Welcoming Websites

Shai Sachs has considerable experience developing web applications, and managing web development projects. Shai manages all of the development and project management work for Welcoming Websites. He is an active participant in a number of online communities, including the community for non-profit technologists in Boston, the Harvard and Boston entrepreneurship communities, and the progressive blogosphere. Shai's key skills include PHP/MySQL and J2EE development, the Rails framework, the Drupal content management system, digital library systems, and metadata standards and transport systems.

Currently, he is leading a number of projects for Welcoming Websites, including site redesigns for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association.

From 2003 to 2007, Shai worked as the Director of Research and Development at Isovera, Inc. and Akaza Research, LLC. Shai's experiences at those companies include two open source projects: the Dewey digital library cataloging system, developed for a PHP/MySQL platform, and the OpenClinica clinical trials data management system, developed for a Java J2EE/PostgreSQL platform. Other significant experiences include the development and management of a members bill payment system for the Harvard Club of Boston, a health news review system for the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making, a number of scientific digital libraries including BiosciEdNet and EcoEdNet.

Volunteer experience includes the lead development role on the website for the First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist and the website co-chair role for the Principles Project collaborative statement-writing project. Shai received an M.S. in Computer Science in 2003 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an A.B. in Computer Science, magna cum laude with highest honors, in 2001 from Harvard University.

Shai blogs at Lightbulb First, MyDD and Planting Liberally.

Prior to co-founding Welcoming Websites, Shelby Meyerhoff served as the national organizer for Promise the Children, a Unitarian Universalist service organization. In this role, Shelby used internet technology to significantly increase the organization's membership and individual donor base, and to share legislative advocacy resources with congregations across the country.

At her home congregation, the First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, Shelby has served as chair of the Worship Committee, founder of the campus ministry program, and advisor to the youth group. Shelby has also led worship services and youth group programs at Unitarian Universalist congregations around Massachusetts.

Shelby received a M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and an A.B. from Harvard College in the Comparative Study of Religion, magna cum laude. During her time at Harvard Divinity School, she worked as a research assistant for Professors Robert Putnam and Dave Campbell, studying the role of religion in contemporary America.

Shelby blogs at Looking for Faith, Street Prophets, and the UUWorld. Shelby also works at the Unitarian Universalist Association as public witness specialist. However, Welcoming Websites is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or in any way affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association.