Phillip Wessels
Solutions Engineer · Platform Architect · Agentic Systems Builder
AI × Human Flourishing · Wellness Coach in Training
Summary
Platform architect and AI-augmented developer with 12 years building systems at the intersection of web technology, API integration, and business operations. Designed and delivered a full-stack WordPress CMS from the ground up; built REST API endpoints, a TBO API integration layer, and a PowerShell reporting platform serving two departments and cross-functional stakeholders. Now expanding into agentic AI systems and multi-agent orchestration as a core technical discipline. Parallel to the technical track, pursuing professional certification in positive psychology and wellness coaching — engaging the intersection of human agency and agentic systems.
Skills
Platform & CMSWordPress (CPTs, taxonomies, Toolset, Elementor, REST API), PHP
LanguagesJavaScript, React, SQL, PowerShell, Python, Node.js
APIs & IntegrationREST API design & implementation, TBO API, JSON, Postman
DevOps & ToolingGit/GitHub, Docker, WSL/Linux, Netlify, Cloudinary, Windows Task Scheduler
AI & AgenticClaude (Code/Cowork), ChatGPT (Codex), GitHub Copilot, OpenClaw, CLAUDE.md/AGENTS.md, Skills
OperationsZoho Desk, Excel/VBA, Smartsheet, technical documentation & training
CoachingPERMA framework for flourishing, VIA Inventory of Strengths, Positive Interventions
Experience
Classic Vacations (Expedia Group, acquired by TBO)
Web Producer / Web Platform Architect
Mar 2019 – May 2026
- Architected and implemented a custom WordPress CMS from the ground up — custom post types, taxonomies, relational content models (Toolset), JetMenu megamenu, and Elementor page templates — serving thousands of destination, hotel, and itinerary pages used daily by 6+ editors across Marketing and Solutions
- Built a REST API endpoint delivering destination images to client travel statements: hierarchical lookup with parent fallback, custom image sizing, Toolset custom fields for external location IDs, and a coverage-reporting view coordinated with Marketing for gap resolution
- Engineered a TBO API integration layer on hotel property pages — custom import UI with live JSON store, per-field content-source toggles between internal and third-party data, and a photo gallery — enabling real-time content switching without developer intervention
- Owned all templated product and taxonomy pages; designed full content architecture for destination, hotel, and itinerary content types site-wide
- Reduced Marketing dependency on developers for content publishing through structured CMS design, enabling self-service page creation for 6+ non-technical editors
- Leveraged AI coding assistance (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) as a core development practice; explicitly recognized by management for incorporating AI into workflow
Product Operations Admin — QA & Automation
Oct 2013 – Mar 2019
- Designed and deployed a centralized reporting automation platform — consolidating hundreds of individual scheduled tasks into a maintainable PowerShell + SQL + Windows Task Scheduler system generating recurring QA, booking, and operational reports for two teams and cross-departmental stakeholders
- Took over and corrected production-critical SQL queries (originally broken by another team) powering QA and booking-travel reports; documented and maintained the query library
- Built a custom Excel VBA add-in that turned a neglected CSV report (source of recurring financial loss) into a one-click pivot table dashboard, driving consistent adoption
- Engineered PowerShell scripts replacing a multi-step error-prone manual process with a single automated workflow; successfully advocated for the software update required to enable it
- Led team adoption of GitHub for version control, replacing email-based code sharing and manual backups; trained new hires and authored process and workflow documentation
Education
B.A., Special Major — Interactive Intermedia
2008–2011, 2013
California State University, Fresno
Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman's Visionary Science
Feb 2026
University of Pennsylvania (Coursera) · Credential ID PTEV8VSOB4IV