toward a career in tech, visit our website NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com Nashville Software School is the nation's first non-profit coding bootcamp, dedicated to teaching adults how to code through web development, data analytics, and data science. If you'd like to help support NSS' mission to diversify tech, visit our giving site to make a monthly or one-time donation: https://support.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/ways-to-give Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Transitioning to Tech 04:05 Learning Experience and Overcoming Challenges 08:33 Career Transition and NSS Support 13:36 International Opportunities in Tech 16:31 Gratitude and Acknowledgments 20:43 Final thoughts 21:20 Outro
Gabe Guio is a Nashville Software School graduate who contributed to the recent local data conference, DataTune Nashville, in a big way. He had the opportunity to not only build the website for the conference that serviced over 400 attendee registrations, but also built a conference scanner application that sponsors used to capture the information of attendees as they visited sponsor tables for a raffle prize at the end of the day. In this episode of Stories from the Hackery, Gabe shares how he was connected with the team at DataTune Nashville and what tools he used to create the applications for the conference. Resources References in this podcast: Connect with Gabe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabeguio/ Gabe's Conference Scanner App Walk-through Videos: Conference Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEyQImODfUw Advized Raffle Short: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9bG_WHxK00Q Learn more about Nashville Software School and our upcoming programs when you visit our website: https://NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com Chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:49 Gabe's background before attending Nashville Software School 5:29 - Volunteering with Data Tune Nashville Conference 7:30 - Building the Website for Data Tune Nashville 11:39 - Building the Conference Scanner app for Data Tune Nashville 17:44 - Gabe's experience with the Nashville tech community 20:33 - Outro
From mock interviews, to resume talks and Demo Day scheduling, there's no shortage of opportunities for our students to gain the skills necessary to their job search after graduation.! In the latest episode of Stories from the Hackery, NSS's Career Development Team Lead, Ashley Canino, and Career Development Specialist, Michael Frieh, talk about how they work with every student at NSS to prepare them for their job search post-graduation! Learn more about Nashville Software School and our upcoming programs when you visit our website: https://NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com 0:00 Intro 1:37 Career Development Services Overview 1:48 What to expect from Career Development at NSS 8:32 Meet the community at Round Table Events Overview 10:25 Preparing with Mock Interviews 14:25 Present your project at Demo Day 17:06 Outro
Nashville Software School Founder and CEO John Wark sits down with Full-time Web Development Lead Instructor, Steve Brownlee, to discuss Steve's research in how generative AI can be a helpful tool the popularity of LLMs continue to grow in software development. Learn more about Nashville Software School and our upcoming programs when you visit our website: https://NashvilleSoftwareSchool.com 0:00 Intro 1:53: Generative AI is creating a new set of skills that developers need to learn 5:29 How NSS grads were using generative AI in mid-2023 9:30 The generative AI hype cycle & NSS's exploration 14:05 How have NSS's students learned to use generative AI as a learning assistant 20:04 Deepening our understanding of generative AI 24:50 Steve Brownlee's exploration of generative AI for developers 31:40 Can these tools handle system level tasks? 42:52 Exploration with GitHub Copilot 49:33 Grading ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot models 51:10 Takeaways: How we plan to incorporate generative AI and prompt engineering into our Web Developer program 1:01:25 Final Thoughts Resources References in this podcast: Steve Brownlee's blog post: https://www.stevebrownlee.com/genai-stole-my-work/ Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/ Claude: https://claude.ai/login?returnTo=%2F Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot Language References found in the podcast: GenAI = Generative AI. Refers to artificial intelligence systems that have the capability to generate new content, such as images, text, audio, or even video, that is similar to, or inspired by, the data they were trained on. These systems are designed to learn the underlying patterns and structures within the data and then generate novel outputs based on that understanding. LLMs = Large Language Models. Refers to a type of artificial intelligence (AI) model that has been trained on vast amounts of text data in order to understand and generate human-like language. These models, such as OpenAI's GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series, are designed to process and generate text in a wide range of contexts, tasks, and languages. Foundation Model = Foundation models use self-supervised learning to create labels from input data. This means no one has instructed or trained the model with labeled training data sets. This feature separates LLMs from previous ML architectures, which use supervised or unsupervised learning. Emergent Behavior = Refers to actions or patterns that weren't explicitly programmed into an AI system but developed as a natural outcome of its complexity and interactions. Imagine a colony of ants. No single ant has the blueprint for the colony's intricate behavior.
Mandy Arola of the Nashville Software School discusses the importance of bringing underrepresented groups and financially disadvantaged into tech careers.
Marty Burns graduated with full time Data Analytics Cohort 9. Data and analytics have always been a big part of my life. I love exploring, analyzing, and leveraging data to problem solve and build a story that will make an impact on both a professional and personal level. I have used data analytics most of my professional career to increase revenue, reduce waste, improve quality and drive supply chain improvements. I am thankful and grateful to Nashville Software School for providing me extensive training in new, exciting ways to extract, transform, analyze and visualize data. I can't wait to put these new skills to work in my future career endeavors.
Charles Seals graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 60. I am currently enrolled in the Full Stack Web Developer Program at Nashville Software School. My goal is to connect with a company that values innovative perspectives, creative minds, and cooperative teamwork. I am thoroughly enjoying learning the intricacies of web development, and look forward to the opportunities that this new chapter will bring. I will be finished with the Full Stack Web Developer Program at NSS in March of 2023.
Imad Ottallah graduated with full time Web Development Evening Cohort 19. I'm starting my journey as full-stack developer thanks to Nashville Software School. Being a full-stack developer allows me to not only develop client-facing apps and websites but also develop it with cutting edge backend support. I love designing systems that are light and efficient. I'm really in love with REACT, but am eager to learn so much more. I'm an avid table top role player and have written and illustrated several books.
Mitch McCullough graduated with full time Web Development Evening Cohort 19. While in college as an Industrial & Systems Engineering student, I realized that some of my most enjoyable classes were those which required a certain degree of interaction with a computer. I'd always been interested in new technology growing up, spending hours on the old PC in the family living room until someone had to drag me away. This became even more obvious as I launched into a career as an Operations Industrial Engineer for the Postal Service. I found that I was frequently prone to looking for technical solutions to 'ordinary problems' in data and software. In the end, it was only natural that I found my way to Nashville Software School, where, in familiar company, I can hone my software skills to live out the dream of improving the world one line of code at a time.
Emily Stroud graduated with full time Web Development Evening Cohort 19. Full Stack web developer student in Nashville Software School's E-19 cohort. Experience in: JavaScript, React, Python, Django, SQL, PostMan, Firebase, GitHub, VSCode and more.
Krima Patel graduated with full time Web Development Evening Cohort 19. I have been a healthcare worker for over six years and am making a career change into software engineering. My background has allowed me to develop the essential skillsets to transition into the tech field. After college, I was uncertain about my career path, so I continued working in healthcare with an emphasis on new technologies. Having worked with various healthcare applications and machinery has allowed me to see how computers and software programs work together to streamline workflow, resolve issues to ensure accuracy and has shown me just how big of an impact the tech field has had on healthcare. In a matter of a few years it has changed my work experience; this led me to dive into web development courses online which then brought me to Nashville Software School. At NSS, I have gotten experience in problem-solving, working in both individual and team-oriented environments, and overcoming the fear of failure, my biggest challenge. I am eager to learn, grow and maximize my potential as a software engineer. I am excited to be a part of Nashville's growing tech community!
Brett Hughes graduated with full time Web Development Evening Cohort 19. I am a student of life, always looking to grow my knowledge of subjects I am passionate about. My first introduction to coding came from a friend who mentioned he was self-taught. Shocked that you could learn the basics for free online, I began my journey immediately. Getting laid off from an industry I was truly unhappy in was the catalyst that led me to Nashville Software School. I value critical thinking over encyclopedic knowledge and inherit curiosity over judgment in everything I do. My meandering career path gives me a unique perspective that I plan to utilize on my journey.
Matthew Reuther graduated with full time Software Engineering Cohort 1. I am driven by the challenge of creating and problem-solving in technology and computers, and find satisfaction in building things from scratch. This drive led me to attend a web developer bootcamp at the Nashville Software School where I developed my skills as a front-end developer. After 5 years of experience in the industry, I returned to school to deepen my knowledge by focusing on backend development. I am excited to use my skills to make a meaningful impact in the industry as a developer.
Sarah Beth Langley graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. Prior to joining Nashville Software School, I worked at my family's Ford dealership for ten years. A group of women software developers I befriended introduced me to technology in 2019, and I was fascinated. Coming from a fast-paced sales environment, I like the change of pace programming offers, as well as the opportunity React and JavaScript present to exercise logic and problem-solving in exciting new ways.
Ryan Allred graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. After years of being a skilled laborer, I finally decided to embark on a new career path. I was led into software development by a great friend of mine who made a similar switch in careers. I soon discovered how exciting and rewarding the field of Software Development can be and decided it was the right path for me to pursue. In 2022 I applied and got accepted in to Nashville Software School and never looked back.
Daniel Ohrin graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. I've always known I wanted to be a software developer. I started learning to design/develop websites on my own at the beginning of high school. In my senior year, I realized I wanted to pursue my passion of coding full time as a career. I applied to attend Nashville Software School and now I am one step closer to following my dream.
Reginald L Williams Jr. graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. I've always been interested in creating things with computers. I started with code in my teens editing HTML on my friends' Myspace accounts, building games in Flash Player. Fast forward to 2019, and I write my first line of code in September 2019 and actually really begin to like it. After doing some research, I taught myself some HTML/CSS & JavaScript basics using The Odin Project and FreeCodeCamp.Org. I felt I needed to work with people though, so I attended a 3 week Web Development Jump Start course at Nashville Software School. That clicked with me. The same excitement I had while making websites as a kid was reignited with building applications. With that in mind, I pursued it, & it's brought me here today. I hope to speak with you soon!
Maria Q. Manansala graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. After years of working in military & government sectors, I decided to take on a new career. While active duty, my job required me to stay current with new technologies. In turn, that sparked my curiosity. Since then, my interest has grown & I took a coding course at Nashville Software School; starting my exciting journey into the tech industry.
Renee Doll graduated with full time Web Development Cohort 59. I first started coding in the olden days of MySpace, where profiles were customizable with HTML. I loved the feeling even then of putting code on a page and watching it come to life, debugging and all. After completing a Master's and Bachelor's, I still felt I wasn't finished with my education and enrolled in Nashville Software School's Web Developer Bootcamp, where I've learned to hone and focus my communication, problem-solving, and web development skills in order to make an effective Software Developer.
Sarah Maginnis graduated with Web Development Evening Cohort 18. I've lived a thousand lives, and dreamed a thousand dreams, first as an immigration attorney, then as a law librarian, and now as a software developer. My goal is to leverage my prior experience as a law librarian and my passion for solving problems with technology into a successful career as a software developer. I have a passion for software development and a love of learning. I chose to go to Nashville Software School because of their strong track record of employment success and the part-time program was ideal for me and my situation as a part-time law librarian and full-time stay-at-home mom. I am looking for a junior software development job in the Nashville area. In additional to the technical skills gained at NSS, I have excellent communication skills with a proven ability to manage complex projects, design and present instructional and training materials, research complicated and obscure information, and problem solve in a team environment.
Rainwater Morehead graduated with full time Data Analytics Cohort 8. Rain has been in technical and data-driven spaces for most of her life, starting with working on the back end of her public school's television production and moving through a study of mathematics at her undergraduate university that stemmed from the question "How does this answer the questions being asked around us?" Even when she worked primarily in public speaking, Rain still cultivated a discipline of using data-driven technological choices to inform her connection to audiences and the way her messages would be received. Since enrolling at Nashville Software School, she's learned to use the tools of more traditional data analysis to hone a hobby into a craft and give precise, insightful, and relevant answers to questions drawn from the world of data around her. Rain is currently looking to find the company where she hopes to continue answering questions that affect and help the work of people making a difference in the world.
Preston Spencer graduated with part time Data Analytics Cohort 7. I am an analytic and logic-driven problem solver and project manager with more than 10 years of experience across public health, hospital operations, and journalism fields. My interest in data analytics and its potential for delivering insights to drive and unlock business growth has led me to learn SQL, Python, and advanced Excel technical skills through Nashville Software School.
Ben Shelton graduated with Web Development Cohort 57. Problem solving and technology have always caught my interest, and I've had a high aptitude for both. After spending years employing and honing those skills in customer-facing tech support for a software company, I decided that I wanted to explore a long-held curiosity with the development side and enrolled in Nashville Software School. What I found was a fast-paced environment that challenged me to put my collaborative, interpersonal, quick learning, and problem-solving skills to the test. It is easily one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my life and leads me to look forward to the continuous learning and skill improvement opportunities that life as a software developer brings with it. Outside of coding, you can typically find me watching sports, attending concerts, or getting in a round of disc golf.
Christian Suriano graduated with Web Development Cohort 57. I wrote my first line of code when I was thirteen, and knew from that moment on that coding was the right path for me, after graduating Highschool I spent the last few years working in Nashville. I discovered Nashville Software School and knew it would suit my learning style perfectly, I decided to take the leap into a new career and sign up, Software Development is the perfect direction for me to go with my problem solving abilities, and love for continued learning.
Danielle Martin graduated with Web Development Cohort 56. About Me: Before starting my journey in software development, I had a casual exploration of coding. I wanted to take more of a professional approach. I found a great opportunity at Nashville Software School and I am currently enrolled in the full-time web development bootcamp. Studying Software development here has given me a new creative edge and a future of challenging, yet enjoyable, problems to solve. Favorite NSS Experience: I really enjoyed getting to see everyone's client side capstones. It is amazing how far we came and how much we learned in the course of three months! Everyone did such an amazing job!
Tiana Robinson graduated with Web Development Cohort 56. About Me: Full-stack software engineer with a long-time interest in technology and design who recently experienced the great opportunity of enrolling at Nashville Software School and turning a former casual exploration of coding into a focused and professional pursuit. Creative and analytically oriented as well as a fast, flexible learner who adapted quickly to new professional environments and responsibilities over the last 7 years and looks forward to continuing to do so as a growth-minded junior software developer. Favorite NSS Experience: Having the chance to work with my classmates has been the most rewarding experience. I have no doubt that each of them will 100% exceed their own beliefs. I cannot wait to see us each develop not only programs but our skills and professions as well.
Michael Norman graduated with Full Time Data Analytics Cohort 7. I am a veteran of the US Army, a critical and outside-the-box thinker, and an experienced team leader with real experience analyzing data and communicating recommendations to stakeholders for program development and institutional effectiveness. I thrive as part of a team and in an environment that encourages growth and learning. I am comfortable analyzing data and presenting to C-suite leaders or coordinating projects with other stakeholders. I have worked as part of a regulatory body for the State of Tennessee, managed numerous programs, and piloted community support programs. In these roles, I performed analysis on institutional data that informed decisions and improved program outputs. This exposure sparked my ambition to pursue a career as a Data Analyst and apprentice at Nashville Software School.
Martin Melgar graduated with Full Time Data Analytics Cohort 7. I am an avid community organizer, an experienced leader able to help others find their best role. Having managed teams for nonprofits and governmental bodies, I had danced around data analysis without truly understanding the capabilities of it. After moving to Nashville, I joined Nashville Software School in order to add Data Analytics to my knowledge base in order to better apply my team leading skills.
Christopher Larsen graduated with Web Development Cohort 55. Software developer. Artist. Welder. My career has changed a bit over time, but one thing has remained consistent: I create things. I've always had an interest in technology but, before Nashville Software School, I did not have the means to pursue it. Analytical-minded, I look forward to growing as a junior software developer.
Cory Clark graduated with Web Development Cohort 55. Nice to meet you, I'm Cory! Prior to my journey with NSS, I was a freelance musician/actor for around 10 years. In other words, I'll still play your weddings and birthday parties. I have always had a long-time interest in technology, and due to recent pandemic related shifts in the performance industry I decided to pursue those interests fully and enrolled at Nashville Software School. Coding so far has become a fantastic outlet for both my creative and logic-based hobbies and former careers. Post-graduation I'm so excited to keep acquiring knowledge as a growth-minded junior software developer.
Luke Slater graduated with Web Development Cohort 55. I've always been a lover of, and intruiged by, technology. I built my first PC when I was 13. From there, I basically grew up on the internet, so it was only natural that I would pursue a career in software development, via Nashville Software School. Both the learning experience and the work in-class has been immensely engaging and rewarding. I am very excited to begin my career in the industry.
Hilary Shaner graduated with Web Development Cohort 54. After working as a Zoo Keeper for several years I decided to pursue a new career in Web Development. Last year I attended Nashville Software School's three week Jumpstart course. It proved that not only could I learn to code, but I enjoyed it too. I quickly applied for the full time bootcamp that started in January and now I am busy learning about both the client side and server side. I will graduate in June and I am so excited to start my career as a Software Developer!
Destiny Frith graduated with Web Development Cohort 54. After working as a barista and professional shopper for several years, I wanted to branch out and try something different. I craved something new that would challenge me and allow me to combine my passion and creativity with a technical skill would be valuable throughout the course of my career. I started researching and asking friends for recommendations and everything led me to software development. Being in Nashville, I heard nothing but praise for Nashville Software School. I decided to go for it and I have not regretted one second of it! It's been extremely rewarding and I am so excited about my new career path. Outside of coding, I enjoy reading, hiking and attending concerts. I value humor, empathy and kindness. One of the top five favorite moments of my day is making coffee while the rest of the world is still quiet. I love advocating for inclusivity in the tech space. I'm always open to connecting with new people in the this community. Let's chat!
Jaimie Hart graduated with Web Development Cohort 54. I'm passionate about problem solving and adding a creative flare to everything I do - and that's why I'm an experienced software developer and student at Nashville Software School. I've been a radio DJ for 13 years and I've been doing independent web design with WordPress and SEO content writing for the last 5 years. I'm excited to take my technical skills to the next level!
Henry House graduated with Web Development Cohort 54. I have always liked tech-related things be it hardware or software. I would be producing music for an artist and often find that I was more interested in the recording software than the song. That curiosity eventually led me to enroll in Nashville Software School!
Jake Brooks graduated with Web Development Cohort 54. I have always been a rather creative individual and ever since I first took an intro to gaming class in high school I knew coding was the perfect outlet for my creativity and problem solving skills to thrive. In late 2021 I enrolled into Nashville Software School which has provided me the technical skills needed for this pursuit.