Simmon Li

Resume

hello@crespire.dev
Located in Markham, Ontario, Canada

Self-taught and tenacious, I’m an operations professional looking for an opportunity to jump into a career in software development. Fluent in HTML, CSS, Javascript, Ruby, Rails and React and open to learning new things! You can check out my about me page to see what I’m currently up to.

I’d love to chat about what I can bring to the table, so get in touch with me.

Selected Projects

EZ Newswire

Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, ViewComponents, Hotwire, Devise, Bootstrap
Live: https://app.eznewswire.com/

Delivered numerous new features from user stories and Figma design mocks, working across the stack as needed
Implemented an organization/brand feature to manage multiple sets of press releases, benefiting agency users with multiple clients and/or brands
Created an image upload feature using Turbo/Stimulus, enabling users to upload and (re)order accompanying images with their press release without full page loads, improving customer conversions
Vendored an open source Javascript package to support image uploading with new required functionality, pending upstreaming
Executed architectural changes with the tech lead, significantly reducing error rates (approximately 60%)
Improved frontend reliability by switching from importmaps to esbuild-based Javascript packaging, further reducing failure rates due to data inconsistency and improving user experience
Developed and implemented a user onboarding experience, helping user retention and improving data reliability
Implemented, integrated, and tested a new checkout flow, supporting business goals to expand the publisher network and add additional payment processors, expanding reach
Enhanced the backend with more data models to capture additional checkout and payment data for analytics purposes
Crafted rake tasks and data migrations to ensure data integrity and consistency
Built a comprehensive MiniTest test suite, later converted to RSpec, achieving ~87% code coverage

CASA Volunteer Tracking

Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, ViewComponents, jQuery, Devise, Pundit
Live: https://casavolunteertracking.org/

Implemented UI updates to leverage JQuery Datatables for management pages to make it easier to use
Reviewed and improved multi-tenant permissions using Pundit to ensure security between tenants
Encapsulated application jobs into unit-testable plain old Ruby objects and wrote tests, adding confidence in notifications

Railsbook

Ruby on Rails, devise, Turbo/Stimulus, Sass CSS, RSpec, dokku, docker, AWS S3
Live: https://railsbook.crespire.dev
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/rails_railsbook

Implements core Facebook friend and content experience
Automated RSpec/Capybara test suite with ~83% coverage
Styled via custom BEM system utilizing Sass
Leverages dokku/docker on DigitalOcean for deployment. Hooks up to Sendgrid and AWS S3 for supporting services

Buysell by crespire

Ruby on Rails, React, Typescript, Tailwind, PostgreSQL, Rspec, cypress, git, docker, AWS S3, vercel
Live: https://buysell.crespire.dev/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/buysell

Implements a full stack buy & sell application with React Typescript/Rails API
Custom hooks and providers on the React application centralize important application functions, including API access and data caching and user authentication
Styled using daisyUI built on Tailwind, with some custom components created for re-usability.

Where’s Waldo?

React, react router, Rails, Tailwind, webpack, npm, git, vercel, dokku, docker
Live: https://waldo.crespire.dev/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/waldo

Implements a fullstack clicker game with a React client and custom Rails API
Uses react router for simple client routing
Powered by a data-backed canvas for real time input feedback
Styled with Tailwind, including custom animations
Monorepo deployed via vercel and dokku/docker

Rails Report Builder

Ruby, Rails, Hotwire Stimulus, RESTful API, git, docker, docker compose
Live: Preview available upon request. Repository: https://github.com/crespire/report_generation

An extension of the CLI Custom Report Automation Tool, this moves the application to a Rails app for ease of use with a GUI.
Utilizes an external API to generate requested reports
Relies on custom fork of WickedPDF gem to ensure temp file cleanup
Containerized application for easy deployment and portability with docker compose

Firebase Authorization Flow Sample

React, Typescript, MaterialUI, React Router, Firebase Auth & Storage, webpack, npm, git, vercel
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/ts-auth-sample

Implements a front end Typescript React application utilizing MaterialUI components
Leverages Firebase for authentication and storage of user avatars
Simple React router set up
Relies on a custom authorization provider component as well as custom hook

Portfolio v1

React, Typescript, Tailwind, webpack, npm, git, vercel
Live: https://crespire.dev/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/portfolio-v1

Implements a front end portfolio application with Typescript React
Utilizes advanced Tailwind techniques for interactive experience
Live via vercel

Cozy Creature Canteen

React, react router, Tailwind, webpack, npm, git, vercel
Live: https://pet-shop.crespire.dev/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/js-shopping-cart

Implements a frontend e-Commerce store front application in ReactJS
Deploys react router for simple two page navigation
Tracks a user’s cart items and checkout information
Employs a multi-step checkout flow with custom form hook for input validation
Styled with Tailwind
Deployed via vercel

Chess

Ruby, RSpec, git
Live: https://replit.com/@crespire/rubychess
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/ruby_chess

Implements Chess for 2 players via command line interface in Ruby
Planned and implemented from broadly scoped requirements
Automated RSpec test suite with ~96% coverage
Program does not utilize any third party Chess libraries
Wide compatibility with other Chess software via FEN (de)serialization

Memory Card Game

Javascript, ReactJS, Tailwind, webpack, npm, git, Github Pages
Live: https://memory-cards.crespire.dev/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/js-memory-cards

Implements a simple memory card game in ReactJS function components using hooks
Leverages https://www.deckofcardsapi.com/ to draw a set of 12 random cards
Keeps track of current and best scores using React hooks
Utilizes Tailwind styling

Battleship

Javascript, Jest, webpack, npm, git, Github Pages
Live: https://crespire.github.io/js-battleship/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/js-battleship

Implements a simple Battleship game on the front end in Javascript
Designed to utilize factory functions to build domain objects
Automated Jest test suite with ~95% coverage

CV Builder

Javascript, ReactJS, Tailwind, webpack, npm, git, Github Pages
Live: https://crespire.github.io/js-cv-builder/
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/js-cv-builder

Implements a simple CV builder in ReactJS class components.
Allows adding, editing and deleting of nested list items in their respective sections.
Utilizes TailwindCSS for styling components

CLI Custom Report Automation Tool

Ruby, APIs, git
Repository: https://github.com/crespire/report_automation

Implements a command line application that ingests provided data and generates reporting
Utilizes API and JSON data
Relies on third party libraries for output generation
Optional GUI powered by LibUI and Glimmer DSL for LibUI on Linux systems

Education

Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction (3.73/4.0 GPA)

University of Toronto
2011 - 2014

Specialization in Peace, Conflict & Justice with a minor in Ethics, Society & Law

Bachelor of Music in Performance (2.89/4.0 GPA)

University of Toronto
2006 - 2010

Specialization in Vocal Jazz

Professional Experience

Software Developer

Sierra Rails
March 2023 - present | Toronto, Remote

Build new features using Ruby on Rails, ViewComponents, Hotwire, Bootstrap, SCSS, and Devise
Maintain development and production environments using VPS provders and container based systems
Create and manage automated test suites for features using MiniTest and RSpec

Office & Operations Manager

Designstor
Feb 2017 - March 2023 | Toronto

Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Automated various financial reports to improve visibility for management
- Improved A/R receivables timeline from ~60 days to ~30 days via follow-up automation
- Centralized billing and project management information to reduce billing reconciliation times
- Set up an automated time sheet parsing to reduce billing reconciliation times
Taxes & Finance
- Prepare and action periodic tax obligations including source deductions & sales tax remittances
Payroll, Benefits & HR Administration for office of 10
- Administer and process payroll for staff on a monthly basis
- Track, manage and process overtime, vacation, sick days and other PTO/leave
- Manage employee documents and information
- Administer group benefits and manage changes to staff coverage
Business Operations & Administrative Support
- Manage and coordinate with property management and building operators on building systems and maintenance

Trademark Sales Manager

Witmart
Jul 2016 - Jan 2017 | Toronto

With 4 direct reports, improved sales performance in a fast-paced start-up environment
Responsible for on-boarding and performance
Improved business processes in conjunction with senior managers
Regular training and coaching responsibilities

Volunteer Experience

Ruby for Good

Individual Contributor

Contributed various fixes and improvements to the CASA Volunteer Tracking application

The Odin Project

Individual Contributor

Contributed various curriculum updates, including new lessons on local development environment setup
Contributed web application and community tool bug fixes

Skills

Languages: Ruby, Javascript, Typescript, HTML5, CSS3, SQL, MongoQL, Python
Frameworks: Ruby on Rails, Hotwire Stimulus & Turbo, node.js, React, React Router, Sass, Tailwind
Automated Testing: RSpec, Jest, React Testing Library
Cloud Services: Github, Google Cloud Platform, Firebase, DigitalOcean, AWS, Heroku, Sendgrid, vercel
Tools: git, VScode, Linux, Postman, postgreSQL, mongoDB, NoSQL, rbenv, ruby bundler, npm, webpack, docker, docker compose, dokku