Melissa Cromwell

Professional Summary

I specialise in Python/Django and data systems - PostgreSQL, SQL Server, APIs, and reporting (adhoc, SSRS/Tableau, in-app dashboards, mass updates including HR/payroll) - and build in PHP and Next.js where needed. With 15+ years of experience I have led solutions from business analysis through development, deployment, and production support across operational systems, multi-tenant products, and Linux DevOps (auth, notifications, Redis/Celery, automated backups). At PLIPDECO I own three production platforms - HMS, PPEMS, and Marine PDS. Earlier work includes a 2011-2021 ERP funding migration and ongoing reporting services.

Technical Skills

Core stack

Day-to-day tools for the systems I design and ship.

Python Django & DRF PostgreSQL Celery & Redis Tailwind · Alpine · HTMX Ubuntu Linux

Software Development

Python Django & Django REST Framework PHP JavaScript HTML & CSS

Also used: Next.js / Node.js for product apps; WordPress for content sites

Data and Reporting

PostgreSQL MySQL Microsoft SQL Server SQL, T-SQL & PL/pgSQL Adhoc reporting & urgent extracts SSRS, Tableau & third-party report builders In-app dashboards, graphs & operational reports Mass updates & data correction workflows HR / payroll extracts & T4 updates Data modelling, migration & integration

Frontend and User Experience

Tailwind CSS Alpine.js HTMX Tabulator Plotly.js

Infrastructure and Delivery

Ubuntu Linux Nginx & Gunicorn Celery & Redis Windows Server SSL/TLS configuration VM & application deployment Automated database & application-file backups Recovery and restore processes

Auth, Messaging & Real-time

Google OAuth / Google sign-in LDAP directory authentication Firebase (Auth, FCM / push) Session & multi-provider OAuth Email & SMS notifications Background jobs & scheduled tasks Redis-backed queues and caching API webhooks & integrations

Professional Capabilities

Project leadership & delivery planning Systems architecture Business-process automation API design and integration Technical documentation User training and production support

Professional Experience

Software Programmer

Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO)

Trinidad and Tobago

January 2022 - Present

Lead software programmer for three live production platforms at PLIPDECO - HMS, PPEMS, and Marine PDS - covering project leadership, architecture, development, deployment, and production support.
Hauliers Management System (HMS): driver and truck port-pass workflows including documents, multi-stage approvals, HSE orientation, payments, notifications, and pass generation.
Created PPE Management System (PPEMS) v1 and v2 end to end. PPEMS v2 is live and in company-wide use; v1 remains in parallel for the stores/purchasing team until remaining training is complete.
Own ongoing development and production support for Marine PDS, a PHP/MySQL harbour and marine-services platform used by agents, shippers, and harbour management - including Google and LDAP authentication, APIs, notifications, and support tooling.
Deliver reporting and data services across PLIPDECO - adhoc and SSRS reports (and equivalent work in Tableau or other report builders when needed), urgent extracts, mass updates (including T4 / payroll corrections), HR and payroll reports consumed by other systems, and in-app graphs, dashboards, and operational reporting built into applications such as HMS, PPEMS, and Marine PDS.
Designed a Celery-based synchronisation process from a read-only Microsoft SQL Server source into PostgreSQL so PPEMS stays available when the upstream source is down - reducing reliance on a single live connection for day-to-day PPE work.
Delivered operational UI capabilities for PPEMS including Plotly.js visualisations, dashboards, and electronic signature / acknowledgement capture.
Handle DevOps for production apps across Ubuntu Linux VMs and Windows Servers - provisioning, SSL, deploy, monitoring after go-live, and automated backups of databases and application files with tested recovery paths.

Programmer/Analyst

College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT)

Trinidad and Tobago

August 2011 - January 2022

Led a large-scale Accounts Receivable data migration, analysing and applying government funding records across student accounts from 2011-2021 within the ERP.
Built complex financial and operational reports - adhoc extracts, visualisations, and institutional reporting across SSRS-style / BI and other report-building tools - using advanced SQL and Python.
Partnered with local financial institutions to configure and launch the TouchNet online payment gateway for secure student payments.
Supported and extended the college WordPress site with custom forms and user-feedback features.

Systems Support Administrator

Covanta Energy Corporation

New Jersey, USA

July 2009 - June 2010

Supported PeopleSoft and Maximo ERP integrations, working with developers and DBAs to keep business-critical applications operational.
Diagnosed and resolved technical issues using SQL and XML-based troubleshooting against production systems.

Projects

Hauliers Management System (HMS)

Production / Active Development

Problem: Driver and truck port-pass applications involve documents, approvals, HSE orientation, payments, distribution, and status updates that must be managed consistently across multiple roles.
Role: Lead software programmer responsible for project leadership, business analysis, architecture, application development, deployment, and production support.
Solution: A Django-based system that centralises driver and truck records, port-pass applications, document handling, multi-stage approvals, HSE orientation, payment tracking, notifications, pass generation, and operational reporting for the roles that run the process.
Outcome: Improved visibility and traceability throughout the port-pass process - clearer application statuses, centralised driver/truck records, coordinated multi-stage workflows across requestors, managers, HSE, and administrative teams, and reporting stakeholders can use from within the application.

Python Django PostgreSQL Celery Redis JavaScript In-app reporting Linux deployment

PPE Management System (PPEMS)

v2 Live Company-wide · v1 Parallel (Stores/Purchasing)

Problem: PPE processes needed a dependable company-wide system for managing requests, approvals, distribution, acknowledgement, and reporting - with resilience when upstream enterprise data sources are unavailable.
Role: Created PPEMS v1 and v2 end to end - architecture, development, deployment, and production support across the estate.
Solution: PPEMS v1 served the operational PPE process (notably stores/purchasing). PPEMS v2 modernises and expands those capabilities for company-wide use - enhanced workflows, role-based approvals, distribution tracking, digital acknowledgement, auditability, and in-app reporting with graphs and dashboards - while v1 continues in a parallel run until remaining training is complete. The stack centres on Django/DRF, PostgreSQL, Celery-based data synchronisation, and a Tailwind CSS, Alpine.js, and HTMX frontend with Plotly.js visualisations.
Outcome: PPEMS v2 is live and used company-wide. v1 remains available in parallel for the stores/purchasing team until training is finished; a Celery sync into PostgreSQL keeps the apps usable when the upstream MSSQL source is unavailable.

Python Django / DRF PostgreSQL Celery Plotly.js In-app reporting Tailwind CSS Alpine.js HTMX

Marine PDS

Production / Active Development

Problem: Agents, shippers, and harbour management need a shared operational platform for marine services, support requests, integrations, and role-based access - without depending on a single authentication or notification channel.
Role: Software programmer responsible for ongoing development, security and usability upgrades, API and notification work, deployment, and production support.
Solution: A PHP and MySQL production system with role-specific agent, shipper, and harbour-management surfaces, Google and LDAP sign-in options, support ticketing, outbound email/SMS notifications, documented APIs for schedule and integration partners, and operational reporting for marine-services stakeholders.
Outcome: Marine PDS remains the live operational platform for marine-services stakeholders, with continued hardening, usability improvements, in-app and extract reporting, and integration support for administrators and external partners.

PHP MySQL JavaScript REST APIs Google sign-in LDAP Email & SMS notifications In-app reporting

Enterprise Data Migration & Reporting

Completed

Problem: Accounts Receivable needed accurate application of government funding across many years of student account history, with reliable reporting for finance stakeholders.
Role: Programmer/analyst responsible for analysis, migration logic, and reporting outputs.
Solution: Data engineering against the institutional ERP, applying funding records across student accounts from 2011-2021, plus SQL and Python-driven extracts and visual reports.
Outcome: Brought funding history from 2011-2021 into consistent ERP account records and improved reporting support for financial decision-making.

SQL Python ERP data Reporting / BI Data migration

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield, PA, USA

Major: Computer Science, Minor: Mathematics

Graduated: May 2009

Get In Touch

Contact

Location
Trinidad and Tobago

Email
mel@melissacromwell.com