My Work

  • The Ampersand Inn

    The Ampersand Inn Homepage

    WordPress – Partially re-designed The Ampersand Inn Bed & Breakfast website (full redesign in progress), with a focus on brand consistency and user experience.

  • The Weekend Bag Program

    The Weekend Bag Program Homepage

    Squarespace – Complete website overhaul for The Weekend Bag Program, a kid-founded and run 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Focused on strengthening branding, enhancing usability and accessibility, and clearly communicating the mission to end juvenile food insufficiency by providing students with weekend food and hygiene products. Ensured visitors can easily understand how to get involved and support the cause.

  • Slice of Rai

    DrinkDex

    JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3 – Slice of Rai is a 90s retro inspired personal website I built for the Codédex Mini Holiday Hackathon and for my inner teenager! I miss the days when the internet was fun, colorful, and creative.

  • Flow State Kanban Board

    Kanban Board Wireframe

    JavaScript, React.js, MongoDB, Node.js, Express.js, TailwindCSS, Vite, Figma – Dynamic task management web app built with full CRUD functionality. Designed to streamline workflows with drag-and-drop capabilities, customizable boards, and intuitive task organization. Users can create, update, read, and delete tasks, making it a powerful tool for team productivity and personal organization.

  • Library Lite

    Library Lite User Interface

    JavaScript, MongoDB, Node.js, Express.js, Embedded JavaScript, CSS – Library Lite is a personal library app so individuals can track the books on their shelves and whether they have read them or not. This full-stack CRUD app was built as a demonstration for my technical article Your Starting Place: How To Build A CRUD App With Node, Express, and MongoDB.

  • Blackout Poetry Studio

    Blackout Poetry Studio

    JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3 – Blackout Poetry Studio is a creative tool to help overcome writer's block and inspire creatives by digitally replicating the process of crafting poetry with a sharpie & an old book.

  • DrinkDex

    DrinkDex

    JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3 – DrinkDex is your go-to cocktail companion, allowing you to effortlessly search for any cocktail, providing detailed recipes, ingredients, visuals, and everything you need to become a master mixologist at home.

  • The Garden Bistro

    The Garden Bistro Website

  • Elysian Salon & Wellness Lounge

    Elysian Salon and Wellness Lounge Website

I'm Rai Dorzback (he/him), a Software Engineer and Community Builder based in Sparta, New Jersey

Web Developer at The Ampersand Inn, Founder of North Jersey Tech Collective, and Director of Speaker Engagement at NY Code & Coffee.

I bring both technical skill and personal care to every project. Past work includes:

  • Building modern, maintainable websites for small businesses and nonprofits.
  • Founding the first tech & coding meetup in Sussex County, New Jersey. Read about NJTC here!
  • Leading speaker engagement for one of the largest tech meetups in NYC (NY Code & Coffee)
  • Writing technical articles to teach devs to build full-stack CRUD apps.
  • Creating software for families to preserve recipes and heritage (in progress).
  • Designing a directory of trauma-informed mental health providers for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients.

Tech Stack: JavaScript, MongoDB, Node.js, Express.js, React, Python, TailwindCSS, Git, HTML, CSS.

Tools: Figma, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Krita, Gimp

I build software that connects people — to information, to their communities, and to what matters most.

BA Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience
University of Michigan Residential College '22

Languages & Tools:
JS
Python
React.js
Node.js
Express.js Express.js logo
MongoDB MongoDB logo
TailwindCSS TailwindCSS Logo
Figma
Postman Postman logo
Git
HTML
CSS
Headshot of Rai Dorzback

Web Development Services

Your website should feel like you and work hard for you! That’s why I take a personal, collaborative approach to every project. From the first conversation to launch day and beyond, I work with you to make sure your website reflects your unique brand, connects with your audience, and supports your goals — whether that’s getting more bookings, clients, or donations.
Here’s what our journey looks like:

  1. Consultation

    Our journey kicks off with in-depth discussion to understand the essence of your project.

  2. Proposal

    Receive a comprehensive project proposal and collaboratively chart our course of action for your website

  3. Development

    Stay in the loop with weekly updates as I build and test your project, ensuring your vision takes shape.

  4. Launch

    Experience peace of mind with the final project launch and training on how to make content updates. Want to skip the tech hassle? Choose my monthly maintenance plan for worry-free updates.

Blog

Your Starting Place: How To Build A CRUD App with Node, Express, and MongoDB

Are you coming from frontend JavaScript & looking to learn backend? Look no further, you have found The Starting Place! This is a comprehensive code-along guide to building a full-stack CRUD app w/Node, Express, and MongoDB.

Step by step guide to planning before you code. Write a thorough planning document to prevent project abandonment and ensure smooth development!

Contact Me