Jeff Clayton
@jeffclayton
Senior Software Engineer and Director of IT specializing in PHP/MySQL web applications and systems.
What I'm looking for
I am a senior software engineer and Director of IT with over twenty-five years of hands-on experience building web applications, administering networks, and leading R&D for education and health-focused products.
I architect and maintain LAMP/WAMP server environments, migrate and upgrade PHP/MySQL stacks, and manage high-volume email and licensing systems that recovered substantial revenue for my employer.
I lead small in-house and distributed contractor teams, provide technical support to educational customers, and convert legacy Flash applications to modern HTML5 standards while leveraging Adobe Creative Cloud tools for multimedia needs.
I bring a practical, security-minded approach to system administration and software design, with a long history of client-facing work, on-site support, and volunteer/community involvement that underscores my commitment to reliable delivery and user-focused solutions.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
CEO & Systems Administrator
Mental Matrix, LLC.
Sep 2002 - Present (23 years 4 months)
Founded and operated a web hosting and development firm providing LAMP-based solutions, RedHat server administration, and multimedia production for clients in real estate, health, and education.
Director of IT
Failure Free Reading
Aug 2011 - Nov 2025 (14 years 3 months)
Headed IT/R&D and led engineering efforts to modernize and maintain the company's education platform, migrated PHP5/MySQL5 to PHP7.4/MySQL8, and implemented license-tracking that recovered substantial recurring revenue.
Programmer / Developer
Near-Time
Nov 2006 - Jan 2007 (2 months)
Developed JavaScript components and Ruby on Rails integrations, including TinyMCE plug-ins and debugging of live business modeling software.
Digital Filmmaker
United States Pentagon
Jun 2006 - Jun 2006 (0 months)
Filmed interior video and still photography under security clearance for official Pentagon events and produced documentary media for senior officials and performers.
Software Engineer
House.com
May 2006 - Jun 2006 (1 month)
Built multipart PHP/MySQL applications integrating NNTP feeds, Flash Remoting, and VB .NET components, including a multiuser online poker game and AP news feed processing.
Solutions Manager
People Designs, Inc.
Sep 2004 - Apr 2006 (1 year 7 months)
Managed web and server solutions for public health and education clients, administered RedHat servers and delivered secure PHP/MySQL applications for organizations including NC DOJ and Georgetown University.
Software Engineer
FreeChickenWings.com
Jan 2003 - May 2005 (2 years 4 months)
Designed and implemented a regional business events search engine, resulting in national coverage and improved local business discovery.
Internet Software Engineer
Mindbender Studios, Inc.
Jul 2002 - May 2005 (2 years 10 months)
Contracted to develop ASP, PHP, and Flash/ActionScript applications for clients in medical and academic sectors, delivering recurring project work and site development.
Security Applications Engineer
Leonard Francis Grundy Foundation
Jul 2003 - Sep 2003 (2 months)
Developed security utilities in Visual Basic 6 for modem control and port blocking, tested by NC Department of Justice contacts.
Web Software Analyst
Instructional Systems and Web Design Associates
Jul 2001 - Jun 2002 (11 months)
Administered Windows 2000/SQL and MySQL servers and developed web applications using PHP, ASP, JSP, and Flash while providing PC training and support for educational clients.
Senior Software Developer
Intranet Communication Systems
Aug 2000 - Jul 2001 (11 months)
Delivered large-scale front- and back-end web applications using ASP/.NET, C#, PHP, and SQL, and implemented web security modules including RSA-based encryption.
Senior Software Engineer
BCJ Systems
May 2000 - Aug 2000 (3 months)
Developed corporate web applications with ASP and SQL, redesigned IBidCars platform, and managed intranet LAN and VPN services using BackOffice Server.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Chatham County Community College
Database
2009 - 2009
Completed a database refresher course at Chatham County Community College in 2009.
Chatham County Community College
Small Business
2004 - 2004
Completed Small Business Training at Chatham County Community College in 2004.
Edgecombe Community College
Web Design / Instruction
2002 - 2002
Completed a college instructor program in web design at Edgecombe Community College in 2002.
Appalachian State University
Computer Science / Information Systems
1989 - 1994
Studied Computer Science and Information Systems at Appalachian State University from 1989 to 1994.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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