Mark Makowski
Lead Game Developer
Full Stack Web Developer
Professionally, I specialize in Game and Full Stack Web Development, particularly frontend development, with a focus on user interaction and system analysis. My expertise includes front and backend web development, game development, Android and iOS app development, and later implementation, and deployment with a focus in developing intuitive, responsive, and user-oriented interfaces and interactions.
In the classroom, I prioritize an empathetic, informative, and student-focused environment that promotes learning applicable in future professional settings. I strive to promote these values in professional and business settings beyond education, believing that teams who foster teamwork, empathy, and effective communication are more likely to succeed.
Beyond technical development, I excel in technological project management and business communication. My roles often bridge the gap between technical teams and business professionals, ensuring projects align with strategic objectives and are efficiently delivered while promoting continuous communication and agile decision-making between stakeholders, developers, and business teams to expand business planning, anticipate challenges, and improve overall decision-making.
Education
Master’s of Business Administration
December 2020 – Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
- Actively managed ~130 websites concurrently consisting of local businesses, non-profit organizations, and student portfolios
- Assisted and taught Management Information Systems (MIS) as a Graduate Teaching assistant and full stack web developer to ensure effortless web development for the students of Penn State while earning my Masters of Business Administration.
- Developed skills in corporate communications, personal management, supply chain management, effective speech, negotiations, stocks, academic writing (historical, peer-reviewed, and scholarly), public speaking, university-level teaching, curriculum planning, student advisory, and support.
Digital Media, Arts, Technology
Bachelor of Humanities
December 2018 – Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
- Interned at Partnership-Erie while concurrently completing an IT-related degree and achieving Dean’s List.
- Senior Projects: developed a LAMP stack Flask web application to automate watermarking users’ photographs, designed and created a social network web application for local nonprofit organizations, and historically researched and composed an academic-level dissertation on artificial intelligence.
- Triangle Fraternity Alumni: An organization of scientists and engineers that value development and the highest standards of personal integrity and character.
College in High School
June 2014 – Burrell High School – Lower Burrell, PA
University level Intro to Visual Basic Programming and Web Design given by the University of Pittsburgh taught at Burrell High School (Lower Burrell, PA). Learned the basics of graphic design, website design, Adobe products, Photoshop Elements, and Visual Basic programming.
Projects & Organizations
Lead Game Developer
Plunderverse / Untitled Unreal Project
Solo Project ~ April 2023 – Present
- Solo Developer on a procedurally-generated first person action exploration Rogue-lite pirate-themed video game using Unreal Engine 5, Blender, Quixel Mixer / Fab, Steam integration, Blender Mesh Creation, DLSS, ray-tracing and more.
- Developed extensive knowledge and experience in a professional game development environment to exceed creative expectations, understand project feasibility, achieve deadlines, complete tasks, and develop a deeper understanding of Unreal Engine and game-development workflows in every discipline of the industry.
- Self-taught and implemented various Unreal Engine and Blender technologies while effectively completing and quantifying game development tasks with Kaban boards, continuous documentation, SCRUM, and community feedback.
Whitethorn Games
Staff Engineer for Contracting Team
2021-2022
“An independent game publisher specializing in delightful, casual games designed for bite-sized enjoyment, accessible to everyone regardless of skill level or expertise. Committed to inclusivity and expanding the gaming audience, we champion easy-going gameplay experiences. Our games provide gentle challenges, respecting players’ time, ensuring accessibility, and prioritizing enjoyment without stressful mechanics” – Whitethorn Games
See FieldOrderZ for Additional Project Information
FieldOrderZ
See Whitethorn Games
“Field Orderz facilitates on-site drawing, ordering, and direct communication, empowering your team with efficient project management capabilities. Easily create detailed MEP + S sketches with a simple touch interface. Modify material specifications using intuitive controls. Customize and save specialized services tailored to your project requirements. Streamline the process of ordering materials and tools, and conveniently submit orders for purchasing.” – FieldOrderZ
- Developed and published a commercial 3D construction application in Unity to promote a new industry standard of effortless project planning, management, and estimates with the use of 3D modeling and sketching solutions in a 3D environment
- Gained hands-on experience in professional-level video game development and publishing, C#, Unity programming and certifications, code maintenance, version control, and business communication with a diverse, remote-based team
- Managed programming tasks and self-taught training to ensure deadlines are met in timely and effective manner
- Created interactive environments and user interfaces in Unity and C# to provide more accessible solutions to all users
Apple App Store
Partnership Erie
2016-2022
Established in 2001 as an outreach initiative of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, Partnership Erie offers Pennsylvania nonprofits free web planning, development, hosting, and maintenance services. Through these partnerships, Penn State Erie engages with the community, identifies nonprofit web needs, and provides students with practical web development experience.
See Kuhn Copper Solutions, Southern Atlantic Law Group, Nonprofit Blueprint Project for Additional Project Information
- Actively managed ~130 websites concurrently consisting of local businesses, non-profit organizations, and student portfolios
- Acted as a Graduate Assistant for PartnershipErie at Penn State Behrend while completing a Master’s of Business Administration
- Designed and construct adaptive and responsive web applications utilizing a LAMP stack programming environment
- Advanced the web influence of local nonprofit organizations while creating fluid and responsive websites, designs, and front and back-end web-based enterprise solutions to suit the organization’s needs
- Managed and trained undergraduate interns in the process of professional, project management, and enterprise web design and development while gaining hands-on communication, art, and programming experience
- Researched, developed, and tested PHP Social Engine Content Management System (CMS) web applications and plugins to promote user donations and provide financial planning value to users
Troutwood
2021-2022
Worked for a dynamic company dedicated to creating financial literacy apps for the younger generation, we embraced diversity and operated on an international scale. Collaborating with a globally diverse team, we innovated inclusive solutions that transcended cultural boundaries, ensuring our apps empowered youth worldwide with essential financial knowledge for a brighter future
See “The Troutwood App” and “Buy, Sell Hold” for Additional Project Information
- Designed, developed, researched, and tested a Django RESTful API to interact and perform CRUD operations with an React Native EXPO frontend or Apple iOS/Android app, utilizing Amazon Web Services S3 (AWS Amplify) for storage, and deployed via Heroku
- Developed a React Native EXPO iOS financial planning multiplayer game using python Channel’s WebSockets and Google Cloud / Firebase API
- Created a mobile financial analysis classification platform to promote user-friendly financial wellness and decision-making
- Assisted in publishing two React Native-based mobile financial education applications to the iOS App Store (See Troutwood App and Buy, Sell, Hold)
The Troutwood App
As a part of Troutwood
Experienced in both front and backend development, with a specialization in Django and proficient database management, leveraging SCRUM methodologies, successfully overseen the development and release of an innovative financial literacy app on the App Store, empowering a younger audience with essential money management skills.
Buy, Sell, Hold
As a part of Troutwood
Proficient in React Native and EXPO CLI, we developed and launched an engaging stock trading app/game on the App Store. Leveraging Django for robust backend support, we crafted a seamless user experience aimed at promoting effective stock trading and management strategies, empowering users with financial knowledge in an interactive and accessible format
Apple App Store
Adjunct Professor of MIS
Researched, constructed, and instructed a university senior-level Python curriculum on Data Analytics, Data Structures, and Big Data.
- Developed a senior-level, collegiate Python Data analytics course, including course syllabi, readings, assignments, and lesson plans of the fundamentals of data analytics and machine learning in Python to establish a baseline of data analytics programming, integration, and Big Data literacy at Penn State Behrend
- Facilitated engaging classroom discussions and practical Python programming exercises while providing constructive feedback and guidance to promote a learning environment of positivity and academic growth and development
- Created and concurrently taught Python data visualization using common data analytics libraries such as Pandas, Numpy, MatPlotLib, PyPlot, Apache Hadoop and Spark
- Provide a human-focused approach to teaching, providing individualized student support and compassion where humanity and morals can often be misguided in a senior-level university focused environment.
Southern Atlantic Law Group
As a part of Partnership Erie
Briefly managed, migrated, and administrated a webspace for a law firm in Florida. Essential upgrades were completed to client specifications in a timely manner to ensure proper marketing and web presence of a small business and then control was promptly given and currently used by the client.
Nonprofit Blueprint Project
As a part of Partnership Erie
Created, designed, developed, and engineered a social media platform and solution for a local non-profit organization with the purpose of bridging the communication divide between non-profit organizations and their respective donors.
Technology was researched and developer to run custom and arbitrary HTML, CSS, and JS code from within a Social Engine Zend & PHP based content management system (CMS), which was later further developed upon to explore the technology and achieve customer needs.
- Managed and trained undergraduate interns in the process of professional, project management, and enterprise web design and development while gaining hands-on communication, art, and programming experience
- Researched, developed, and tested PHP Social Engine Content Management System (CMS) web applications and plugins to promote user donations and provide financial planning value to users
Project Not Publicly Released – Discontinued
Kuhn Copper Solutions
As a part of Partnership Erie
An eCommerce Website achieving >$150,000 in the first year of operation
Kuhn Copper Solutions, a privately owned LLC registered in Florida on March 10, 2017, boasts a Board comprised of professionals specializing in medical research, microbiology, marketing, medicine, and law.
- Developed an eCommerce platform to promote and sell medical products during the COVID pandemic, resulting in more than $150,000 in revenue from online sales in our first year of business
- Maintain existing web presences of small business and non-profit organizations to ensure businesses can achieve a larger reach by utilizing online resources and optimizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Communicate with clients for easy integration of new technologies in their existing workflows, that client needs are being met, and all completed within a timely manner
Behrend History Project
Working directly with Penn State Behrend’s Library and Behrend’s School of Humanities, I digitalized and libraried various Penn State, Erie, and Behrend historical artifacts, documents, and photographs.
Documenting and recording required absolute precision, gloves, and care as many artifacts were very old. Many are often related to the founding and construction of Erie and Penn State Behrend, decades prior.
Documents, photographs, and artifacts were digitalized using a professional-grade scanner to ensure large scale capture and digitalization without damage to the original artifact.
Scans were then indexed and an XML schema and page was created to properly display and describe these historical artifacts. This provides additional information and context for each document with the added benefit of improved and information-based search indexing and providing historical artifacts to the greater public.
Geek Squad
Provided expert technical support, resolving a myriad of computer and electronics issues with personalized assistance. Ensured seamless functionality of devices and systems for individuals and businesses through troubleshooting and repair services.
- Received 3 promotions over course of career due to a combination of a strong customer service skillset and computer aptitude that was developed as a high school student and progressed into an understanding of greater, comprehensive electronics
- Ability to fully understand and market technical plans of customers’ needs to achieve and surpass daily quotas
- Achieved daily goals of effectively using time, demonstrate value over cost, and connect with the public as an effective sales and repair strategy
- Serviced multiple sectors of the Best Buy Stores, and exceled greatly in quick and quality service
Achievements & Associations
Eagle Scout
- Orchestrated strong leadership, organization, and efficiency skills through leading a team and obtaining required materials to revitalize a community park in a 900+ total hours service project
- Part of the 160,000+ member National Eagle Scout Organization focusing on providing networking, connections, personal improvement, and growth Eagle Scouts
- Completed 21 required merit badges pertaining to: First Aid, Citizenship, Communication, Cooking, Lifesaving, and more
Adjunct Faculty of The Year
Achieved and awarded Penn State Behrend’s Black School of Business Adjunct Faculty of the Year in 2023
Triangle Fraternity Alumni
An organization of scientists and engineers that value development and the highest standards of personal integrity and character
Penn State Alumni Association
An organization of Penn State Alumni, focused on improving the experience and opportunities of Penn State graduates through community communication, connecting with industry established Penn State graduates, and general support for improving one’s life, career, and connections after Penn State.
Additional Projects & Hobbies
Helping Listeners Find Their Artists
Some more things I do in my free time:
- 3D Design & Printing – I love to tinker and make things. 3D printing has been a huge opportunity to explore my interest in product design and prototyping, with the added benefit of being pretty cool and helpful around the house with the ability of making parts and decorations. This has expanded into experience with Blender, Fusion 360, building Prusa and Voron printers, compiling Klipper and Marlin, and various printer modifications and improvements.
- Electronic Music Production – Since primary school, I’ve played an instrument and graduating high school comfortably playing ~8 instruments. Since then, I’ve left the brass family and explore electronic music production and synthesizers. I specialize in looping house-style EDM with vocal tracks about random things. I do this for fun and I really enjoy acting like a fool, being a kid again, and making some dumb music for a little bit.
- Computer & Server Management – I’ve had a huge interest in computers ever since I was young, playing Freddy the Fish and Putt-Putt and moving to Xbox modding, Elder Scrolls Modding, and eventually building computers and programming. Currently, I manage a cluster of locally dedicated-hosted gaming servers and applications for my friends and I to use, with exploration into network attached storage (NAS) and bare-bones server application and integration.
