James (JD) Hendrickson

Caribou Financial

Member of the customer acquisitions team focused on top-of-funnel customer journeys — reducing friction for customers arriving from both organic and partner lead sources — while also leading AI tooling initiatives across the organization.

• Implemented CCPA and GLBA compliance features across the platform
• Designed and built MCP tools and voice AI prompts for an AI-driven loan application system
• Designed and implemented a RAG-based vehicle lookup tool, including a custom Rails gem for Gemini AI integration and prompt engineering
• Introduced improved Rails monolith architecture patterns to increase maintainability and clarity
• Refactored third-party API calls to improve performance and reliability
• Collaborated cross-team on an AI orchestration system, contributing MCP tool design, strategy, and customer interaction surfacing

• Implemented CCPA and GLBA compliance features across the platform
• Designed and built MCP tools and a RAG-based vehicle lookup tool for an AI-driven loan application system, including a custom Rails gem for Gemini AI integration
• Introduced improved Rails monolith architecture patterns and refactored third-party API calls for improved maintainability and performance
• Collaborated cross-team on an AI orchestration system, contributing MCP tool design, strategy, and customer interaction surfacing

Man Crates / Modern Gourmet Foods

Part of the principal engineering team maintaining a proprietary e-commerce platform built with Ruby on Rails.

• Defined best-practices and code standards through code reviews and developer documentation
• Helped break out ERP integration code to a modular monolith architecture, creating clear delineations in roles and responsibilities within the application
• Implemented multiple 3rd party API integrations
• Replaced a homegrown JavaScript personalization layer with Hotwire (Turbo + Stimulus)

Project highlight — Odoo WMS Upgrade

• Led a small team in an upgrade of the warehouse management system (Odoo v11 → v15), learning Python to refactor custom modules
• Deployed Odoo to AWS ECS as a containerized Docker application, provisioned via CloudFormation IaC
• Significantly optimized slow API call performance to improve user experience during peak load times

Acquisition Integration — Modern Gourmet Foods

• Led IT integration initiatives following the acquisition of Man Crates by Modern Gourmet Foods
• Drove Microsoft 365 governance, asset management, cybersecurity leadership, and vendor reorganization

• Defined best-practices and code standards; helped break out ERP integration code to a modular monolith architecture
• Replaced a homegrown JavaScript personalization layer with Hotwire (Turbo + Stimulus)
• Led an Odoo WMS upgrade (v11 → v15) — refactored Python modules, deployed to AWS ECS via CloudFormation, and optimized API performance under peak load
• Led IT integration following acquisition by Modern Gourmet Foods: Microsoft 365 governance, cybersecurity, and vendor reorganization

Invesco

Following Invesco's acquisition of OppenheimerFunds, a client portal our team had built was slated to be shelved in favor of Invesco's existing platform. After ~$1.2B in AUM losses driven by client dissatisfaction, the project was resurrected, successfully shipped, and helped stem further client attrition.

OppenheimerFunds

Member of a small team maintaining and enhancing the custom CMS powering the OppenheimerFunds website, recognized with the 2018 DALBAR Web Communications Seal. Promoted from Senior Solution Engineer in 2018.

• Designed and implemented an expandable shortcode system, enabling content curators to inject complex UI components directly into page content
• Designed and implemented a block-based layout system that allowed content curators to compose pages from sections with varied layout formats — essentially Gutenberg before Gutenberg existed
• Increased test coverage from 12% to ~55% in 3 months, establishing standards that improved overall test quality and reliability
• Partnered with marketing and product owners to ensure the CMS could support evolving site needs with minimal engineering effort

Project Highlight — Factor Derby

• Built the mid-tier backend for Factor Derby, an OppenheimerFunds educational campaign that let financial advisors compete by allocating hypothetical portfolios across five investment factors (momentum, volatility, size, value, quality) — themed around the Kentucky Derby with animated racing horses representing each factor, a $25,000 charity prize for the winner, and a $5 donation to Boys & Girls Club of America per registration

• Designed shortcode and block-based layout systems enabling content curators to inject complex UI components and compose pages from varied layout sections
• Increased test coverage from 12% to ~55% in 3 months, establishing standards that improved overall quality and reliability
• Recognized with the 2018 DALBAR Web Communications Seal; promoted from Senior to Lead Solution Engineer in 2018

Digital Opera, LLC

Partner and principal software engineer, co-founding Digital Opera in 2011 by merging with a complementary firm. Responsible for full-stack architecture, database design, and delivery across a portfolio of custom Rails applications.

• Rescued multiple failed .NET projects with Rails rewrites, most notably an online insurance marketplace requiring a modular architecture to support an expanding roster of providers, each with unique APIs and data practices
• Designed and built a custom shirt design platform for Lakeshirts ($50M/yr), empowering their sales force to design with clients in the field — including a custom JS UI framework (pre-React/Angular) with true color accuracy across screen printing, sublimation, and embroidery
• Designed and built an online continuing education and membership platform for CBRPA (still in production), supporting online payments, employer membership validation, and reporting
• Contracted with OppenheimerFunds to help build the framework for their ultra-high-net-worth client site — implementing unconventional Rails patterns allowing a single codebase to power 5 uniquely branded experiences

Project Highlight — Raceday

• Primary engineer since the platform's original inception as YaRacer in 2010, co-founding Digital Opera in part around the project; have managed development across every major version with v5.0 currently in progress

• Rescued multiple failed .NET projects with Rails rewrites, including a modular insurance marketplace supporting an expanding roster of providers with unique APIs
• Built a custom shirt design platform for Lakeshirts ($50M/yr) — custom JS UI framework (pre-React) with true color accuracy across screen printing, sublimation, and embroidery
• Contracted with OppenheimerFunds to build a single-codebase multi-brand fintech platform; built the CBRPA continuing ed and membership platform (still in production)

AvenueRight, LLC

Joined AvenueRight on the ground floor as Director of IT, recruited by the founder following his departure from Vtrenz. Initially responsible for infrastructure, networking, and back-office systems for the SaaS platform and internal operations, before transitioning into engineering leadership.

• Recruited by the CEO/founder to build out the full IT infrastructure for a media-buying SaaS platform from the ground up
• Transitioned from Director of IT into engineering leadership, taking over a team of 5–6 developers to continue building the core product
• Petitioned for and led a full platform rewrite in Ruby on Rails with a two-person team, refocusing the product around media buy RFP negotiation
• Built Salesforce integrations and SQL Server DTS routines to import and analyze large third-party datasets
• Conducted customer discovery interviews to understand media buying workflows and inform product direction
• Led sprint planning and Agile ceremonies

• Recruited as Director of IT to build full infrastructure from scratch, then transitioned into engineering leadership over a team of 5–6 developers
• Led a full Rails platform rewrite focused on media buy RFP negotiation; built Salesforce integrations and led Agile ceremonies

Vtrenz

Led a small team in building out the server and network infrastructure to support a rapidly growing behavioral marketing SaaS platform — scaling from a single leased server to a fully redundant, multi-rack enterprise system.

• Designed and implemented a fully redundant infrastructure including Cisco firewalls, enterprise Layer 3 switching, HP/Dell server systems, and RAID storage arrays to meet growing database demands
• Built an internal NOC to remotely monitor and manage all systems from the Fargo office
• Managed all vendor relationships, negotiated datacenter rates and contracts, performed capacity planning, and oversaw equipment procurement
• Responsible for Windows domain management, security hardening, and ongoing patching
• Managed internal office networking, VPN connectivity to the datacenter, and desktop support

Following Vtrenz's acquisition by Silverpop — driven in part by the behavioral marketing platform built during my time as Senior Software Engineer — I departed ahead of the eventual closure of the Fargo office in 2008. Silverpop was later acquired by IBM.

• Scaled infrastructure from a single leased server to a fully redundant multi-rack enterprise system (Cisco firewalls, Layer 3 switching, HP/Dell, RAID)
• Built internal NOC; managed all vendor relationships, datacenter contracts, and capacity planning

Vtrenz

Joined as the second software engineer on a small team building Vtrenz's email marketing platform on ColdFusion. Introduced stored procedures as a secure alternative to ad-hoc SQL, refactored the existing codebase to use query-optimized procedures, and introduced Fusebox — an early MVC framework for ColdFusion — to bring structure to the application.

• Co-designed and built iMark 5, the Vtrenz flagship product and one of the first behavioral marketing automation platforms of its kind — the technology that ultimately drove the company's acquisition by Silverpop and Silverpop's subsequent acquisition by IBM
• Designed a multi-track campaign engine allowing marketers to route contacts between drip campaigns based on rich behavioral signals — email opens, link clicks, website visits, visit frequency — using a plain-English rule system accessible to non-technical users
• Built embedded JavaScript tracking widgets to capture customer behavior across web properties, providing a behavioral data layer that competitors couldn't match at the time
• Named co-inventor on US patent application US20080033811 — Multitrack, behavior-based marketing system — filed August 2006

• Co-designed iMark 5, one of the first behavioral marketing automation platforms — the technology that drove Vtrenz's acquisition by Silverpop and Silverpop's subsequent acquisition by IBM
• Named co-inventor on US patent US20080033811 — Multitrack, behavior-based marketing system — filed August 2006

Implex.net

Joined as Web Master for KSTP-TV (ABC Minneapolis), working on a ColdFusion platform. Helped push Implex toward more robust application hosting — the first to stand up a SQL Server 7 database, replacing Access as the data layer for client applications.

• Developed features for KSTP-TV's website including a custom Java helpdesk application and integration of live Doppler radar data
• Co-built Qwikcast, an early live streaming platform built on RealPlayer codecs — supporting live broadcasts with real-time slide push, integrated polling, and Q&A features; used by major Minneapolis-area organizations for corporate events and broadcasts
• Built continuing education systems for WestLaw and a variety of e-commerce and marketing applications for clients across the Minneapolis area

• Co-built Qwikcast, an early live streaming platform with real-time slide push, polling, and Q&A; used by major Minneapolis-area organizations for corporate events and broadcasts
• Developed for KSTP-TV and built continuing education, e-commerce, and marketing applications for WestLaw and Minneapolis-area clients

Randomworx

Early web development work spanning a range of platforms and clients — including a FileMaker Pro-backed intramural sports web application for the University of Minnesota, a full front-end for an Oracle-backed online classical music store, and a Java-based CD-ROM learning application for a seminary college.

I even had some time helping program Authorware for Godzilla DVD releases.

Early web development — FileMaker-backed intramural sports app (University of Minnesota), Oracle-backed online classical music store, Java CD-ROM learning app, and Authorware programming for Godzilla DVD releases.