Below is a summary of my work history and areas of experience. You can also download both versions of my resume as MS Word and OpenDocument files, or HTML pages:

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Online Work Profiles

RentACoder

Also - I have a profile and resume on Rent-A-Coder, along with some project history and ratings:

Rent-A-Coder Profile

SourceForge

Furthermore, I now have a profile on SourceForge, where I assist on the VBDox project, and also will shortly be posting some of my existing apps as open-source projects.

SourceForge Profile

Resume and profile details:

[ Qualifications | Work Experience | Projects & Responsibilities | Education | References ]

Qualifications

Intuitive problem-solving skills and self-determination, including ability to independently identify, locate and utilize additional resources as needed to complete tasks unsupervised. Capable of adapting existing technologies and resources to solve new problems. Exceptional ability to quickly and thoroughly learn new skills as needed.

Levels: 1 = Basic, 2 = Intermediate, 3 = Strong, 4 = Advanced

Technology	Experience	Level	Other Details
MS Visual Basic	1994 - Present	4	From BASIC, to MS BASIC Professional Developer's Edition, to Visual BASIC 6.0. Developed numerous ActiveX Controls & DLLs. Used numerous additional controls such as MS Agent, RichTextBox, MaskedInput, ComDlg, ComCtl, DataList, DataGrid. Dynamic runtime creation, duplication, and modification of controls and forms. Window Sub-Classing to handle specific window messages (such as WM_GETMINMAXINFO for controlling window resizing). Interfaced with numerous 3rd-Party SDK Libraries and DLLs. Development of multi-language applications through language resource DLLs.
REXX	1993 - 2001	3	Extensive use of REXX in the OS/2 environment to develop web-server backend for ASAP Computers website, which provided real-time system configuration and pricing, and service tracking, and dynamic site themes based on holidays and seasons.
SQL	1999 - Present	3
DAO / ADO	1998 - Present	3
Winsock	2001 - Present	3	Developed Winsock API-based Class for VB to deliver better performance and flexibility
Hardware	1994 - Present	4	Experience with common and specialized PC and networking hardware installation and diagnostics.
Operating Systems	1994 - Present	4	Extensive experience using and supporting operating systems including OS/2, Windows 95/98/ME, NT4, 2000, and XP.
Popular Apps	1994 - Present	4	Thorough knowledge of common applications, including the Office suite, FrontPage, and QuickBooks Pro.
HTML	1995 - Present	4	Experience with raw HTML, as well as FrontPage 98 & 2000.

Previous Work Experience

Owner, Blue Ninja Software, 2002 - Present

Developed numerous applications for various clients, including:

• Access control application using biometric terminals and a central application and database to authenticate and selectively grant user access to secure doorways
• Biometric device integration and SDK library for 3rd-party developers (Details below)
• Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) synchronization with Atomic Clock servers
• SMTP and POP3 email servers
• HTTP web server (including the one which runs my web site, www.blueninjasoftware.com)
• Repeater interface software for XM Satellite Radio repeaters
• Various ActiveX controls, both simple and complex GUIs for underlying data objects
• Secure (DOD 5220.22-M compliant) file and free space shredding utility
• Credit Card Number validation (Using LUHN)
• GPS data parser, supporting both NMEA-183 and Rockwell Zodiac protocols
• PocketPC Applications including multi-purpose timer and RPN calculator with conversion capabilities.
• Interfacing with Z39.50 gateways for title lookup supplement to BookTrakker Pro software.
• Beta Tester for upcoming Intuit QuickBooks release.

Owner / Operator, ASAP Computers LLC, 1994 - 2002

Involved in and responsible for all aspects of business operation, including Technician, Customer Support, Sales, Management, Payroll, HR, Purchasing, A/P, and A/R. Developed and trained employees on use of internal applications to track customer job status.

• Technician from 1994 - 1995.
• Partner from 1995 - 2000.
• Owner from 2000 - 2002.
• Responsible for sales, new system builds, upgrades, repairs, customer service, technical support.
• Member of team that developed and supported a multi-user database system to track inventory, quotes, sales, and billing for a multi-million dollar international capacitor manufacturing company.
• Supported numerous small to mid-size companies (5-150 employees), including PC maintenance, network installation and maintenance, and application support.

Projects and Responsibilities

Hardware & Software Support

Supported numerous small to mid-size companies (5-150 employees) in such sectors as Insurance, Manufacturing, Public Assistance, Professional Offices, Retail, and Medical/Dental. Responsibilities included recommending products and/or services to address specific business needs, sale and implementation of those solutions, and ongoing support. Support consisted of telephone assistance, on-site training, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

Additionally responsible for construction, configuration, and troubleshooting of desktop and server PCs. This included installation of OS, drivers, software, and configuration. Extensively honed troubleshooting and repair skills - which translates to actually fixing problems rather than reformatting and starting from scratch.

Specialized hardware experience includes:

• Installation and configuration of system components (Motherboards, Audio/Video cards, NICs, Modems, SCSI Host Adapters, etc.)
• Diagnostics and resolution of all types of system problems: Driver version mismatches, resource conflicts, Windows problems, faulty components, misconfiguration, etc.
• Taking into account compatibility issues when making upgrade recommendations

Specialized software experience includes:

Operating Systems:

• IBM OS/2 2.1, 3 (Warp)
• Windows 3.1, WFW 3.11, 95, 98, ME
• Windows NT 3.51, 4, 2000, XP

Accounting:

• RealWorld and add-ons
• Intuit QuickBooks and QuickBooks Pro Single & Multi-user, including add-on Payroll and Merchant Services

Real Estate:

• StellarView
• MLS

Insurance:

• AMS Pathfinder, Sagitta, AfW
• Company-Specific rating applications, including Progressive,
• SEMCI Applications

Messaging, RFQ, etc.:

• EDI application for Motorola
• Motorola Schedule Sharing and RFQ Upload System

Results included reduced hardware replacement costs and greater uptime. Also, application support provided clients a quick turnaround as opposed to waiting through vendor call queues. Exposure to such a wide range and variety of problems and situations has proved to be a valuable resource to apply to other clients and circumstances.

Network support

Installed and supported pre-existing and newly installed network infrastructures, as well as migrated clients from older technologies to newer, more productive solutions. This included conversions from 10Base-2 Coaxial Thinnet to Switched 100Base-TX Twisted Pair configurations. Responsibilities included determining the materials needed, the physical installation of the cabling and networking hardware, Ethernet Adapter upgrades for desktop PCs, and workstation configuration.

Hardware used included:

• Hubs, Switches, and Routers
• Multiple types of Cable Termination (5/25 system, Keystone Jacks, Patch Panels, etc.)
• Network Surge Protection (APC ProtectNet series).

Results included reduced network traffic load and separation of collision domains. Performance was increased even as additional users were connected and new shared resources were available.

Internet Access Deployment

Provided internet access to small offices and mid-size companies either via an existing network or through a newly installed network. Access types included shared Dialup or Broadband solutions using Frame Relay, Cable, or DSL. Installations typically required configuration of a router and IP setup on individual workstations. Security issues were also addressed, specific to the type of access used.

Installed E-Mail systems for internal, external, and/or combined use, depending on the needs of the company.

Specialized experience includes:

Microservers:

• Intel E-Mail Station
• Intel Storage Station
• Cobalt Qube, RaQ dedicated Linux-based servers (E-Mail, FTP, Web, File Sharing (SAMBA), Collaboration, etc.)
• Maxtor MaxAttach NAS

Routers:

• M3/200/300 series Analog
• 400/500/600 series DSL and ISDN
• Intel Internet Station and Internet Station 56k
• Addtron and LinkSys routers

Firewalls:

• WebRamp 700 series
• The Eagle Firewall
• Norton Personal Firewall
• ZoneAlarm

By sharing Internet access resources, clients saved money by reducing extra phone lines and dropping extra dialup accounts. In many cases, clients ended up with faster and more reliable access at a lower monthly cost than the previous configuration.

Application Development Experience

Specialized Hardware Interface

Developed an application to control employee and visitor access to doors via client/server installation consisting of a server running this application and numerous biometric terminal sensors distributed throughout the facility.

Implementation of a vendor-provided SDK enabled one type of terminal, and the second type of terminal had to be interfaced using protocol specification documentation.

Encryption techniques were used to protect the biometric template information, and performance was a key issue, since one biometric template had to be matched to numerous database entries in a minimum amount of time to provide real-time access to the doors without delay.

3rd-Party Software Development Kit

Developed an SDK for 3rd-parties to implement my client's biometric capabilities in their own software. SDK consisted of several features, including:

• A generic, extensible biometric device class which supported additional plugin modules to implement additional hardware and software devices through the original interface
• Compliance with several BioAPI Consortium data types and enumerators
• Secure internet communications with central server for authentication and enrollment

ActiveX Control Development

Developed custom ActiveX controls such as:

• Software registration control
• Custom File/Open dialog that would only allow selection of a path (not a file) where specific conditions were met (In this case, specific files had to exist in the path)
• Custom control for an internet-based client/server messaging application

Legacy Data Access

Developed an application to access several data files from a legacy DOS application. Data file structure was undocumented, so record structure and valid field ranges had to be determined. Several record types were variable-length and had to be derived at run-time. Display and modification of data based on rules of the DOS application to ensure both data and logic integrity.

Several run-time decisions had to be made to determine the scope of capabilities available to the application - for example, if the DOS application was not registered, certain capabilities had to be disabled, and some constants needed to be loaded from a default file, which had to be created to mimic the structure of the specialized files relevant to the application.

Several data fields used obscure data formats which required conversions to be developed, such as non-standard date values and use of the old Pascal Real48 floating-point number. Also, encryption routines were developed to decode passwords and registration codes.

Inventory/Ordering/Invoicing/Shipping

Supported and made custom modifications to a VB / ACCESS application which tracked sales, inventory, shipping and invoicing for a multi-million dollar international capacitor manufacturer whose clients included such big-name companies as Hughes Aircraft, Motorola, and Lockheed-Martin Aerospace.

Programming skills used:

• DAO database controls
• Use of ListView controls
• Use of ComDlg controls to implement printing
• Use of MDI interface for parent/child forms

As a result, client was able to consolidate many individual programs into a single application. By adapting the program to changing business needs, client was able to avoid replacing software and re-training employees.

Job Tracking

Developed, deployed, and trained on the use of a VB application to track the status of pending jobs for my company, ASAP Computers LLC. This system allowed any employee from any terminal in the store to view or update job status, add comments on progress, and generate reports to help direct workflow.

Programming skills used:

• DAO database controls
• Use of TreeView and ListView controls
• Use of MDI interface for parent/child forms

In-store workflow was streamlined and part-time employees working different schedules were able to coordinate their work and pick up where another left off. Also, paperwork was reduced and accuracy was increased due to lack of errors in duplication of data entry.

Client/Server Messaging

Developed an application similar to the popular “ICQ” Internet Chat client, whereby workstations would be logged in to a central server which kept track of who was online or offline, stored user profile data, and allowed messages and files to be sent between clients in a secure fashion without direct client-to-client connections. Security was maintained by encrypting data using a dynamic algorithm and by sending all messages and data through the server, thus never revealing a remote users IP address. Support was added to allow direct client-to-client communications as an option or to reduce server overhead.

This project required the use of dynamically created instances of the Winsock control, code to track and enumerate individual windows for each conversation and to deliver data from a common source to individual form windows. In addition, third-party ActiveX controls were used to implement WebCam support.

Programming skills used:

• Dynamic creation of new instances of many controls, including Winsock
• Use of Collection objects
• Use of public subroutines in forms to receive data from other forms
• Use of ADO database controls
• Use of RTF control to apply effects to conversations, such as colored headers, graphic symbols, text formatting, etc.
• Use of third-party ActiveX control for WebCam implementation
• Use of Pop-Up menus and dynamic context-based menu option availability

This application is an exercise project to further develop socket programming and other skills, and is currently not used in a commercial environment.

PocketPC 2002 Applications

• Multi-purpose Timer
  http://www.BlueNinjaSoftware.com/PocketPC/NinjaTimer/

Other Miscellaneous Applications

Developed other applications as necessary to address specific needs, such as calculations, logic/decision making,

Some examples include:

• Atomic clock synchronization using SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol)
• Load-packing algorithms to optimize placement of various items into various storage spaces

Other Programming Skills Used:

• Internet control (Web Browser)
• Implementation of various standard protocols (SNMP, SNTP, POP3, SMTP, HTTP)
• Implementation of new, proprietary protocols
• Microsoft Agent Control, including animations, custom menus, text-to-speech and voice recognition
• Use of TabStrip controls to implement tabbed option sheets by relocating/reordering controls on form
• Integration of other third-party controls as needed

Education

Blue Ninja Software, 2002 - Present

Project-specific training for numerous third-party clients, including foreign Biometric corporations.

ASAP Computers LLC, 1994 - 2002

On-the-job training from vendors such as Intel, Cobalt, Ramp Networks, Microsoft, Creative Labs, and APC. Continuous hands-on experience with nearly every aspect of the industry. Numerous books purchased for additional self-taught skills.

UMass Dartmouth, 1993 - 1994

Computer Engineering courses included Electronic Systems Design and programming in Visual Basic.

Eastern CT State University, 1992 - 1993

Computer Science courses included programming in BASIC and Pascal.

Windham RVTS, 1990 - 1993

Electronics curriculum included Electronic Systems Design and Troubleshooting as well as programming in C+.

The Talcott Mountain Academy of Science and Mathematics, 1987 - 1989

Accelerated science & math curriculum.

The Talcott Mountain Academy of Science and Mathematics, 1986 - 1987

Actively participated in the Talcott Mountain Academy of Science & Mathematics' summer program, gaining experience with electronic circuits, computer programming in BASIC, and real-world application development with the GEMINI robot in a structured, hands-on environment.

References

Rent-A-Coder

This site rates freelance software coders on all types of projects. As of 2/8/2006, I maintain an 9.00 (Superb) rating on 20 projects. For my latest stats and rating, see:
http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/SoftwareCoders/showBioInfo.asp?lngAuthorId=308991

Handango

This site provides download, purchase, and registration services for handheld device software. For my current listing of featured applications and their ratings & reviews, see:
http://www.handango.com/PlatformTopSoftware.jsp?platformId=2&title=Blue+Ninja+Software&authorId=318030

PocketGear

This site provides download, purchase, and registration services for handheld device software. For my current listing of featured applications and their ratings & reviews, see:
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_search.asp?developerid=5087&associateid=463

PocketPC City

This site provides download services for handheld device software. For my current listing of featured applications and their ratings & reviews, see:
http://www.pdastreet.com/cgi-bin/search-software.pl?devicetype=ce&search=yes&devID=5934

SourceForge

Furthermore, I now have a profile on SourceForge, where I assist on the VBDox project, and also will shortly be posting some of my existing apps as open-source projects.
SourceForge Profile

Additional professional and personal references available.