Research Interests
Genetic Algorithms, Evolutionary Computing, Technical Education, Linguistics, and Formal Grammars
Work History
Start Up - Senior Software Engineer
October 2020 - Present
Chicago, Illinois
Software Products
- Core Infrastructure Libraries
- Central Infrastructure-as-Code Repository
- Clojure Build Tools
Primary Skills Utilized
- Clojure / Clojurescript
- Bash
- PostgreSQL
- Terrafom
- Node.js
Job Duties
- Create and issue cross-team utilities, tools, and solutions to common technical needs and problems
- Create and maintain infrastructure-as-code modules and central resources
Guaranteed Rate - Lead Software Engineer
September 2018 - October 2020
Chicago, Illinois
Software Products
- Intelligent Workflow Management SPA
- Work Lifecycle Rules Engine
- Real-Time Notification Service
Primary Skills Utilized
- Clojure / Clojurescript, with the Reframe Framework
- JavaScript
- PostgreSQL
- HTML and CSS
Job Duties
- Design, code, test, and implement new business rules and functionality
- Create and issue cross-team utilities, tools, and solutions to common technical needs and problems
- Negotiate requirements, deliverables, and workable scope between development teams and business owners
State Farm Insurance - Lead Software Developer
October 2017 - August 2018
Bloomington, Illinois
Software Products
- Financial Transaction ETL Engine
- Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery Tools and Automation
Primary Skills Utilized
- Clojure
- Spark
- Docker and Kubernetes
- Shell Scripting
Job Duties
- Lead and mentor an agile development team of 7 people, and consult for parallel development teams across the technical portfolio
- Analyze system requirements to architect and design applications
- Design, code, test, and implement new business rules and functionality
- Create cross-department DevOps tooling and resources, and lead training sessions for best practices
- Serve as GitLab repository administrator
- Negotiate requirements, deliverables, and workable scope between development teams and business owners
State Farm Insurance - Systems Analyst
June 2013 - October 2017
Bloomington, Illinois
Software Products
- Statistical Reporting Engine
Primary Skills Utilized
- IBM SAFR
- COBOL
- JCL
- DB2
Job Duties
- Design, code, test, and implement new business rules and functionality
- Create and issue cross-team utilities, tools, and solutions to common technical needs and problems
- Maintain and monitor legacy services on a regular execution schedule
Self-Employed - Tutor
August 2009 - December 2017
Central Illinois
Areas of Focus
- English Writing
- Speech
- Calculus
- Web Development
Primary Skills Utilized
- Communication
- Writing
- Coaching
Job Duties
- Teach remedial lessons in a variety of high school level subjects
- Assign and grade coursework
- Assist students studying, applying for universities, and applying for careers
Illinois Wesleyan University - Mathematics Teaching Assistant
January 2013 - May 2013
Bloomington, Illinois
Classes Taught
- Number Theory
- Algorithm Design and Analysis
Primary Skills Utilized
- Communication
- Coaching
- Mathematics
- Python
Job Duties
- Educate students on critical class concepts
- Responsible for grading quizzes and homework, providing out-of-class tutoring and mentorship, and holding regular office hours for student support.
- Developed Python examples to demonstrate in-class concepts such as RSA Encryption, Turing Machines, and Prime Factorization.
Illinois Wesleyan University - Receptionist
August 2009 - May 2013
Bloomington, Illinois
Primary Skills Utilized
- Communication
- Writing
- Web Design
Job Duties
- Performed receptionist duties for the Andrew W. Mellon Center
- Updated and maintained the university’s writing program website
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, with a minor in Mathematics
Illinois Wesleyan University. Bloomington, Illinois
Graduated May of 2013
GPA: 3.35/4.0
Research Experience
- Multivariable Traveling Salesperson Problem, January 2011 - May 2011
- Ant Colony Optimization, August 2011 - December 2011
Publications
- Nichols, Nick A. “Elitist Schema Overlays: A Multi-Parent Genetic Operator” Proceedings of the 24th Annual John Wesley Powell Conference, June 7, 2013.
Honors and Awards
Special Achievement Award - State Farm Insurance
November 2016. Awarded for the creation, conceptualization, and execution of the RED Mic platform: an employee-led platform for inspiration and grassroot cultural change.
Special Achievement Award - State Farm Insurance
August 2017. Awarded for the continual success and implementation of the State Farm Systems Intern Speech Program.