uProfile - Heather Floyd
Name: Heather Floyd, @HFloyd, www.heatherfloyd.com
Location: New York, NY, USA
Role/Company: Senior Umbraco Developer at Scandia Consulting
Started working with Umbraco in which year? 2006
What are you currently working on?
A large site rebuild in version 7. It’s so great to be able to start from scratch on a project, and get the architecture right from the ground-up. This is also the first project I’ve done with heavy use of the Grid Control, and it’s a really interesting way to think about content and page creation.
Favourite Umbraco moment or achievement?
I’d have to pick at least two… One at the beginning of my Umbraco Journey and another being the most recent… It was absolutely amazing to attend the 2007 “US Retreat” at Doug Robar’s home. It was the first time I met other Umbracians in person. I am actually still in touch with the majority of them today, which tells you something about the longevity and closeness of the community. The most recent one was winning second place at the Codegarden 2015 package competition. It was really validating to be able to present something which people thought might have some relevance.
Piece of Umbraco work you are most proud of?
Hard to say, since every project is different, and is an opportunity to learn new things. For instance, the first site I did in 2006 (in version 3, I think) would make me cringe if I were to look at it today… but I learned XSLT and the whole Umbraco-mindset with that project, and even at that time, I could see the power – and potential - of Umbraco as a solid, flexible framework. A lot of the fun in programming is the process – taking on new challenges, and refining the way you do things and think about them. I’m big into systematizing, so have also spent a lot of time working on “baseline” sites and reusable components and other streamlining processes through the years. Now I am looking a little more at code and integrations “outside” of the site itself – like dealing with umbraco content as data: accessing and manipulating it outside of the CMS interface, and cross-site stuff like centralized logging.
What about Umbraco keeps you coming back for more?
There are always new things to tackle and ways to do things better; it's a constant evolution, which keeps things interesting. Umbraco as a platform has only gotten better through the years. Honestly, I don’t think I have done a site without Umbraco since that first one in 2006. The flexibility I recognized back then has continued and expanded. I bet on the right horse. :)
What is on your desk at work?
My Umbraco package award, of course. Along with a bag of sweets (right now, that is some black licorice, which I’ve always been fond of). Several of my circa notebooks which I keep for various purposes (to-do lists, ideas, etc.). And the usual desktop detritus.
Who is the most famous person you’ve met?
Umm… Niels & Per? Really, I think “celebrity” is both relative and overrated… I live in NYC and probably come across “famous” people all the time, and never recognize them. I tend to be more interested in people in the areas I pay attention to – like I was thrilled to meet Sara Chipps (co-founder of Jewelbots) at a Kickstarter backers party. (Fun fact: Sara told me she used to program in .Net before she started running startups!)