James McWhorter lives in Oxford, OH and is the Webmaster at Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. He develops and maintains the Earth Expeditions, Dragonfly Workshops, and iDiscovery Web sites. He is also the Webmaster for Sustainable Berea, a non-profit organization in Berea, KY whose mission is to re-localize their community. James is the owner and principal designer of SpiderSavvy, and has more than 10 years experience of Web design and development.

Many of James’s skills as a Web developer were self taught from an early age. From his introduction to the internet, he was fascinated by the power of the Web and its ability to reach a world wide audience.

High School and Military

By 15 he had educated himself in HTML and began coding his first Web pages. It was also about this time that James obtained his Amateur Radio License and later made contact with the former MIR space station. He also saved up $200 for his first GPS (that was a lot for a 15 year old!).

During high school James developed his skills as an Web designer by taking courses in HTML, and working on his High school’s Web site. During his last year of High school he attended an Electronics Vocational school in Lexington, KY. He was also president of the Ham radio club and installed the school’s first Amateur Radio antenna and taught classes on radio theory.

After boot camp James attended Communications and Electronics School in Southern California where he built on his existing knowledge of radio and antenna systems. He was then assigned to a communications platoon in NC where he was a Field Radio Operator, the Encryption NCO, and Air Operator for the regiment. During his four years in the Marine Corp he received advanced training in Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare, Cold Weather Survival, and advanced weapons training.

Berea College

Upon leaving the military; James was awarded a full scholarship at Berea College where he received his first paid Web design contract. Lago Linda Hideaway, a secluded getaway in Eastern Kentucky, needed a serious redesign. It was on this site that he first used Flash animation.

After a year of working for the Sustainable and Environmental Studies program James managed the College’s Web team. After spending a year re-designing the College’s Web site James and his team mates became recipients of the 2006 CASE award, a prestigious recognition of a site well done. While working at the Web team James learned XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript and developed advanced proficiency in Web design, usability, and experience using industry standard tools such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Flash.

During the summer of Jame’s Junior year he set off on an independent study that would take him along Kentucky’s Cumberland Plateau, following the Sheltowee Trace. Three weeks and 276 miles later James had collected a significant amount of GPS/GIS and photographic information with which he was able to create a geo-database of his experience.

Miami University

After graduating from Berea College James moved to Oxford, Ohio and began working with Miami University’s Project Dragonfly where he now their Webmaster.

Interests

James likes anything related to technology and/or nature. In his free time he can be found hiking, backpacking, geocaching, taking photos, and making more Web sites.