See Also: Detailed Technical Skills

Summary

I am currently (2011) only interested in Rails and I will not return calls or emails about other positions. Thanks!
I develop in Ruby on Rails daily as you can see in my blog.
I'm now working with Boston Agile Partners on several client Rails applications. I created 9 different Rails applications of my own to initially develop my RoR skills, all of which you can see in my latest jQuery presentation.
These include Swapper a technical book swapping service, Rater a music rating application, Shopper a quick-turnaround shopping list application, Traveller for the last client test, Blogger, the traditional blogging application, Linker for my bookmarks, Shifter for a Ceaser Shift Decode, and Stats the first RoR app. that I wrote for browser usage information. I'm also working on several others!
I have a passion for working with new technology and using it to provide users with practical solutions to their needs!
Though I consider myself a geek, friends, colleagues and co-workers tell me that my greatest asset is my attitude and proven experience in closely working with business users, understanding their needs, keeping a friendly disposition and coming up with solutions that work for them.
Now that I am easily able to roll out Rails applications I am able to focus more on DRYer code, better Ruby skills, CSS3, more AJAX, JQuery, more plugins, gems, etc.
I'm using test:unit and currently learning Rspec and Cucumber. This all combines with my 10+ years of production experience in analysis, design and development on a wide variety of platforms, databases, languages and tools for several companies, a startup and even my own company!
For actual coding I currently use vi, textmate and rubyMine. My preferred browser is Opera due to the Speed Dial and Synchronization features, but of course I also look to test all applications in at least IE, Firefox and Chrome on Windows, Linux(Ubuntu) and Mac.

Objectives

To provide users with useful and innovative solutions.
To learn from others while sharing my own knowledge and skills.
To do the above in a fun, relaxed, environment, focused on the work.

Experience

Jan 2011 - Current   Boston Agile Partners, Cambridge MA
Rails Developer
Working on a variety of client (Rails) applications from a Hospital Survey tool to a Salesforce assistant to a Real Estate application. Worked to develop new functionality and convert poorly engineered applications to more standard RESTful simple code. Using jQuery mostly for forms and Rails versions 2.3.8, 2.3.11 and 3.0.3.

May 2003 - Jan 2009 Children's Hospital, Boston MA
Senior Business Intelligence Developer
Developed data extracts and a variety of reporting outputs for a large number of users and departments using Business Objects, Crystal Reports and Web Intelligence, with both Oracle and SQL Server databases. Used Cold Fusion to voluntarily write a 'Wikipedia' like "CDD" (Common Data Dictionary) internal application for the group with an Oracle backend. Participated in a number of different projects with a diverse cross-section of users and opinions, often working behind the scenes to resolve key issues. Ran a Data Quality Group with a variety of Hospital users at various management levels to identify and resolve complex Data Quality Issues. Attended several TDWI (The Data Warehousing Institute) conferences to learn more about trends in the Business Intelligence field and to stay educated on using current BI tools I was headhunted into this position by a former colleague at Children's who I had to worked with, though I was not looking for new employment at that time.

June 2002 - May 2003.  Balanced Scorecard Collaborative, Lincoln MA
Lead Developer
Created, modified and maintained Cold Fusion Applications using Cold Fusion 5.0 and SQL server 2000. Designed and coded new Bug Tracking application to track all bugs and enhancements. Performed analysis, design, coding and testing of several hundred bug and enhancement requests. Modified cfml code to use custom tags that streamline pages, reduce page size and promote re-use of objects. Create XSD schema and XML data extracts for data interchange with vendors. Created testing environment and test plan and ran testing with 12 in-house users. Made database improvements and added new functionality to meet business requirements. Created database library modules to promote the capture and reuse of knowledge gained from past and current clients.

Sep 2000 - October 2001.  Brandstamp, Cambridge Innovations, Cambridge MA
Senior Data Architect
Created Oracle 8i PL/SQL and Cold Fusion CFML code to build data merge and email campaign applications. Integrated these applications with the primary authenticated user applications. Created custom tags for page layout. Created application-wide error logging and reporting system. Created drill-down and category mapping update modules. Created Oracle Stored procedures and then called these procedures from Cold Fusion passing parameters and record sets. Wrote comprehensive client and server side CFML code for validation of all form input prior to writing updates to the database. Wrote Oracle PL/SQL packages, triggers and procedures for database auditing, error logging and updates. Wrote SQL*loader (with Parallel Load) scripts to perform ETL from etailer product catalogs. Created strategy and Cold Fusion / Stored Procedure code to maintain keys with original data sources and enables updates from etailers. Created Oracle partitioned tables and bitmap indexes to improve database efficiency for tables with several million rows.
Used explain_plan for query analysis, tuning and cost vs rules based comparison. Created table indexes and constraints to improve efficiency and integrity of SQL user, product and registration databases. Configured and installed java servlets on IIS 5.0 and Apache to transmit data from etailer sites to Brandstamp. Wrote UNIX shell scripts to assist in code development environment, file transfer and text searches. Wrote ASP/VB code to integrate etailer e-commerce web sites using VB, ASP, SQL Server 7.0 and SQL server 2000 on IIS/Apache/IPlanet. Maintained and enhanced three additional Cold Fusion Applications. Created and modified static HTML pages, with image modification through Photoshop and process development with Visio 2000. Created Requirements, Functional Specifications, Technical Specifications, Estimates and Coding for new functionality. Guided Company in the use of good analysis for requirements and functional/technical specifications. Performed QA on contracted projects and worked closely with outside contractors to identify and resolve bugs and ensure product compatibility with business direction.

Oct 1999 - Aug 2000.  Boston College, Chestnut Hill MA
Web Application Developer
Created web templates for dynamic HTML applications. Wrote back-end PL/1 support programs to extract data from MVS Mainframe for web presentation and update combined with HTML pages designed in Dreamweaver.
Created SQL*Loader scripts for data loads for the Peoplesoft HRS application and created SQR reports using the Peoplesoft application database. Installed NT Websphere Studio and VisualAge3.0 server based IDE. Started customization of connection components to back-end systems.
Reverse engineered vendor SQL product (EventCenter) to enable custom enhancements.
Provided back-up production support for Technical Webmaster. Fixed broken Perl scripts for users. Initiated and ran internal discussion group for knowledge and team development. Developed intensive personal Java/Visual Age training course. Studied XML technology and industry developments.

Apr 1999 - Oct 1999.  Snap2Web, Brighton MA
Owner, Web Site Design Firm
Sole proprietor of a small business web site Design Company. Gained experience in Internet Technology, web site design and graphic layout using a wide variety of tools including FrontPage98, PhotoShop and Canvas.

Jul 1998 - Apr 1999. CSC Consulting Corporation, Waltham MA
Senior Developer, Oracle Financials
Implemented successful upgrade to Oracle Financials (Projects, AR, PA, GL). Lead hands-on developer in upgrade of custom SQR environment. Responsible for production support and maintenance of Web Report Repository integrated with Oracle Applications, SQR Reports and User Security. Maintained HP/SUN UNIX PVCS environment and learned all the fun UNIX commands like grep, chmod, sudo, etc. Learned how to set up a good set of 4 system code bases for 'development', 'test' (user testing), 'volt' (volume testing) and production. A great experience given the recent proliferation (2007-2010) of operating systems, browsers and devices that (amy, or should) require testing for new applications. Provided production pager support 24 x 7.

1988 - 1998. Children's Hospital Of Boston, Boston MA
1995 - 1998 Application Team Leader
Responsible for a team of three developers in an enterprise-wide project to replace core Registration, Scheduling and Accounting systems. Presenter and technical sponsor for front-end registration system. Worked with a broad range of hospital management, end-users and IS staff to produce and present Current State Analysis and Future Business Process Requirements, followed by Functional Application Requirements. Translated these requirements into Business Process and Technical Specifications. Developed and presented demonstrations of the new software to management and end-users.
Team Lead and Primary developer through 9 month of coding, followed by 6 months of unit, integrated and interfaced testing with change management and issue resolution of over 1000 issues.
Provided production support 24 x 7 for Legacy applications.
1988 - 1995 Application Specialist I, II, III
Created Oracle SQL Database application for booking hospital preadmissions. Investigated, analyzed and documented manual booking system. Interviewed users to produce current and future design documents. Coded application using SQL, Oracle Forms 3.0 & SQR report writer. Created user training modules and rolled out interdepartmental application to 200+ users. Created unique reporting mechanism allowing users to completely customize reports without additional IS resources.
Maintained COBOL production system on a 24 x 7 basis. Analyzed and fixed a variety of bugs as reported by users. Wrote new COBOL reports.

Education

2011, March, Scaling Rails at Thoughtbot
2010, November, Rails Apps 4,5,6, Ruby Group Meetups (4!)
2010, October, Rails Apps 2,3, Ubuntu
2010, September, Rails App 1, Linux, mySQL
2010, August, Rails Books (various), RailsCast, Agile Books, etc.
2010, July, RoR Certificate, expertrating.com.
2010, July, AJAX FastTrack, Lynda.com.
2010, June, Ruby on Rails, Lynda.com*.
2010, May, Switch to Linux(Ubuntu) from Windows (3 new machines, etc.)
2010, April, Cold Fusion 9 New Features (ORM, etc.), Lynda.com*.
2010, April, Cold Fusion 9 Essential Training, Lynda.com*.
2010, April, Cold Fusion 9 Essential Training, Lynda.com*.
2009, September, Cold Fusion 8 Beyond The Basics, Lynda.com*.
2009, September, Cold Fusion 8 Essential Training, Lynda.com*.
2000 Cold Fusion Fast Track, Allaire Corporation, Newton MA
2000 Object Oriented Technology (1 week.)  IBM, Woburn, MA.
2000 NetG on-line training. Achieved passing grades in a wide variety of courses.
1999 Web Site Design using FrontPage98.  BCAE, Boston, MA.
1996 C++ (1 week).  Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, MA.
1994 Programming in C++.  (gpa4.0) Northeastern University, Boston MA.
1992 Oracle SQL & SqlForms.  Oracle Corporation, Boston, MA.
1984 - 1988 B.Sc. (Hons) Business Information Technology Studies, Manchester University, Manchester, UK

Languages & Tools

Advanced knowledge in SQL, HTML and programming practices.

Extensive knowledge in Rails, Oracle, PL/SQL, mySQL workbench ColdFusion v4.51 thru v9.0, Unix, Shell Scripting, Linux, Perl, JavaScript, SQR, Basic, Visio, Dreamweaver, PhotoShop 5.5 thru 9, Oracle Forms, HP Unix 10.2, VI, PVCS, VMS, MVS, DCL, Datatrieve, 8 bit Assembler(!), ABC Flowcharter

Basic knowledge of RSpec, Ruby, AJAX, JQuery, Cucumber, SQLserver Java, EJB, Flash, XML, Sun UNIX, IMAP/POP, C++, Visual Basic

Development

Local Rails groups East and West almost weekly with fellow developers, Subscriptions to Ruby on Rails Magazine, Internet World, XML Journal, Cold Fusion Developer Journal. On-line bookmark library (ror app of course!) of scripts, examples, code & organizations Constant online training courses in new technology each month and overall I just have a huge appetite for change, learning and growth.

Interests

Antique car restoration (1956 Buick), extreme skiing, Bonsai cultivation, world travel, XML technology.