Welcome
Derrell Willis
Virginia Beach Web Developer & Product Manager
About Me
Helping Hampton Roads businesses build a better web presence
I'm a Virginia Beach-based web developer and PMP-certified Product Manager with over 10 years of experience in web development, product management, and developer relations. I help small businesses in the Hampton Roads area build, fix, and maintain their websites, from simple landing pages to full custom builds. I also bring deep experience in product lifecycle management, leading cross-functional teams of up to 160 personnel, and leveraging data-driven strategies to deliver results that align with real business goals.
What I Offer
Affordable web services for small businesses in Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads area.
New Websites
Custom websites built from scratch for your business. Mobile-friendly, fast, and designed to convert visitors into customers.
Website Fixes & Updates
Broken pages, outdated content, slow load times? I will diagnose and fix the issues holding your site back.
Redesigns
Give your existing site a modern look that builds trust and reflects the quality of your business.
Local SEO
Get found on Google by customers in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads. I will make sure your site shows up when it matters.
My Experience
Product Manager
InMotion Hosting
Own the full product lifecycle from discovery through launch, iteration, and end-of-life. Define and maintain product roadmaps balancing customer needs, business priorities, and technical feasibility. Collaborate with Engineering, Marketing, Operations, and Support to drive go-to-market execution and customer satisfaction.
Manager, Developer Relations
InMotion Hosting
Orchestrated cross-functional projects between Marketing, Developer Relations, and Product teams. Led and mentored a team of associates while cultivating strategic partnerships with developers and organizations.
Manager, Customer Success
InMotion Hosting
Led a team of 7 Supervisors managing 80-100 personnel. Orchestrated a large-scale transition for 160 team members to a cutting-edge Omnichannel platform. Drove company-wide NPS initiatives and implemented KCS methodologies.
Supervisor, Customer Success
InMotion Hosting
Directed daily operations for 8-12 front-line associates across Technical Support and Service tiers. Established the foundation for the Customer Success department while maintaining 75%+ KPI attainment.
Technical Support Team Lead
InMotion Hosting
Served as the primary technical escalation point and mentor for the support department, resolving complex server and software issues. Managed a pod that consistently met 100% of performance goals.
Public Safety Telecommunicator II
City of Norfolk
Managed high-stakes emergency communications using CAD systems and advanced radio networks. Acted as Supervisor for dispatch operations and modernized the department's web content.
My Skills
Developer Relations & Content Strategy
Project & Product Management
Languages & Frameworks
Systems & Infrastructure
My Portfolio
Whyzerr
Business website for a tech-powered private office suite company in downtown Macon, GA. Built with WordPress and Elementor featuring smart booking, AI answering service info, and responsive design.
GA Defense Criminal Lawyers
Website for a criminal defense law firm opening in downtown Macon, GA, steps from the Bibb County Courthouse. Built with WordPress and Kadence, featuring practice area pages, a consultation intake form, and local SEO targeting Bibb County and Middle Georgia.
San Diego ADUs
Informational website for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) company in San Diego, helping homeowners navigate ADU construction and regulations.
ANU Vision 4 Me
Website for a Virginia-based mental health services provider offering home-based counseling and support for adults, children, and families. Built with WordPress and Kubio.
PeakScale Legal
Single-page marketing funnel for a consulting service that grows bail bondsmen and law firms. Hand-built with vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a multi-step intake form, PHP email backend, and Calendly booking flow.
TourWax
A live music discovery platform aggregating concert tour dates, venue info, and artist news for 2,200+ artists. Features SEO-optimized landing pages via SSG + ISR, dynamic OG images, structured data, time-based discovery pages, and affiliate revenue integration.
StandUpdates
A comedy tour dates and news platform tracking 185+ touring comedians and 2,000+ upcoming shows. Features a curated comedy club directory, stand-up specials, automated tour and news pipelines, and SEO-first architecture. Sister site to TourWax.
Nunez Fine Jewelers
Concept redesign for a family-owned Virginia Beach jeweler with 20 years at Hilltop. Light editorial design with an emerald jewelry-case gallery showcasing the shop's real custom pieces in place of the stock photos on their current site.
Signs, Plaques & More
Concept redesign for a Virginia Beach trophy and awards shop operating since 1989. Photo-led catalog layout built around their real product and showroom photography, with a graphite, brass, and marble-green awards-house identity.
Signmasters
Concept redesign for a Virginia Beach sign and vehicle wrap shop founded in 1975. Built from their real project photos and client roster, restructured to lead with the fleet wrap work that made their name.
Dawn Pilates Studio
Concept redesign for a boutique Reformer Pilates studio with Chesapeake and Virginia Beach locations. A built-in weekly schedule grid replaces the external iframe on their current site, in a sage and terracotta palette.
Mike's Tree Service
Concept redesign for an 18-year Virginia Beach tree service run by two ISA Certified Arborists. Credential-forward layout that puts certifications, licensing, and the family team front and center.
Libbey's Power Washing
Concept redesign for a Virginia Beach pressure washing company founded in 2018. Before-and-after focused layout with service breakdowns and trust signals, in a water-and-sky palette built for the trade.
Writing & Articles
Set Up MX and SPF Records for Professional Email
Guide to configuring MX and SPF DNS records for InMotion Hosting Professional Email.
How To Fix the "DNS Server Not Responding" Error
Troubleshooting the DNS Server Not Responding error on Windows and Mac.
Fixing the "localhost Refused to Connect" Error
Step-by-step troubleshooting for the localhost refused to connect error.
How To Open a Port in UFW
Guide to opening ports using Uncomplicated Firewall on Linux servers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing React
Updated guide for installing React and setting up a new project.
How to Use Controllers in Laravel
Tutorial on creating and using controllers in the Laravel PHP framework.
Form Validation in Laravel
How to implement and customize form validation in Laravel applications.
Understanding CSRF Protection in Laravel
Deep dive into Cross-Site Request Forgery protection in Laravel.
How to Check the Laravel Version of Your Project
Quick methods to check which version of Laravel your project is running.
How to Stop and Disable Firewalld
Guide to stopping and disabling the firewalld service on Linux.
Get In Touch
Need a website built or fixed? Want to collaborate? Based in Virginia Beach and serving the Hampton Roads area. Reach out!