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   Steve's Blog
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| When I took my first BASIC programming class at Phillips University in 1980, I had no idea that I would spend the next twenty five years working in information technology. During that time I have worked with mainframe, midrange and PC systems. I have been a manager, team lead, programmer, systems analyst, systems consultant, even a mainframe field engineer. |  IBM 5100 - The model I took my first BASIC class on in 1980. |
 I
started my position at UMB
Bank in March, 2005. They wanted a veteran Java developer who knew Lotus Domino
that could lead a team of developers. It was as if the position was
written for me. I joined the UMB team as Group
Leader for Java Development. I lead an eight person team transitioning
from Perl and Domino to Java. I love it here. |
In January 2005 I received a phone call from a friend at Centriq Foss
Training that needed a favor. They were overbooked and needed
a Java instructor to teach their evening Java Career Changer program
for a month. I signed on an I am still teaching today. My first group
of Career Changer students (FossJavaCC)
finished in June 2005. Wash, rinse, repeat... |
From 2001 - 2005 I worked at Integrated
Corporate Solutions, Inc. Initially my role was eBusiness Architect;
however, in 2004 I became Software Development Manager. Despite the
title change I did just as much coding as I did before, thanks to
a dedicated team of professional developers were largely self directed.
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From 1998 to 2001 I ran Byteworks full-time. I continue to operate Byteworks part-time--offering contract
Java instruction and programming in the evenings. Almost all my work done with Byteworks prior to 2001
was at Sprint Corporation (before they began outsourcing). For two years
I provided Lotus Notes services to Sprint, but starting in late 1999
I began doing Java development exclusively. I wear many different
hats at Byteworks, including: project manager, technical team lead, trainer / mentor,
object oriented architect, Java developer, application support, and on and on. |
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My first two years at DST I was responsible for implementing AWD, DST's workflow imaging application. Back then it ran on an IBM AS-400 with OS/2 workstations. The new Windows version was just being developed. My main project was the consumer lending center in Wilmington, Delaware for a large bank. I also supported an insurance company in Ottawa, Canada and a employer benefits management service in San Mateo, California. |
 I worked for Amdahl Corporation
for 9 � years. Amdahl transferred me to Customer Service headquarters
in Sunnyvale, California after I received my MBA in 1989. At
headquarters I was the lead Systems Analyst for a multi-million
dollar mainframe field support application called F.A.S.T. It was
while working on a related product tracking application that I had
the opportunity to travel to France, England and Germany to do
training. My first five years at Amdahl I worked in Denver as a
cross-trained field engineer where I had several uniprocessor
accounts and assisted in supporting larger accounts like AT&T and
Mountain Bell. In addition to account management I was responsible
for installing and supporting Amdahl mainframes, models 470, 580,
5880, 5890, and DASD devices. |