Scoop, there it is!

Bliner earned his undergraduate degree in computer engineering from the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in 2023. He now works as a software developer for the U.S. Navy and lives in Point Vedra Beach, Florida, with his partner, the owner of Flo’s Premium Ice Cream shop.

“Even when I graduated from WVU, I didn’t feel like I was done there,” Bliner said. “I really liked what I was doing in terms of professional software development, so when I found out about the online program for MSSE, I figured it would be a perfect fit for me. My roots are in WVU, and there’s that loyalty and pride.” 

Bliner originally chose WVU because it was close to home yet still far away enough where he felt he could get the true college experience.

“During my tour, I was drawn to the campus and appreciated the liveliness,” Bliner said. “I knew whatever I wanted to do, I could do it there.” 

Bliner fondly recalls his time on the Evansdale campus, especially frequenting Little Donkey in Evansdale Crossing. He also remembers the late-night computer science labs, which he enjoyed for their blend of challenge, creativity, and fulfillment.

Since leaving West Virginia, Bliner enjoys his time in Florida either visiting the beach, spending time with his family and dog, or heading to Disney World for a day trip.

For years, Bliner said, he’d wanted to build an app to help Flo’s Premium Ice Cream thrive.

“When I took a class in mobile app development, it finally gave me the foundational skill set to achieve that,” he said. 

Rather than treating the app as an academic assignment, Bliner approached it as a real engineering product.

Incorporating the industry-standard tools he’d been introduced to through MSSE, Bliner handled the app’s early design and modeling, developed it for use on different platforms, and incorporated data management and security features. 

At first, he said, he’d imagined the app as a digital extension of the shop’s physical location, offering a menu and store hours.

“Then I realized that it needed to be a real-world business solution,” Bliner said. 

To secure approval for the Apple App Store, he developed new features, including a QR code-based rewards system and a notification feature that he now sees as a vital bridge between the shop and its community.

“Now there’s one central place for communicating around early closures, for example, or new promotions,” Bliner said. “I’m really proud that that made it into in the final production build.”

The MSSE program trained Bliner in the software development life cycle and how to transform an idea into a product.

“I didn’t realize how many of the skills I was learning in the program were sticking with me until I actually applied them to something real,” he said.

Balancing functionality with privacy was always a priority for Bliner.

“I didn’t want to create an app that collected so much personal data on its user. No one likes apps that unnecessarily track our locations, track our usage, so I wanted to build something that doesn’t even require user credentials.” 

The development process involved rigorous testing — with Bliner’s family and friends as the primary critics.

“My partner was my beta tester,” he said. “I’d install a new test version and then sit down and watch like a hawk to see how he was interacting with it.”

Watching users interact in real time was an essential part of the process for Bliner.

“When I initially designed the menu cards, I made them bouncy, just to make the app a little playful,” he said.

“But the second I got it in front of users, they’re tapping on it and asking, ‘Why isn’t this doing anything?’ I realized my intention wasn’t coming across, so I fixed it.”

While the app is now live, Blinder plans to continue developing the platform. DoorDash integration is the next step, he said.

“The WVU MSSE program has been eye-opening,” he said. “I can’t believe my skills now compared to what I came in with,” Bliner said.

Blinder has already seen success with his app and plans to continue promoting it through social media channels like Facebook and Instagram.

“The user base is growing,” Bliner said. “It’s still small with 30 downloads according to App Store Connect but I can say that customers have been using the Rewards system and there are already two 5-star reviews of the application on the Apple App Store.”

Along with the app growing, Bliner hopes to expand this application to Android devices as well, which will take some slight editing to ensure the app can be put onto Google Play, such as including a close loop internal testing cycle for two weeks.

“I definitely see a future in mobile app development,” Bliner said. “Whether it be a personal hobby or something that turns into a career or entrepreneurial for me is still unknown, but having these skills is not something that I want to easily let go of.”

I would love to make more apps for small businesses,” Bliner said. “It was very rewarding for me to receive the feedback that the rewards system is in use and that people I’ve never met are using something that I’ve created and seeing value in it.”

Bliner’s success is also a reminder of the opportunities available to students who are ready to turn ideas into impact. Programs like those offered through West Virginia University Online provide the tools, flexibility, and support needed to develop skills that can directly shape communities and industries alike. For anyone looking to grow as a leader, innovator, or problem-solver, now is the time to explore how an online education can open those doors. The next meaningful project—the next story of lasting impact—could begin with the decision to take that first step.