Gerry's professional background
The majority of Gerry's professional experience is in computer-software development. From 1984 through 2008, Gerry worked as a software technical writer, developing online Help and product documentation. In 1994, Gerry began writing documentation for web-collaboration software (called at various times AltaVista Forum, SiteScape Forum, and Novell Teaming), and he has been writing for the web ever since. During his time with the Forum/Teaming product, Gerry was introduced to user-interface design principles, usability testing, coding for accessibility standards, and web programming (JavaScript).
In 2006, Gerry moved beyond software technical writing, and began designing and maintaining his own web site. It was through this exercise that Gerry first began working with search optimization. Finally, in the fall of 2008, after watching his friends struggle with web designers, Gerry decided that he could provide the same quality web sites, but in a more pleasant-yet-professional manner, and Pleasant Web Design was born.
Gerry decided in the early nineties that, professionally, he needed a yin to his yang. So, in 1997, he received his Masters degree in clinical social work (counseling). After earning his LICSW license in 2002, Gerry opened a private practice as a Life Coach, helping people to get unstuck emotionally, so they can more easily reach their personal, career, and relationship goals. Click here to read more about Gerry's Life Coaching private practice.
In his callow youth, Gerry earned a B.A. degree in English Literature, with a minor in Computer Science, from Boston University. Click here to read Gerry's resume (in a PDF formatted file).