Ben Otero

Ben Otero
Lead Developer

I really have a passion for using technology for the work of the church and the glory of God. I discovered web development in 2000 while at college and plunged head long into web nerdery. The fact that a preacher in a local congregation can have a worldwide audience or members can get important information at any time or almost any place really drives me to play my role as best I can.

Basic Stuff: I've been married for 3 years and we have 2 children. When not indulged in geeky stuff that can potentially hamper my social skills, I'm usually administering an excruciating dose of tickle torture or reading. I've been a member of Crossroads Community Church just outside of Philadelphia and teach the young adults Sunday School class with another troublemaker friend.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania

Primary Work Responsibilities: Site Development (XHTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript) and ongoing technical customer support

Interests and Favorites:

  • Places: Tampa, FL (hometown), Northern VA, a baseball stadium
  • Music: shai linne, Christcentric, The Ambassador, mos def, Talib Kweli, Bob James and Earl Klugh, Aaron Neville (I was deeply involved in the Christian hip hop scene in Philadelphia)
  • Books: The Greatness of the Great Commission, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Christian Culture in a Multicultural Age, The Case for Covenant Communion
  • Sports: Yankees baseball (I've liked them since the brutal mid 80's so I'm no bandwagon fan)
  • Movies: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gladiator, Braveheart, Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail, Nacho Libre
  • Hobbies: spending time with family, reading, watching baseball, wannabe Bob Villa house fixing, watching Lost and House with my wife
  • Bit of Randomness: My son's 2nd nickname is Chancho (the chubby boy from Nacho Libre)
  • Scripture: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut. 6:4-8