Jason Irish leaves a legacy behind
Lakeland's webmaster of two and a half years is moving on to Kohler Company
Brian Moser
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Features
With all of his experience working with Web sites, Jason got an internship in Milwaukee. "It was just an entry level job," he said. "Since it was downtown and I couldn't afford the parking, I had to bike to work every day. If it rained, then I just got wet."
All of that perseverance paid off when he got promoted to a full time position two months later. "I pretty much did everything like designing, building, marketing like the banner ads, and even weekly e-mail newsletters."
After two years of working in Milwaukee, Jason received a tip about a job. "My mom sent me an ad for a job at Lakeland," he said. "She wanted me to come back to Sheboygan."
The job opening was for a marking/webmaster position. Before this, Lakeland had the marketing person also do the Web site. When Lakeland hired Jason, they weren't ready for what he could offer them.
"When they found out the kind of stuff I was doing and how much time it took, Lakeland split the job in two," Jason said. "I became Lakeland's first full-time webmaster."
Jason jumped right in and started analyzing the Web site and what he could do with it. He quickly realized a few problems with Lakeland's Web site.
"It needed a backend foundation," Jason said. "I will give you an example; I am an example type of guy. In the past, only the webmaster could update the site. For things like sports, I don't want the Sports Information Department to call me up after every game to post the score. It is inefficient."
I communicated with David Gallianetti, the SID director, so we set up a password system for posting to the web. Then they can post the score right after the games."
On Feb. 1, 2006, the Lakeland Web site got a huge facelift. "The purpose of the new design was, first and foremost, to update the look," Jason said. "The Web site had a 1998 type of look to it."
"There was also a change in philosophy," Jason continued. "We want to push the content to the people and frame the information for the audience. We wanted to make the Web site as simple as possible."
All of that perseverance paid off when he got promoted to a full time position two months later. "I pretty much did everything like designing, building, marketing like the banner ads, and even weekly e-mail newsletters."
After two years of working in Milwaukee, Jason received a tip about a job. "My mom sent me an ad for a job at Lakeland," he said. "She wanted me to come back to Sheboygan."
The job opening was for a marking/webmaster position. Before this, Lakeland had the marketing person also do the Web site. When Lakeland hired Jason, they weren't ready for what he could offer them.
"When they found out the kind of stuff I was doing and how much time it took, Lakeland split the job in two," Jason said. "I became Lakeland's first full-time webmaster."
Jason jumped right in and started analyzing the Web site and what he could do with it. He quickly realized a few problems with Lakeland's Web site.
"It needed a backend foundation," Jason said. "I will give you an example; I am an example type of guy. In the past, only the webmaster could update the site. For things like sports, I don't want the Sports Information Department to call me up after every game to post the score. It is inefficient."
I communicated with David Gallianetti, the SID director, so we set up a password system for posting to the web. Then they can post the score right after the games."
On Feb. 1, 2006, the Lakeland Web site got a huge facelift. "The purpose of the new design was, first and foremost, to update the look," Jason said. "The Web site had a 1998 type of look to it."
"There was also a change in philosophy," Jason continued. "We want to push the content to the people and frame the information for the audience. We wanted to make the Web site as simple as possible."
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