Internet Business Owner
Sturgis, Michigan, USA
Professional Websites:
www.heydayvdesign.com
www.eichernaturalbeef.com
www.youare1st.com
CIW Associate
CIW Professional
Master CIW Designer
David became a Master CIW Designer because he wanted to take his passion for design to the Internet. "I wanted to be competitive in the field of professional Web site design. Pursuing CIW certification gave me industry-recognized knowledge, skills and credibility to do that."
Certification set the stage for a Master CIW Designer to become an Internet business owner
For David, combining his design skills with technological innovations in Web development seemed like working with the best of both worlds - and a great way to make a living. One of David's supervisors encouraged him to pursue his dream and get the training he needed in order to be successful. The specific skills David sought to gain or refine included HTML coding, e-commerce development, and Web site and graphics design using Adobe Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator and GoLive.
David got CIW training from New Horizons Computer Learning Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Taking some 15 classes, he found the most valuable topics for his professional development to be Internet fundamentals, e-commerce, and HTML editors. "I'm always using the fundamental [skills and tools] to design Web sites, and I selected my HTML editor based on my class experience," he said. "The CIW core classes were extremely useful for my current line of work."
Certification played a part in David being hired by a design company where part of his job description was Web design. Two years after receiving his CIW certifications, David started his own part-time Web design business, Heydayv Design, which he expanded to full-time in 2007. David sees the establishment of his own Internet business as his greatest professional accomplishment to date, and he credits his CIW training and certification for helping him.
Looking to the future, David is planning for longevity as a small-business owner and operator. He wants to keep up with technologies and tools while developing his business so that he can give time to his family and be a resource to others. "It's important to stay current with emerging technologies and methods," he said. "I plan to study business and continue with more graphic design and design technology."
CIW provided David with the skills needed to become a competitive Web designer and set the stage for his long-term professional development. "Certification gets you pointed in the right direction, providing the experience, tools and confidence to go after your goals," he said.
