SYV Web Designs

Who Am I?

Mike — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

That’s me, Mike Peterson, with my wife Carol. This page features five of my recent website creations. The end of each post has a link to the featured website. Look around, explore my website, and if you like my work, maybe we can do business together.

I retired from the United Stated Air Force in 1988 and from Lockheed Martin in 2009. Carol volunteered me to create a website for PAWS Parks and soon after that, the Vikings of Solvang asked me to become their webmaster.

During my working years I learned database analysis, system administration, networking and software programming. It wasn’t long before I was comfortable with the tools necessary to create websites and a new career was launched.

Viking Charities, Inc.

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:02:37 +0000

After joining the Vikings of Solvang, I was asked to become their webmaster. Many months later, I launched their ‘new and improved’ website. The Vikings are a non-profit social and philanthropic organization that provides help for medically related needs.

Hand-coded in HTML and CSS, I ventured into XML files and PHP. I am now using SQL. Prior to using SQL, I was maintaining an Excel spreadsheet, an XML file and a member look-up table. With almost 200 members, there had to be a better way to get their personal information to display on the website.

With SQL, I am able to read the member records directly from the database. No more spreadsheets, XML files and lookup tables to keep up-to-date and in sync with the database.

Visit the Website

The Valley Gardener

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:58:24 +0000

This website is one of my earlier creations and it just received a facelift. I don’t remember if I met Alan through PAWS Park, the Buellton Chamber of Commerce or the Vikings of Solvang but our paths have crossed. I was glad when he asked me to create a website for his business.

This website was hand-coded using HTML and CSS. I used a template I stumbled across that allowed header, footer, fixed-width left and right sidebars and a floating content area. I think I’ll surprise him by converting his website over to WordPress. A theme that displays photos of some of his landscapes would be a nice touch!

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PAWS Parks of Santa Ynez Valley

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:51:20 +0000

I was ‘volunteered’ to create a website for PAWS Parks and I’m now serving on their board of directors. The original hand-coded site has been upgraded to take advantage of WordPress. Many thanks to John DeUlloa at Registar dot com.

John took time out of his busy schedule to ‘walk me through’ all the reasons why professional web developers are using WordPress. Next he opened my eyes by showing me StudioPress dot com and the advantage of using themes. Finally, he showed me PromoteOne dot com with tutorials for getting started with WordPress.

I jumped on the WordPress bandwagon just before Thanksgiving and began converting my hand-coded website into a WordPress theme. I had never worked with WordPress before but by Monday, I was showing the PAWS Park website to the board members!

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The JR Baker Group

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:31:12 +0000

Joel was asked by a colleague for the address to his website. At the time, he didn’t have one. After discussing his dilemma with me, we came up with this professional, business oriented website – no frills, widgets or gadgets to distract his visitors.

A fellow Viking, I looked forward to creating this website for Joel. I based the design on Nathan Smith’s 960.gs which allowed the website to be put together in a relatively short period of time.

The list on the right sidebar comes from an XML file which is read and displayed using PHP.

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Birkholm’s Orthopedic Services

Mike — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:19:02 +0000

I was excited to design this website for a fellow Viking. Hans was my first customer and I hoped it would open the door for many website designs in the future. This website was recently given a WordPress facelift!

The original website was hand-coded, but is now based on the Genesis framework/Enterprise Theme.

Visit the Website