About Shane Larrabee

Overview

Shane Larrabee founded FatLab Web Support in 2010 to provide managed WordPress hosting and expert support services to commercial and nonprofit organizations nationwide. With over 25 years of web development and digital communications experience, he leads all operations while maintaining direct involvement in technical strategy, infrastructure management, and client services.

FatLab currently manages approximately 200 websites with a near-perfect uptime history, serving nonprofits, advocacy organizations, membership associations, and businesses that require reliable hosting combined with developer-level support.

Background

Shane entered the web development field in 1999, joining the workforce at a time when many major companies were launching their first websites. Working with large PR agencies early in his career provided exposure to Fortune 500 clients and federal agencies, where he built websites that were often these organizations' initial web presence.

This foundation allowed him to grow alongside the web itself, adapting to evolving technologies and industry standards over more than two decades.

His background in communications and marketing—rather than computer science—shapes his approach to web development and hosting. Shane focuses on strategic objectives, not just technical implementation.

This means asking why a website should be built or modified, understanding business goals, and ensuring technical solutions serve broader organizational needs. It's an approach rooted in his degree in Communications/Journalism and years working in public relations environments where websites were tools for achieving client objectives, not ends in themselves.

Education

Western Washington University
B.A., Communications/Journalism, Minor in Political Science (1995-1999)

Professional Experience

FatLab Web Support — Founder & Head of Hosting and Support Services (2010 - Present)
Alexandria, VA
Provides web support and managed hosting services to commercial and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Oversees all operations, ensuring hosting and support services are reliable, efficient, and tailored to meet diverse client needs.

Blue Water Media — Director of Client Services, Web Support Desk Supervisor (Oct 2010 - Nov 2011)
Greenbelt, MD
Supervised web support desk, oversaw client service activities, served as project and program manager, and managed technical/development hiring. Development and support activities centered around Drupal, WordPress, Joomla, Ruby on Rails, PHP, and Java.

Project BIG fish — Partner, Head of Web Development and Support (Nov 2004 - Oct 2010)
Washington, DC
Oversaw all web development, support, and maintenance activities. Led development of a commercial content management system (CMS) and new business development activities while helping run business operations. Built the firm's web development and support capability from the ground up.

Larrabee IBC, LLC — Principal, Web Consultant (Jan 2003 - Nov 2004)
Washington, DC
Built a web consultancy that was acquired by Project BIG fish in 2004. Focused on providing online communications consulting, development, and support to clients in Washington, DC.

The Hoffman Agency — Interactive Director (Apr 2001 - Nov 2002)

Brodeur Worldwide — Associate Interactive Director (Jun 2001 - Apr 2002)

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide — Interactive Media Specialist (Jan 1999 - Apr 2001)

Technical Expertise & Platform Evolution

Shane's technical experience spans the evolution of web development platforms. He began as an ASP Classic developer, progressed to ASP with VBScript, then spent several years working extensively with ColdFusion, where he developed a commercially successful custom content management system.

As open-source platforms gained prominence, he transitioned to Drupal and WordPress, working with Drupal for several years before focusing exclusively on WordPress.

Current technical expertise includes:

• Managed WordPress hosting and infrastructure
• Enterprise security solutions
• Performance optimization and troubleshooting
• Server administration and maintenance
• Hosting migrations and site launches
• Nonprofit and membership site architecture
• Legacy platform experience (Drupal, Joomla, Ruby on Rails, PHP, Java, ColdFusion, ASP)

Recognition & Track Record

Throughout his career, Shane has launched hundreds of websites as sole developer, lead developer, or team member. Projects have included nationally recognized websites for Fortune 500 companies, federal government agencies, prominent political figures, and national advocacy campaigns.

Shane's work has been recognized with PRSA Anvil Awards, AAPC Pollie Award, PRWeek Global Awards, and Webby Award nominations.

Shane has maintained continuous client relationships spanning two decades. Organizations including Club for Growth and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) have worked with him across multiple career transitions, with engagements that predate FatLab's founding.

Specializations

• WordPress hosting and support for nonprofits and advocacy organizations
• Membership association websites and AMS/CRM integration
• Political and advocacy campaign digital infrastructure
• Enterprise-grade security and monitoring
• High-availability hosting with proactive maintenance