- (571) 645-9640
- Cartersville, GA
- donavin@dnorthrupga.com
18 years of crafting Seamless Solutions
Where Tech Expertise Meets Creative Vision
What makes Donavin tick?
Professional
Throughout my career journey, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to various industries, each experience adding depth to my professional growth.
My journey began at Nintendo of America, where I played a role in formalizing the eShop and contributing to the launch of the Wii. While immersed in the gaming world, I realized that my true passion for innovation was being overshadowed, leading me to transition into the realm of enterprise technology at Xerox.
During my tenure at Xerox, I spearheaded initiatives that automated orders and maintenance calls for a vast network of devices, while also serving as a key liaison for one of the largest contracts in the southeastern US.
Seeking new challenges, I ventured into the digital landscape as an Enterprise Architect at the World Bank Group. Here, I focused on facilitating seamless cloud migrations, leveraging my expertise to drive transformative change within the organization.
My journey continued at Fishbowl, a startup where I played an instrumental role in implementing a Professional Services model, propelling the company’s expansion into the SMS and mobile app space.
Subsequently, at Mirum (later consolidated into WPP), I immersed myself in the realm of security migrations and played a pivotal role in achieving FedRAMP qualifications. Additionally, I led a groundbreaking project, Battle Position, a multi-tier VR/AR experience aimed at revolutionizing information gathering and streamlining candidate recruitment processes.
Presently, as the VP of Solutions & Services at data.world, my focus lies on crafting innovative implementation strategies and driving customer success. My team and I have developed a robust methodology tailored to cater to diverse customer needs, with a keen emphasis on harnessing the potential of AI solutions.
Personal
My passion for technology started when I was very young, with garage sale computers from before my time. In my early teenage years, I realized my love for coding when I was working on RPG Maker trying to make my own game. Even at that age, I became a mentor in the largest community of RPG maker Game Developers, and released three scripts that changed how a lot of people were making games – Dynamic Party Changer, Shadow Removal, and a ‘Fighting Game’-esque action controller. This unlocked the ability for people to create some very robust game mechanics. The game I released at the time, was what led me to my job at Nintendo.
Curious what my favorite language / framework is?
Ruby / Rails!
Rails' '30-seconds-to-deploy' idea has also been a huge help in getting my MVPs out there over the years.
Entering adulthood my primary personal projects focused more on automation, custom apps, and micro-services. In 2013 I created a Smart Mirror – a huge feat at the time, before everyone had smart devices. That mirror has since been named ‘Jarvis’ and has been with me through 3 houses, automating most of our daily tasks, with a very robust backend for analytics.
For several years I ran a consumer grade consulting firm focused on helping people with networking, building computers, learning how to support to their own issues, or providing retainer support.
Currently, I mostly focus my free time mentoring at freeCodeCamp, and providing guidance on best practices, security, or sharing my own modules with the Home Assistant community.
freeCodeCamp (FCC) has experienced significant growth over the past four years. Initially established as a non-profit organization with a focus on providing free virtual boot camp training for aspiring developers, our work has yielded remarkable results. Since my involvement in 2015, we have successfully assisted over 40,000 individuals in securing positions within the tech industry. Our diverse range of technological teachings ensures that our learners can continue to expand their knowledge, all of which is made possible through generous donations.
Home Assistant began as a small project in 2013 to connect personal devices, but with the advancement of technology, we now have numerous assistants in our homes. Nevertheless, HA remains committed to its goal of being open source, collaborative, and customizable, while also being very user-friendly. Many custom automation systems rely on the technology that HA has developed.
What's next?
While I remain committed to the communities I’ve been a part of for the past decade, I’m decided to branch out on a new journey beyond the confines of technology. After considerable reflection, I’ve made the decision to establish a board/card game design studio alongside like-minded individuals, dedicating a portion of my personal time to this endeavor.
Gaming has long been a profound passion within the Northrup House and an integral part of my life’s journey. I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of board games—they’re more than mere entertainment; they’re catalysts for connection, fostering bonds among individuals and offering opportunities to forge new friendships.
For me, board games represent a sanctuary—a realm where people can come together, escape the rigors of daily life, and immerse themselves in moments of joy and camaraderie. They serve as a respite from the demands of the world, providing solace and a space for genuine interaction.
In nurturing this passion, I’m excited to explore the creative realms of game design, leveraging my experiences and insights to craft experiences that resonate deeply with players and capture the essence of shared enjoyment.
Always available to chat
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