Michael Grimes

Current

Website Manager at Citizenship Foundation

Education

Sibford School

Recommended

6 people have recommended Michael

Connections

105 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

Michael Grimes’s Summary

I've been at the Citizenship Foundation since 1995, and have overseen the development of the corporate website since its conception in 1998.

Originally employed as Assistant Administrator, I went on to take charge of publications and IT. This included designing publications, managing printing and distribution, overseeing the installation of our first computer network, administering that network and managing the IT contractor; as well as creating and commissioning web content and managing the website development.

My responsibility for the website was formalised in 2002 when my role was changed officially to that of Website Manager.

In my time with the organisation I have represented the Citizenship Foundation at numerous events and on a number of related bodies, including the initial steering group for the UK Youth Parliament.

In my web role, I remember reading in detail the HTML 3 and 4 specifications and trying valiantly to get Cascading Style Sheets to work at all, let alone across different browsers. I am very keen on standards compliance, but acutely aware that I rarely get it right.

The organisation has grown three-fold since the first iteration of the website. Many more projects have been taken on, and each operates with a fair degree of independence. The website has therefore had to adapt and grow accordingly, attempting to meet the needs of the various projects while fulfilling its role as a mouthpiece for the organisation. This continues to be a huge challenge, but is more interesting now that more staff are web-savvy; and also now that access to friendly networks of expertise is so much easier.

I have a strong interest in the use and constraints of social media to support civic engagement, and am keenly involved in the social media scene in Birmingham.

Michael Grimes’s Specialties:

HTML, CSS, social media

Michael Grimes’s Experience

Website Manager

Citizenship Foundation

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Civic & Social Organization industry)

September 2002 — Present (7 years 3 months)

Overseen strategy and development of website as organisation has grown;
Built html templates and CSS stylesheets for re-vamped site to adhere to standards;

Managed work on tight budget;

Developed and managed installations of WordPress, Drupal and vBulletin;

Pioneered (within organisation) and advocated use online tools such as blogging (Blogger/WordPress), Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, Yahoo Pipes, Facebook Pages;