Mark Stenquist

Hi, I'm Mark Stenquist

Senior Frontend Engineer who transforms complex ideas into scalable web applications that drive business growth.

A bit about me

My journey began on the founding team of CampusLIVE at UMass Amherst, a college startup that grew from dorm room idea to a multi-million dollar company backed by Highland Capital Partners and CRV. This early experience didn't just teach me how to code; it showed me how technology can scale human connections and create real business value.

At Google Ventures-backed CustomMade, I grew my the frontend skills and used them to help them connect thousands of artisans with customers seeking custom furniture and jewelry. I learned that great user interfaces aren't just about clean code, they're about understanding user psychology, reducing friction, and building trust through digital experiences.

After CustomMade, I spent the next five years as an independent consultant, working with dozens of Boston-area startups across industries from fintech to healthcare and beyond.Each project taught me something new about solving complex technical challenges while meeting aggressive business timelines.

In 2020, these experiences and connections led me to co-found VisualBoston, where I lead engineering for our digital agency. We've grown from a pandemic pivot to a thriving team that helps ambitious companies build their digital presence.

Technical Foundation

Core Expertise & Technical Stack

My 15+ years in frontend engineering span the evolution from jQuery to modern frameworks. I specialize in:

What Sets Me Apart

I obsess over creating seamless experiences on the web. Having worked at venture-backed startups, I understand the pressure to ship fast while building for scale. I've led technical decisions that supported 10x user growth, optimized applications serving millions of requests, and mentored development teams through complex product launches.

My current obsession is the intersection of AI and frontend development. I'm building tools and workflows that leverage generative AI to accelerate the design-to-code process, automate repetitive development tasks, and create more intuitive user interfaces. This isn't just about using ChatGPT to write code—it's about fundamentally rethinking how we build digital products.

Beyond Technology

Growing More Than Code

When I step away from the screen, you'll find me in the garden with my hands in the soil. I hold a Permaculture Design Certificate and am passionate about regenerative agriculture practices. My current project is transforming our quarter-acre lot into a productive ecosystem that supplies fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit for our family and neighbors.

Permaculture principles have actually influenced how I approach software development—both involve designing sustainable systems, understanding interconnected relationships, and creating solutions that improve over time. Whether I'm planning a garden bed or architecting an application, I'm thinking about long-term sustainability and beneficial relationships between components.

Music & Creative Flow

I've been playing guitar for over two decades, from classical fingerstyle to indie rock. Music provides a different kind of problem-solving—one that's intuitive rather than logical, emotional rather than rational. Some of my best coding insights come during guitar sessions, when my analytical mind relaxes and creative solutions emerge.

I believe the best developers are renaissance thinkers who draw inspiration from diverse sources. My interests in permaculture, music, and technology aren't separate hobbies—they're different lenses through which I understand systems, patterns, and human needs.

Ready to Build Something Great?

I work with forward-thinking companies and ambitious entrepreneurs who understand that exceptional digital experiences drive business results. Whether you need a technical co-founder, a frontend architect for your next big feature, or a consulting partner to help navigate complex development challenges, I'd love to explore how we can work together.

Current availability: I take on 1-2 strategic consulting projects per quarter alongside my work at VisualBoston.

Get In Touch:

Currently most interested in projects involving AI integration, complex data visualization, or scaling frontend architectures for high-growth companies.