Meet Hannah: Junior Web Developer

It’s fall here in Chambersburg and changes are on the horizon! We are continuing to onboard new members to our team as the span of our projects continue to grow.

We are delighted to welcome Hannah Moats to our team as Junior Web Developer! Fresh out of college with the world at her feet, Hannah has decided to begin her career here at Cross & Crown and we are so thankful. Please join us in getting to know a little more about her.

1. Tell us about your journey to becoming a full-time member of the Cross & Crown team. How did you first get interested in web development, and what led you to choose this career path after your graduation from Shippensburg University?

I have been interested in web development since I was enrolled in the Marketing and Web Design program at FCCTC in highschool. In class I would focus on delving deeper into the programming and coding aspect of websites. This eventually led me to pursue Computer Science as my degree at Shippensburg University.

I knew the curriculum would not be focused on web development, but I believed it would allow me to pursue many options after graduation, including web development if I wanted to. The thing with computer science is that it is an ever evolving field that is very broad, so you always need to be learning something new which I am not opposed to.

I can not quite remember how all the events played out, but I was approached by Tyler sometime last year about becoming an intern at Cross & Crown. The goal was to begin adding content to WordPress sites and eventually move into development.

Since then, plans continued to change, but throughout it all I continued to use my knowledge gained in school to teach myself web development, with a focus on WordPress development. Naturally, I still have much to learn, but I am eager to see what I can bring to the table and the challenges I can face and overcome while working here.

2. What do you enjoy most about working in web development? Are there any specific projects or aspects of your work that you find particularly exciting or fulfilling?

Working on websites is currently one of my favorite things to do, specifically bringing a design to life. However, because of who I am, I have a wide variety of interests and even personal projects that I hope to get to one day.

3. What’s one fun or interesting fact about yourself that your colleagues might not know? It could be a hidden talent, a favorite pastime, a quirky hobby, or a way to relax and recharge.

I do love to read, and I have been doing it a lot lately. I specifically enjoy fantasy books. It is fun to escape from the regular world, but be able to come back to my own life at any moment.

4. If you could travel to any destination in the world, where would it be, and why? Are there any travel experiences that have left a lasting impact on you?

Even though I do not get to it often, hiking (or doing anything outdoors) is one of my favorite things to do locally. So it would be cool to visit one of the National Parks out west, specifically one with lots of green, beautiful mountains, and lakes. My family went to Watkins Glen State Park one year and I thought that was very cool.

5. We’re all about personal and professional growth at Cross & Crown. Is there a book, podcast, or TED Talk that you’ve found particularly inspiring or influential in your life or career? What did you take away from it?

Despite reading so many books, I do not read many self help books. I do enjoy watching a TED Talk every now and then, but it has been a while and none come to mind. If I live by any code, it is just remembering to be myself, to be kind and think of others, and to live my faith.

6. Everyone has their favorite spot in town for a good meal or drink. What’s your favorite local restaurant or café, and what’s your go-to order there?

I have been craving The Falafel Shack recently. I like to get the Chicken Shawarma platter and the Pita bread with their humus. It is something different, and is not something I would be easily able to make at home.

My favorite ice cream place is Windy Knoll. They have the best Peanut Butter and Raspberry Extreme flavored ice cream.

7. Lastly, can you share with us a bit about your future aspirations? Whether it’s personal or professional, do you have any big goals or dreams that you’re working towards in the coming years?

Personally, I am working towards comfortably living on my own and supporting myself. One of these days, I hope to get married and have a family, but who knows when that will be. Professionally, I am working towards a career that will support that lifestyle and be something I enjoy doing.

No matter what happens, I keep reminding myself to never wish away the moment, or get too caught up in what I am doing and forget about spending time with those around me, because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

We are so thankful to have Hannah as part of our Web Development Team. We know her expertise will be a great help to our team and beneficial to our clients. We look forward to seeing her thrive in her new role at Cross & Crown.