Michael Cheers

Honours Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Commerce)

Open Source Security Contributor

• Identified and patched CVE-2017-9096 (XXE vulnerability, CVSS 8.8 HIGH) in widely-used PDF library with 16.2M+ downloads
• Discovered cryptographic weakness in IV generation using predictable PRNG seeded with timestamps
• Implemented secure fixes using cryptographically secure RandomNumberGenerator and proper XML parser configuration
• Both security patches merged within 3 hours by project maintainer
• Responsibly disclosed related vulnerabilities to upstream iText project for coordinated patching

Digital Certification Systems Developer

• Designed and developed secure digital stamp system for STIBC (Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia), launched September 2022
• Developed and launched similar system for ATIO (Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario), launched November 2025
• Implemented X.509 digital certificate infrastructure and PDF-A compliant document signing
• Built comprehensive web applications with member management, document processing, and real-time verification systems
• Deployed production systems using Docker containers on AWS EC2 with automated certificate management
• Developed multi-format document support (PDF, DOC, DOCX, JPG, PNG) with secure signature validation

Web Developer

• Built complete front-end website for multi-million dollar moving company (movingpapa.com) from Figma designs
• Developed responsive website using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Bootstrap framework
• Integrated Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other tracking solutions for marketing optimization
• Implemented interactive carousels, modern UI components, and SEO-optimized pages
• Created complex URL routing system supporting multiple service areas across Canada

E-commerce Entrepreneur

• Built and scaled Amazon reselling business achieving $150,000 in sales within 6 months
• Managed inventory sourcing, logistics, customer service, and financial operations
• Developed data-driven strategies for product selection and pricing optimization

Software Developer

• Developed custom email and contract signing system for existing transportation management platform
• Performed system maintenance and bug fixes on PHP/MySQL bus scheduling application
• Integrated PHPMailer for automated communications and mPDF for document generation
• Enhanced existing features and resolved technical issues for improved system reliability

Digital Certification Platform

• Built comprehensive .NET Core application with Entity Framework and MySQL database
• Implemented PKI certificate authority setup and automated SSL/TLS certificate renewal
• Created document verification system accessible to third parties at verify.stibc.org
• Developed usage analytics and monitoring systems with detailed reporting capabilities
• Ensured compliance with professional certification standards and legal requirements