Lance Boer
— an experienced
Web Developer
& Project Lead.
I’ve been building on the web since the ’90s, and professionally for over 15 years.
In that time, I’ve worked with a wide variety of clients across multiple industries, led many projects and people, and even taught web development.
Notable Moments
BC Government’s press release about my web development training program
In 2020, I worked with a local nonprofit to create, deliver, and lead a web development career training program.
I secured $340,000 in funding from the Government of British Columbia. All graduates of the program successfully gained employment in the tech sector as junior web developers. Since the program's completion, I have continued to mentor the graduates to help them advance in their careers.
Interview with Ninja Forms about my involvement in an anti-racism project
I handled the development of anti-hate sites that aid victims in anonymously reporting discrimination incidents in a small community with high indigenous and immigrant populations. The site is WordPress-based, with a custom theme and integrations with third-party services.
Contributing to this initiative was a great way to align my skills with my values.
AV News article about my web development training program
“This new project will give participants skills, confidence and the qualifications to build exciting new careers.” — Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim
“This unique certification and skills training project for eligible participants will prepare them for jobs in B.C.’s growing tech industry.” — Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
Technical Skills
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- React
- NextJS
- APIs
- JSON
- GraphQL
- Content Management Systems
- Headless CMSs
- Sanity.io
- Gatsby
- NodeJS
- Web Accessibility (WCAG)
- npm
- Tailwind CSS
- WordPress
- Advanced Custom Fields
- WooCommerce
- SASS and SCSS
- PHP
- MySQL
- Git and GitHub
- Bootstrap
- Gulp
- JAMstack
- LAMP Stack
- Netlify
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Google Analytics
- Google Tag Manager
- Figma
- Docker
Professional Skills
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Client Relations
- Strategic Planning
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Time Management
- Organization
- Information Architecture
- Project Estimation
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Self-Motivation
- Teamwork
- Decision Making
- Client Education
- Client Advocacy
- Conflict Resolution
- Mentorship, Training, and Development
Selected Projects
LA County Department of Mental Health
Do Worthwhile Work
Spearheaded the development of a dynamic single-page website aimed at attracting top talent to the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
Translated the intricate design conceptualized by IDEO into a fully functional WordPress-based site.
My Role
WordPress Theme Development
Developed a WordPress theme using a combination of PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This involved a meticulous approach to code architecture, optimizing site performance, and ensuring compatibility across various browsers.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Acted as a pivotal liaison between county- and state-level agencies, ensuring a seamless alignment of the website with their specific requirements and objectives.
Plugin Adaptation
Tailored existing WordPress plugins to precisely match the unique demands of the website, enhancing functionality and delivering a tailored user experience.
Responsive Design Expertise
Took charge of crafting the tablet and mobile versions of the site, an aspect not included in the original design. This involved an intuitive and user-centric design approach, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience across diverse devices.
Performance Optimization
Implemented strategic optimizations to enhance the website's loading speed and overall performance, contributing to an improved user experience and search engine rankings.
Quality Assurance
Rigorously tested the site across multiple devices and browsers, addressing any anomalies to guarantee a flawless user experience and adherence to accessibility standards.
California Mental Health Services Authority
Hey Neighbor
After the success of the Do Worthwhile Work project, partnered with the California Mental Health Services Authority to develop another engaging single-page site.
Once again transformed the innovative design created by IDEO into a custom WordPress-based site.
My Role
WordPress Theme Development
Initially developed a custom WordPress site to meet unique project requirements, but shifted to a page-builder solution midway to streamline content management. Despite this pivot, extensive customization was necessary to maintain design integrity and ensure the site’s functionality aligned with the original vision.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Collaborated closely with multiple stakeholders within state-level agencies, navigating complex processes and ensuring the website met diverse requirements while adhering to procedural standards.
Custom Plugin Development
No existing plugins were able to accurately match the appearance and functionality of the original design’s sliders and popups, requiring the development of a custom WordPress plugin.
Responsive Design Expertise
Led the design of tablet mobile versions of the site, extending beyond the original desktop- and mobile-focused design. Employed a user-first approach to create an intuitive, responsive experience that maintained consistency and engagement across all device types.
Performance Optimization
Optimized the performance of an image-heavy website, improving load times and ensuring a smooth user experience across devices. Focused on optimizing the complex layout of certain sections to ensure consistency and functionality across varying screen sizes.
Ongoing Collaboration
Following the successful launch, continued to support the California Mental Health Services Authority with ongoing development and updates across their slate of websites. Additionally, provided training and documentation for internal teams to ensure they could effectively manage and update the site, empowering the organization to maintain its digital presence independently.
Literacy Alberni Society
Client Management System
Led the end-to-end development of a specialized Client Management System, leveraging WordPress and Advanced Custom Fields. This initiative, funded through an existing partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, aimed to enhance the efficiency of Literacy Alberni Society's record-keeping and report generation while adhering to stringent security guidelines.
My Role
Project Management Expertise
Executed comprehensive project management tasks, encompassing the creation of project outlines, scoping, budgeting, and establishing timelines. Ensured the project stayed within defined parameters while meeting the evolving needs of both the client and funding agencies.
Stakeholder Engagement
Facilitated seamless collaboration between Literacy Alberni Society and IRCC, ensuring alignment with project objectives. Collaborated closely with staff members throughout the development process to gather insights, understand workflow intricacies, and incorporate their input into the system's architecture.
Security Compliance
Navigated and implemented intricate security guidelines mandated by IRCC to safeguard sensitive client information. Employed a multi-layered security approach and collaborated with a secure web host with servers based in Canada, mitigating risks associated with extraterritorial legislation, such as the USA's Patriot Act.
Technical Expertise, Training, and Guidance
Customized the WordPress platform using Advanced Custom Fields, demonstrating proficiency in adapting the system to the unique requirements of Literacy Alberni Society. Implemented security protocols while maintaining system flexibility and user-friendliness. Provided staff training and ongoing guidance to ensure seamless adoption and continued system optimization.
User-Centric Design
Implemented intuitive data entry interfaces, minimizing the time and effort required for staff to input and manage client information. The system's user-friendly design ensured a seamless experience, allowing staff to navigate efficiently through various data fields and functionalities.
Ehanced Operational Efficiency
Post-implementation, observed a measurable improvement in staff efficiency and a notable reduction in the time required for data entry and report generation. This optimization not only saved valuable resources but also contributed to a higher standard of record-keeping, aligning with the organization's commitment to operational excellence.
Canadian Covid Society
Custom Development
Transformed the Canadian Covid Society’s digital presence by developing a French-language version of their website under a tight deadline, ensuring full accessibility and functionality for their bilingual audience. After successfully launching the French site, continued collaboration led to the development of both French and English versions, incorporating custom plugin solutions to integrate third-party service APIs. Ongoing support, training, and the addition of new features have been pivotal as the organization continues to expand and refine its online platform.
My Role
Website Design and Development
Led the design and development of two WordPress-based sites, incorporating custom features and design decisions to create a user-friendly platform. Ensured the site’s content was aligned with the Canadian Covid Society’s evolving mission and goals, while also providing ongoing updates, including the addition of new content sections and landing pages to accommodate the organizationÆs growth and expansion.
Multilingual Development & Content Parity
Focused on creating and maintaining feature and content parity between the French and English versions of the website, ensuring a consistent and seamless user experience for both language groups. Collaborated with the organization to explore multilingual solutions for future expansion, prioritizing accessibility and ease of navigation across both sites. Regularly updated both versions to ensure they aligned with the organization’s evolving needs and goals, while maintaining a high standard of functionality and design in each language.
Ongoing Iteration & Expansion
Worked continuously with the society to expand and develop their website in line with the organization’s growth. Focused on creating and refining custom landing pages and content to support their fundraising efforts and other strategic goals. This iterative approach allowed the website to remain adaptive and aligned with the organization’s evolving objectives.
Ongoing Collaboration
Since the project's inception, played a key role in supporting the organization, with my involvement growing to lead various development and technical initiatives beyond the website, and even joining their board. In addition to guiding website updates and enhancements, I’ve provided strategic guidance to help the organization scale and refine its operations, including assisting their operations team with tools, processes, and solutions to support their continued growth and success.
South Carolina International Readng Association
SCIRA Conference
Revolutionized the traditional conference management approach of the South Carolina International Reading Association by transitioning from paper-based registrations and costly printed brochures to a streamlined online platform. Developed a dynamic website tailored for annual conference updates, integrating seamlessly with a third-party registration system to significantly reduce costs and administrative hours.
My Role
Strategic Cost Reduction
Spearheaded the migration from paper-based registration to a web-based system, resulting in substantial savings amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Implemented an efficient online conference brochure, slashing printing costs and reducing labor hours by 50%.
Integrated Third-Party Registration
Engineered seamless integration with a third-party registration system, ensuring a user-friendly and efficient registration process. This not only enhanced user experience but also streamlined administrative tasks, saving valuable time and resources.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Worked closely with key stakeholders within SCIRA to understand specific organizational requirements and iteratively refined the project in response to stakeholder and user feedback. Ensured the website aligned with evolving conference structures and objectives.
Training and Guidance
Conducted comprehensive training sessions for SCIRA staff on website and registration system usage. Provided ongoing guidance to the organization on disseminating information to members about the new online process, fostering a smooth transition and continued user adoption.
Iterative Development
Adapted to changes in conference structure by iterating on the website's architecture based on stakeholder feedback and evolving requirements. This agile approach ensured the website remained dynamic and aligned with SCIRA's evolving needs.
Customized Name Tag System Integration
Developed a system that generated personalized name tags with QR codes for all conference attendees. This streamlined the check-in process, adding to the reduction in labour hours, and streamlined the check-in process, enhancing the overall conference experience for attendees.
Literacy Alberni Society
Website Development
Revolutionized the online presence of Literacy Alberni Society through a comprehensive website redevelopment and strategic community outreach initiative. The organization, although offering invaluable services, faced a visibility challenge within its community. The project aimed to rectify this by designing and implementing an informative and user-friendly website while enhancing communication strategies across various channels.
My Role
Website Redesign and Development
Crafted a dynamic and engaging website that effectively showcased the full spectrum of Literacy Alberni's programs, support offerings, and unique services. Transformed an incomplete and outdated website into a user-centric platform, ensuring the content accurately represented the organization's mission and activities.
Adaptability and Content Management
Implemented a flexible content management system to accommodate the organization's dynamic program changes throughout the year. This ensured that the website could seamlessly evolve alongside the changing needs and offerings of the organization, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date resource for the community.
User-Centric Design and Accessibility
Prioritized user experience by integrating a user-friendly interface, making it easy for potential clients to access vital information and reach out for services. Emphasized readability by guiding content creation at appropriate reading levels, catering to a diverse audience. Implemented multiple streamlined forms to facilitate communication, especially for individuals with limited English language abilities.
Staff Training and Outreach Programs
Provided ongoing training and support to the organization's staff, empowering them with the skills to manage email outreach programs effectively. Collaborated on developing communication strategies across diverse channels, including email, social media, and traditional print media. This comprehensive approach aimed to maximize community awareness and engagement.