- 
Where should I start off? Well, first off, my name is Bryan Kohlmeier and I am the creator, designer, and developer of Absolute Bica. I graduated from the University of Evansville with a major in Marketing and a minor in Mass Communications. Funny, the closet thing to marketing I do now is regarding websites online.
I am self taught in webdesign and development spending most of my time learning techniques, programs, and methods to continually make my projects better. I began learning webdesign in 2002. I was taking a basic HTML course, which was REALLY basic stuff. However, the bulk of my learning came on my own by visiting plenty of tutorials online, forums, and visiting the blogs of well known people in the web community.
By mid 2003, I was learning about "Standards Based Design", which in a nutshell, basically means you follow strict guidelines in how you code a website so that its easy to make updates, it loads quicker, it has better usability, more accessibility, and it becomes more Search Engine Friendly.
Too many websites are coded poorly. Usually this is because the designer/developer is new to this industry or they rely on WYSIWYG tools alone to get the job done. I personally hand code every site I work on. I sketch on paper, then I lay out the format in Adobe Photoshop, and then I strategically break apart the graphical layout so it fits fluidly into the code. Building a site in this manner maximizes the sites capacity, flexibility, and allows for it to be updated easier.
Learn why I build websites using Web Standards
It is an interesting name, isn't it? I bet the first thing you think of is a new brand of Absolut Vodka. I am sorry to dissapoint you, even if I made you a little thirsty by seeing my name.
Absolute Bica is actually a combination of what I strive for in webdesign and development, and a part of my wife who is the love of my life.
Absolute actually is a synonym of the following: Complete, total, precise, pure, simple, perfect, thorough, flawless. Those are all words that I attempt to fullfill when designing a website. Are they attainable? Well, my belief is there is nothing perfect in this world, well, except for my wife and our cat :), but in all honesty, perfection is almost unattainable. However, I strive every day to better my skills and learn not only from my mistakes, but from others.
Bica actually is a nickname my wife, Bianca, has been given by the children she takes care of at a local Day Care Center. The children are not old enough to properly pronounce words, and instead of saying "Bianca", all they can squeeze out is "Bica" (pronounced "bee-kah").
Yes I do. I currently work for a web development company in central Indiana. I am a web designer and developer there and love what I do. I am passionate about this industry and strive everyday to become better. As a note of caution, because of my place of employement, I am bound my contract to not get into legitimate competition with my employer on a freelance level. What this basically means is that I cannot take on any projects that may actually be at a competitive price range in which my employer could also compete in. They charge some high prices, so typically, the projects I take on are low budget and projects that most likely they would NOT enter into.
If a project is presented to me that is at a scale and projected budget that would allow my employer to become a legitimate competitor, then I am obligated to offer my employer's services first. If the project is one my employer is not interested in, then at that time I could take on the client.
Are you serious? There is a life outside of the digital world? Whoa!
Sorry, just had to be sarcastic. Actually, I am an avid golfer. I played golf for Noblesville High School all 4 years and received an athletic scholarship to play golf all 4 years as a University of Evansville Ace. This made my father quite happy as it limited his actual funding for college :)
I often try to play several amatuer events during the summer, but with a full time job, my vacation days are quite limited.
Aside from golf and computers, I got married in July of 2004 and absolutely love my wife more then anything in this world. She ultimately brings the best out in me and encourages me to get better everyday.
Thats actually a tough one to say in golf because of the "par of the course". I usually break it down to "best round" of golf. There are three rounds that I will forever remember, because there is a chance I may never repeat them :)
About 3 years ago, I was playing in a sunday game at Pebble Brook Golf Course and fired a blistering 64 with 2 bogeys. That is 8 under par on a par 72 golf course.
My "best" round was played at a course called Harbour Trees in Noblesville, IN where I fired a 65, which is actually 6 under par, but I had 3 bogeys. Harbour Tree's is a much more difficult golf course then Pebble Brook.
My best "tournament" round of golf was at a college tournament at the University of Illinois. I shot a 4 under 67 and I believe I got 3rd in the tournament
My biggest golf accomplishment is probaby being on the best golf team the state of Indiana has ever seen. I was on the Noblesvile High School golf team from 1996 - 1999. My sophmore year, we missed going to the State Finals by 2 shots. The next year, we dominated the field and won by 27 shots breaking multiple records. Then, my senior year, we repeated as champions as back-to-back State Champions. That is probably by far my biggest sports achievement ever.
