Des Moines, Iowa · Let's get to work
Justin Cateron
I've been writing code since 2003, back when tables were a layout strategy. Since then I've built e-commerce platforms, content sites, internal tools, and integrations of every shape and size. Today I lead web development at Kreg Tool, where I manage the team, still write plenty of code, and drive our work in AI and web automation.
- Now
- Web Development Manager, Kreg Tool Company (opens in a new tab)
- Before
- CMRignite, Flying Hippo, Meyocks, Midwest Basement Systems
- Stack
- JavaScript, React, Next, LAMP, LEMP, Node, MySQL, Postgres
Selected work
All projects
Where I’ve
worked
2024 – now
Web Development Manager · Kreg Tool Company
A hands-on Web Development Manager who leads Kreg's e-commerce and web platforms; serves as the technical lead for its AI and web automation efforts.
2022 – 2024
Director of Web Development · CMRignite
Led a team on redesigns for the National WIC Association, EBSA and APHIS. Built a migration script for 1,000+ pages and a marketing materials portal.
2021 – 2022
Director of Webservices · Flying Hippo
Led cross-functional digital teams and projects while modernizing development workflows with CI/CD, reusable WordPress packages, and automated API-driven systems.
2016 – 2021
Digital Manager / Lead Developer · Meyocks
Led development of custom digital solutions and websites, translating strategy into execution while improving client efficiency by up to 90% and managing a team of developers.
2014 – 2016
Dev Ops / Lead Developer · Midwest Basement Systems
Launched Stowify, a SaaS app on Adobe Sign and Twilio, which raised customer response rates by 300%.
2013 – 2014
Web Developer · Slash Web Studios
Developed and managed 70+ custom websites and web applications using full-stack technologies, APIs, project scoping, and client-focused delivery.
Recent work
A look at some of the websites and digital experiences I’ve helped build, improve, and maintain in recent years.
- 01Kreg Toolkregtool.com (opens in a new tab)
- 02Learn Kreg Toollearn.kregtool.com (opens in a new tab)
- 03Blue Stream Poolsblue-stream-pools.com (opens in a new tab)
- 04Goodman Law, P.C.golawpc.com (opens in a new tab)
- 05MasterDowelmasterdowel.com (opens in a new tab)
- 06Hawkeye VanGinkel Lawn & Snowhawkeyevanginkel.com (opens in a new tab)
- 07Flying Hippoflyinghippo.com (opens in a new tab)
- 08APHISaphis.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)
Writing
All posts- Jun 2026The Problem With ConversationsBy June, the website agent was good at answering a question. Then I asked it a second one, and it had no idea what we'd been talking about.
- May 2026Teaching the Agent to Say "I Don't Know"The hardest thing to teach the website agent wasn't how to answer. It was when not to. An honest "I don't have enough information" turned out to be one of the most useful things it could say.
- May 2026RAG Wasn't the Magic Button I Thought It WasI'd read that RAG fixes hallucinations. It doesn't. It moves the problem into everything that happens between the question and the answer, and that's where the real work turned out to be.