Daniel Bennett

2010 was a busy year for me. I’ve done a lot of programming, web design, wiring (data, phone, coax and CCTV), networking and personal things. 2011 is seeming to go about the same.

Programming

The past year I really honed my php skills. I think I’ve grown into more of a coder and not just a hacker. I’ve really done a lot in a year. Not only did I code my own website builder, but I also helped Ben Johnson with beta testing and helping fix some issues on his awesome Niche Site Platform software and made a ton of miscellaneous scripts to help me with my Amazon sales, SEO info (such as indexing, links, etc).

2010 gave birth to some awesome ideas that are still in planning and development. I started NameMorgue which was/is going to be a site to find great expiring domains from GoDaddy auctions. I also teamed up with long-time friend Rich Syndram to finally start a project that has been in our heads since we started building BANS sites together, called SimpleNicheBuilder. This project is still being coded but will make 2011 a great year for us.

Web Design

Last year was a big success for me and my web designing. The owner of my 9-5 job has a side business of his own, providing IT services to mid-size businesses. His workload for this side business has gotten pretty big so he has offered me and some co-workers opportunities to help out and earn some extra cash. Some of the businesses he does work for ask him about websites. He used to turn them to some other local web design company but since he found out I did internet stuff he asked if I would be interested in taking some web design work from him. And from there the ball started rolling.

I have done work for him on a few sites. One is Regier Carr & Monroe, a local (and not so local) accounting firm. RCM has offices in Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona. This project has not just been the site design  but also keeping up with all the little changes that occur throughout the year such as tax codes, employee directory updates, etc.

Another site that I did last year was Oil Capital Electric. They liked the design and so this year I ported it over to their other company OCE Mechanical.

I was also retained to make updates to FoundersTower.com, which is a high-rise condo building in Oklahoma City.

Wiring

2010 was also the year of wiring. It seemed like the work was never ending. Running a ton of Cat5, CCTV and Coax for a local church. I learned a lot about the physical parts of networks, phones and security camera installations. Installing and setting up PTZ cameras were pretty exciting and can’t wait to install some at my house.

Networking

I didn’t do that much networking in 2010, but I think the little that I did will pay off in the near future. I hope to have more time for networking after SNB gets released.

Personal Things

Let’s see…where to start, lol. After me and Melinda’s plans to get married around xmas of 2009 were wiped out from the Tulsa Blizzard we finally got hitched in Vegas in December of 2010. Vegas was a blast, we can’t wait to go back. We also are expecting a little girl towards the end of April. We are pretty excited about that.

Enough rambling, I need to get back to working on SimpleNicheBuilder!