Skip to main content

A little about me

My name is John Highland, but most people call me “Boots” - long story. I’m a web developer, musician, husband, and father of two awesome boys, currently living in the Seattle area. I was born in Cincinnati, OH, but my family moved to Dallas, TX, when I was two. In Dallas, I grew up, went to school, played in multiple bands, started a web developer career, found a wife, and birthed a couple sons. In 2023, we finally said goodbye to the brutal Texas Summers, and said hello to the Pacific Northwest. The new chapter begins…

As a web developer…

For 28 years, I’ve specialized in advanced HTML and CSS layouts that are cross-browser, accessible, and responsive across all device sizes. I have deep experience with modern, vanilla JavaScript and, over the past several years, have worked extensively with React and Next.js to build component-driven, production-ready interfaces.

At heart, I’m passionate about the visual and experiential side of front-end development. I enjoy solving complex layout challenges, crafting responsive systems that scale from small wearables to large-format displays, and using animation and interaction thoughtfully to enhance usability. I place a strong emphasis on semantic, accessible markup and believe that well-structured HTML should stand on its own, even without styling.

An illustration of a recent photo of Boots on his deck, wearing glasses and a dark t-shirt, smiling at the camera.

While front-end is my specialty, I’m comfortable working across the stack when needed. Much of my career was spent in agency environments, building client projects end-to-end. Early on, that meant creating immersive Flash experiences, followed by years of CMS-driven development on the LAMP stack, including ExpressionEngine, CraftCMS, and custom PHP solutions. More recently, I led the evolution of a large Shopify storefront from traditional Liquid templates to a modern React, Next.js, and headless CMS architecture. Today, that stack, paired with Vercel, is my preferred approach.

I’ve also spent several years leading web development for a high-volume eCommerce business as Senior Manager of Web Development at Mizzen+Main. Managing a complex Shopify ecosystem in a fast-growing retail environment required balancing technical decisions, performance, reliability, and business priorities. Through both smooth launches and challenging moments, I consistently delivered solutions that kept the business moving forward.

At the core of my work is problem solving. With nearly three decades of experience building and managing websites, I’ve encountered a wide range of technical and organizational challenges, and I bring a calm, pragmatic approach to navigating them and delivering results.

As a musician…

I’ve been primarily a bass guitarist for 43 years, and I toured professionally with various rock bands for nearly 15 years of that. In addition to bass guitar, I also play acoustic bass, guitar, drums, and cello (my first instrument); and have experience with synth programming and studio mixing and producing - mostly with Logic Pro. Music has taken a back seat for me, since web development took over, but I still try to get back to it from time to time. I actually have an album of my own in the works that will hopefully see the light of day sometime soon. I’ll keep you posted.

An illustration of Boots playing bass guitar on stage, with a dynamic and energetic pose.

As a... Letter Carrier?!?

Yup, that’s right. Since a full-time dev gig has been elusive lately, I have been working as a USPS Letter Carrier since 2024. I’m based in Lynnwood, WA, but my routes are all in the North Seattle area. I never would have guessed I’d be delivering mail in Seattle at some point in my life, but I’ve actually enjoyed it (except around the holidays... GEEZ!). It can be tough, but it keeps me active, and gives me a chance to get to know the new community I live in.

An illustration of Boots working as a USPS Letter Carrier, delivering mail out of his mail truck.

I specialize in…

Technical

SkillSkill Rating
HTML
5 of 5 stars
CSS
5 of 5 stars
JavaScript
4 of 5 stars
React/Next.js
3.5 of 5 stars
Shopify/Liquid
4.5 of 5 stars
Photoshop
5 of 5 stars
Illustrator
5 of 5 stars
Figma
3 of 5 stars

Music/Media/Other

SkillSkill Rating
Bass Guitar
5 of 5 stars
Acoustic Bass
3.5 of 5 stars
Guitar
3 of 5 stars
Drums
3 of 5 stars
Cello
2.5 of 5 stars
Logic Pro
3.5 of 5 stars
Video Production
4 of 5 stars
US Mail Delivery
5 of 5 stars