Maddy Bishop Van Horn on white

Maddy Closs

Director of Development

Maddy is a leader in full-stack PHP and JavaScript development, known for building teams that take pride in writing clean, accessible, and maintainable code. With a decade of experience spanning diverse industries and global contexts, she combines technical excellence with a consultative mindset to craft user-centered digital solutions. Maddy’s approach to problem-solving is both strategic and forward-thinking, ensuring every project she leads not only meets but exceeds client expectations.

At Savas Labs, Maddy has spearheaded transformative digital initiatives for organizations such as Duke University, Reading Is Fundamental, the White House Historical Association, and New York Cares. Her expertise extends across the development lifecycle, from architecting scalable applications to mentoring multidisciplinary teams in best practices for design, engineering, and collaboration. Her leadership ensures clients receive innovative, future-proof solutions aligned with their unique goals.

Before joining Savas Labs, she contributed to global health initiatives, leading international engineering programs across five continents. She has also developed embedded control medical devices and overhauled design curricula to promote Human-Centered Design in low-resource environments. She thrives in the fast-paced and dynamic environment of agency work, where adaptability drives success. Outside of work, you’ll find her hiking, doing yoga, or chasing after her daughter, two dogs, and six chickens.

Maddy exploring the world
On top of Mt. Kilamanjaro, Tanzania.
Maddy at work in the office