Meet Tony Trapp

I’m a full-stack web developer, passionate about building unique, performance-driven websites and tools for businesses and creatives.

Let’s build your vision, your way.

About Me and My Journey: From Pastry Chef to Full-Stack Web Developer and Founder of DBTWeb

Humble Beginnings

Hi, I'm Tony, a web developer / Web designer / UI and User experience (UX) with a passion for design, technology, and creativity.

Originally from the small town of Tujunga , just outside Los Angeles, California my journey took me north to San Francisco in late 1999. It was there I landed my first job as an Assistant Pastry Chef at Elroy's restaurant , under the guidance of Executive Chef Marc Valiani located near the bustling intersection of Folsom and Beale Streets in the South of Market district.

Although I was thrilled to be working in the culinary world, my true passion lay in web design and web development / web application development.

The Leap into Web Development / Web Design

I would spend countless nights learning to code, creating mock websites, and teaching myself how the web worked from the inside out. In 2001, I took the leap and founded DBT Web Productions, which began as designbytony.com before evolving into DBTweb. From the start, I immersed myself in a wide array of technologies, honing my skills in:

Adapting and Growing

Balancing all these tools while designing websites was a challenge at first, but I grew significantly over the next few years. By 2003, I transitioned to the ASP.net framework 1.1, and upgraded my skills with SQL(Sequel) server Database, T-SQL(Transact-SQL), Jquery / Ajax, and JSON (Javascript Object Notation). While I dabbled with Coldfusion and PHP(Personal Home Page), I ultimately found my home with ASP.NET Web Forms, which provided everything I needed for dynamic, scalable web applications.

Building Infrastructure from the Ground Up

I didn’t stop at just development—I went all in.

Along the way, I set up my own server infrastructure, running Windows Server 2003, Flash Media Server, Kerio Mail Server, and Filezilla FTP server. By learning the ins and outs of server management, I hosted websites for over 100 clients—without ever advertising. In 2015, I migrated from Flash Media Server to Wowza Server as part of keeping up with evolving video technologies.

Exploring New Creative Mediums

Outside of web development, I also explored my interest in video production, 3D modeling, and sound design. I started experimenting with tools like Cinema 4D, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Audition, Adobe fireworks, and various plugins. This exploration allowed me to combine video and 3D objects, adding another dimension to my skill set. You can check out some of my creative work in the portfolio section.

The Struggles Behind the Scenes

But this journey hasn’t been easy.

I’ve faced struggles that most people don’t see when they look at me today. There were times I didn’t know how I was going to push through, moments I questioned if I was even on the right path. But I always had a fire inside me—something that wouldn’t let me give up.

There were setbacks—personal, financial, emotional. Times when the doors just wouldn’t open, no matter how hard I knocked. I felt lost, unseen, and sometimes unworthy. But even in the darkest hours, I held on to the belief that if I kept showing up, kept learning, kept trying… things would change.

Learning While Earning

And slowly, they did.

I’ve faced more than a fair share of struggles—especially in the beginning. One of the biggest challenges was learning multiple coding languages while juggling client projects. It felt like I was building the plane while flying it. Late nights turned into early mornings as I worked through errors and tight deadlines. Each client brought new requirements and challenges—some wanted sleek front-end designs, others needed strong backend logic. I had to figure it out as I went, and through it all, I grew stronger, faster, and more determined.

Every challenge, every sleepless night, every steep learning curve shaped me. They didn’t break me—they made me better.

Where I Am Now

Currently, I focus on Angular, ASP.NET Core Web API , Wordpress, a powerful content management system (CMS), and Plesk for web-based server administration Since 2015, I’ve also been working with modern tools such as:

These days, I reside in Staten Island, New York. I continue building, learning, and growing — not just for myself, but for every client I work with. DBTweb is the result of years of hustle, creativity, and an unbreakable belief in what’s possible.

TONY TRAPP