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Santi

SANTIAGO "SANTI" MARIANI

FULL-STACK SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

ABOUT ME

WHY, HELLO THERE! :)

My name is Santi, a full-stack developer with a deep love for beauty and logic, a curious eye for innovation and problem-solving, and an insatiable appetite for continual learning and growth.

An alumnus of the Carolina Code School, I learned to quickly absorb new technologies and to recognize those software patterns that are helping me take my ambitions beyond the classroom walls.

User experience is at the forefront of my every project — unique interfaces, an ever-passionate goal. And beyond the visible, I enjoy employing sound logic and best principles to create solid apps that go above-and-beyond!

For more on the evolution of my software development journey and to continue the 'techy' branch of my bio, step over to my Projects section, right next door! Or, for a brief professional snapshot, check out my Skills and Resume instead — compliments of the house!

SANTI ALLA GLANCE

Originally from Argentina, I moved to the U.S. in 1996 and embraced the challenges of adapting to a new culture. Graduating summa cum laude in Finance from Wofford College, I developed a passion for problem-solving and entrepreneurship. After a decade of impactful non-profit work around the world, I returned to Spartanburg, pivoted to a career in real estate, and grew as a content creator and community leader.

In 2020, I co-founded the Spartanburg Cocktail Masters and further honed my leadership skills. Encouraged by my brother, I discovered a love for coding, merging creativity with logic to become a software developer. Now, I’m eager to bring beauty and order to the world through code, all while enjoying life’s adventures with friends and family.

Now that the essentials have been professioanlly summarized, feel free to keep on reading to dive knee-deep into Santi Lore. So think twice before doing it! Yet not thrice, lest drama queens get bored.

"DON'T CRY FOR ME..."

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (hablo español), I moved to the United States in 1996 with my parents and one brother, falling in love with my new home. While learning a new language had its immense challenges, it taught me the importance of consistency and rewarded me with the capacity to understand life through two diverse cultural "modes." As an immigrant family, we learned to take nothing for granted — there were no generational hand-me-downs; only what could be earned through sweat, sacrifice, and hard work.

Despite the language barrier, I graduated from Spartanburg High School as a Palmetto Fellow Scholar, being in the top 3% of my class. I took voice lessons and was painfully socially awkward. Above all, I made friendships that, since then, have only grown. I am one fortunate soul!

ENTER—WOFFORD

One of my greatest joys in these early years is having attended Wofford College, majoring summa cum laude in Finance. As a student leader through the Success Initiative program, I began to understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. To solve a communication gap, I created an online forum — saving the program thousands of dollars. For this and other endeavors, I earned Dr. James Proctor Award for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship... and a trend for creative problem-solving was born!

(I also continued performing as a singer during this time and was even the protagonist in a children's opera, Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing. But as I had to wear a leotard for this one, we do not talk about this, nay, not even in whispers. Who even -is- this Sid fellow of old?!)

Balancing my creative outlets, my financial classes helped me to look at challenges through a more analytical mindset. Attention to detail became a constant necessity, the application of mathematics a daily must. "How boring," some might say. Yet I loved every moment of it! And so I earned the Departmental Award for Academic Achievement, Scholarly Promise, and Intellectual and Moral Integrity. I am thus undeniably and irrevocably a 100% certifiable (and certified!) nerd, geek, and dork.

TWO ROADS DIVERGE

Concluding my time at Wofford, I was selected to intern at the Aspen Institute — a first for Wofford. There, I met world leaders and supported the operations of this globally renowned think-tank. On the one hand, I was amazed by the human capacity for progress. On the other, I noticed how many of the world's wealthiest still grappled for deeper meaning.

"We have everything yet are still unhappy," it was mentioned at a private gathering. Until then, I had aspired to be 'financially free.' This was why I was majoring in finance, why I poured myself into every project, why I had even accepted the internship to begin with...

Yet after hearing that admission, I was forever a changed man, feeling like I had been spared decades of mindless wandering. My heart thus embarked on a different adventure. A new path became trod.

IN PURSUIT OF A GREATER LOVE

Much could be written about the next ten years of my life. Yet as surely only my mother is reading at this point, I will only say how blessed I am to have been gifted this decade of service, "non-profit" work.

For ten years I got to travel the world, going from Pennsylvania to Italy then to Africa and finally to North Carolina. I tried hot wine in a wintry Poland. I touched Michelangelo's Pieta protected behind thick glass walls.

For ten years, I tended to the actively dying, rejoiced at the birth of newborns, and gave a clumsy word or two to those plunged in sorrow. I saw people come alive after years of internal drudgery; eyes light up after decades of darkness; tears roll down cheeks once covered in spiritual soot.

Time and time again, others showed me that there is goodness to be found, even in the most difficult of circumstances. I understood more deeply how we all are woven from the same human tapestry. My perspective widened as I worked with others of drastically different backgrounds; my inner landscape became more varied and lush.

And thus I returned to my beloved Spartanburg after those ten years, thankful for the graces received, thankful to once again be among family and friends... thankful to have returned home.

TWO ROADS CONVERGE

The year was 2020, and the world, for a while, turned off. I played a lot of Stardew Valley while wrestling with COVID for months and then pivoted towards a new career. I became a realtor, wedding the previous world of finance with the newer one of service work.

As a realtor, I had to learn to understand my clients' true needs, going beyond the surface "what's" to the deeper "why's" from which true satisfaction is born. Doing this full-time meant handling multiple projects, orchestrating deals to help them reach that dream goal. With each success, I sought to do better next time. With each dropped deal, I asked where I could have done better, or more.

Returning to social media as a professional necessity, I rapidly grew as a content creator. I sought to provide value as I learned impromptu marketing. I became a local voice. Thanks to my efforts, I became a Planning Commissioner for the City of Spartanburg, one of OneSpartanburg, Inc.'s (the 2021 US Chamber of Commerce) first Ambassadors for their "Power Up" entrepreneurship oriented program, and a source and point of contact for the local news.

Toes were stepped on, lessons learned, and leadership skills sharpened as I weighed the needs of individuals within the scope of those of the whole.

AND NOW... A HAPPY TOAST

Yet what would be the point of all work with no fun?! Hence, while juggling all this, I also became a co-creator for the Spartanburg Cocktail Masters... and at the prompting, no less, of a cop! Thanks to that, hundreds of people have since gathered in Spartanburg to taste the samples of 15 local competitors — all battling it out to be the next Spartanburg Cocktail Master, all to support a local cause. For Spartanburg, if you haven't noticed, rocks!

The creation of this annual event helped me deepen so many lessons, especially as it pertained to managing priorities, expectations, and deadlines. Sponsors, vendors, competitors, venues, judges, licenses, insurance, laws, and so much more had to be juggled to bring this event into existence! And so I learned to delegate what I could not do to those who could, and what I could do to those who could do it better. Due to its success, the event has been adopted by a state-wide organization, itself a new yet worthwhile challenge that will help the event grow for years to come.

So keep your eyes on our website every August to join in on the fun!

TO NEW ADVENTURES!

In the midst of such intense activity, I ended up discovering a true love for content creation, having taken art and music classes my whole life. My observant brother (a classy geek and bona fide dork) encouraged me to take a closer look at coding, knowing it would wash with so many fun chemicals my ADHD brain, oh-so-OCD prone. And so I became — at long happy last — a software developer, ready to bring greater beauty and order to the world through code.

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking with friends, watching others play Minecraft, and not taking long walks on the beach, lest the sand get in in-every-which-spot.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me! Now join me on my adventure by sending me a message, and let's get connected to create value and memorable experiences for years to come.

ENJOY YOUR STAY :D