Joshua Blackwood

18 years building and operating web platforms and infrastructure, from freelance full-stack development to 12 years leading front-end architecture, CI/CD, and configuration management at a major medical center. Now focused on agentic AI platforms — applying the same infrastructure discipline to systems where AI agents plan, act, and operate in production.

Experience

Co-Founder — Apex Ventures

Apr 2026 – Present · Remote

Co-founded Apex Ventures to build practical AI-powered products that solve real, everyday business problems. I lead the technical work behind those products, designing the applications, automation, and infrastructure needed to move ideas from early concept to dependable production systems. This includes building AI-agent workflows, backend services, integrations, deployment pipelines, and the operational tooling that keeps everything secure, observable, and maintainable as the products grow.

• Built and operate a GitLab-backed Hermes platform coordinating 10 specialized AI agents for software development, research, operations, and content workflows
• Designed the platform’s agent routing, task handoffs, review process, and deployment workflows so work remains traceable and reliable
• Developed multiple web applications from concept through deployment, including a simple tool that helps users identify and organize business problems worth solving
• Built APIs, automation, integrations, and backend systems for AI-assisted products
• Applied DevOps practices to AI systems, including CI/CD, server administration, observability, access controls, and reliable production releases

Tools & technologies: GitLab · Hermes Agent · Python · Node.js · FastAPI · Next.js · PostgreSQL · Redis · Docker · Linux · Nginx · CI/CD

Sr Web Developer — MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dec 2011 – Jun 2024 · Houston, TX

Delivered front-end development, web standards oversight, and DevOps services for a leading medical organization, focusing on mobile-responsive design and patient experience enhancement.

• Developed page templates and components within CMS platforms (Rhythmyx, WordPress, Adobe Experience Manager)
• Web form development with jQuery, ensuring Section 508 accessibility
• Redesigned MD Anderson patient portal (my.mdanderson.org)
• Created WordPress templates for blog migrations and set up multiple environments
• Redesigned global headers and footers to improve visibility of social media and donation links, added social sharing links to relevant content
• Created web templates for high-profile pages (e.g., Healthy Bites, Focused on Health)
• Improved email campaign click-through rates by 20%
• Enhanced email template documentation
• Managed the Agile development process, including User Stories, sprint planning, and leading scrum meetings
• Assisted in the migration to Adobe Experience Manager, including UX review and server management
• Developed CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins and GitLab
• Led configuration management with Rundeck for 60+ RHEL VMs
• Created 100+ bash scripts for server configuration and maintenance
• Maintained a keystone.js-based CMS (mdabrandcentral.com)
• Developed UI components and participated in QA testing for SharePoint intranet
• Managed DigitalOcean instances
• Implemented monitoring tools (monit) and configured Splunk for server log analysis and alerting
• Collaborated with marketing on Adobe Test & Target, Tealium implementations, and A/B testing
• Worked with SEO team to optimize page load times and search rankings
• Ensured adherence to web UI brand standards

Tools & technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery · Rhythmyx, WordPress, Adobe Experience Manager · Jenkins, GitLab, Artifactory, SonarQube · Rundeck · monit, Splunk · SEMRush · Agile / Scrum

Full-Stack Developer — Self-employed

Jul 2008 – Present · Remote

Freelance full-stack web developer and graphic designer, with a focus on customer satisfaction and improving internet leads and site compatibility.

• Designed series of graphical banners for game save site, PSSaves.com
• Designed, developed and hosted multiple websites — from conception and requirement gathering through final delivery — for many local small businesses, such as a local artist, VPN provider, and a local bakery and cafe
• Created and administered multiple online communities, including graphic design and development of templates for IP.Board, vBulletin and Simple Machine Forums
• Provided maintenance and updates to WordPress site for Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Houston, including custom templates and plugins
• Created and maintained open-source projects on GitHub and CodePen.io

Owner — Lunar Light

Jun 2008 – Jun 2020

Co-founded and administrated a small online community, managing a team of 6 staff members.

• Worked with the latest versions of leading technologies such as IP.Board, IP.Chat, and WordPress
• Developed public-facing educational pages for new visitors
• Implemented unique award system for contributing members
• Used targeted marketing campaigns to increase traffic, resulting in higher conversion rates and a sustainable user base
• Created magazine-style newsletter for members, using cutting-edge HTML/CSS techniques
• Managed all technical aspects of site, from advanced VPS administration and database setup, to PHP/HTML/CSS templating, Apache and Nginx configuration, and IP.Board plugin development

Subcontractor — DKB & Company

Jul 2011 – Sep 2011 · LaGrange, GA

• Designed and developed attractive new website for newly founded company
• Integrated social media profiles and ensured consistent brand image across multiple networks

Subcontractor — Pineland Outfitters of Idaho, LLC

May 2009 – Jul 2011 · Yellow Pine, ID

• Improved company website with new design features on an ongoing basis
• Provided design and development for a complete redesign and migration of website to WordPress
• Monitored competitor websites in the industry to stay ahead in internet conversions

Webmaster, Social Media Director & Photographer — Pine Mountain Adventures

Aug 2008 – Oct 2010 · LaGrange, GA

• Redesigned company website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript to improve load times, user experience and multi-browser compatibility
• Personally responsible for 30% increase in internet leads
• Revamped company logo, unifying design with print materials
• Established social media presence and online recognition

Community Administrator — Dream Views

Jul 2008 – May 2010 · LaGrange, GA

Administrated an online community of over 20,000 members, managing a team of 16–18 staff. Led community relations, established and enforced site policies using vBulletin software. Introduced time-saving procedures that increased team productivity, wrote HTML newsletters, and improved community–staff relations through new site policies.

Licenses & Certifications

Wilderness First Aid
NOLS Wilderness Medicine · Issued Jul 2017 (Expired Jul 2019)
Credential ID 11783

Education

Optimization Techniques and Computer Science

Honors & Organizations

Awesome Job Award — MD Anderson Cancer Center, issued by Tina A. Pena, Jan 2016, for work on the Integrated Talent Management System Phase 2 Project.

Member: Association of Web Design Professionals · Internet Society (ISOC) · Web Standards Group · World Wide Web Foundation (all since Oct 2011)

Volunteering

Volunteer, Stephen F. Austin Middle School (Sep 2011 – Present) — general helper at the school carnival and judge for Battle by the Beach II, a VEX Robotics Competition.