HTML Writers Guild 1998 Election
Candidate Listing

Demitrius Lopez (simone(at)genesisnetwork.net)

Statement of Vision

As the internet continues it's meteoric rise in popularity, I see the HWG playing an ever more important role in facilitating that rise. Let's face it, someone's got to build all those websites. And many of those "someone's" will be members of the HWG.

This growth is presenting an unprecedented opportunity for those of us who create websites. It is an opportunity to enrich not only our own lives, but indeed the lives of the companies we create websites for and their visitors. But to do so, takes knowledge and professionalism. The latter, ultimately only you can provide and the former is the purpose of the HWG.

I, myself, have benefited tremendously from my membership, and participation, in the HWG. Utilizing the information I have learned has allowed me the opportunity to work as a self-employed website developer. I can say with the utmost confidence that my website practice would not have been nearly as successful as it is now, had it not been for the HWG.

As a newly elected member of the HWG Governing Board, I will bring my experiences and insight to the table so that others may benefit from the wins and losses that I experience everyday. These are exciting times for the internet and I am enthusiastic about this business. I would welcome the opportunity to share that enthusiasm with you.

Qualifications

For the past year, I have had the pleasure of being a self-employed, one man, website developer. To be perfectly candid, I am having the time of my life!

My background is in sales and marketing for the past 19 years. Computers have been a hobby of mine for about 5 years now. About 2 years ago, I start surfing "that internet thing" and I was fascinated. I saw marketing written all over this new medium. Then a little over a year ago, I came across this interesting looking logo that read, "The author is a member of the HTML Writers Guild". I had no idea of how that one click would substantially change my life.

I joined immediately and subscribed to a couple of mailing lists. Critique and Business. What I learned there got me excited. I felt empowered by the information I learned. Absorbing all that I could possibly take in, I gathered up enough courage to venture out into the "analog world" to sell my services as a website developer. I've never looked back since.

What I've learned in the past year has been amazing. On average, I create 3 new commercial websites a month and I'm out in the field 2 to 3 times a week, talking to regular people about how they use the internet and what they like and don't like. Much to my surprise, however, a lot of what I was hearing from the average person surfing the 'net, out in the field, was not entirely echoed by my peers in the mailing lists. So I began to voice my opinions, and started to stir things up. I felt it was critical that we, as website developers, objectively listen to our audience and not just our own council when it came to creating websites. I still feel the same way.

What I would bring the Governing Board of the HWG is the insight of my website development practice. I would bring the wins and the losses that myself and clients have seen and will see. Granted, I'm fully aware that the internet is not just about business and profits. Thank heaven for that. I do feel, however, that business and commerce will be a main segment of the internet and I am willing and eager to share my experiences in this area.

While I'm aware that my opinions are in no way the authoritative word, I do feel, however, that I have something valuable to offer. Like I always say, "The Web Is Big Enough For All Of Us."

Respectfully submitted,
Demitrius Lopez

Note: The information posted here is that received from the candidate. The Nomination Committee only added the appropriate HTML coding.)

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