Daniel A. Nichols

2841 Edinburg Ln § Flower Mound, TX 75028 Home: 972-539-3705 § Cell: 214-552-7255 E-mail: dan@kypris.com § URL: www.kypris.com/DanNichols.html

 

Microsoft .NET Application Developer

 

Results-driven developer of software and Web solutions, repeatedly retained by Fortune 500 clients from diverse industries (e.g. telecommunications, high-tech, manufacturing) to resolve complex business and technical challenges, drive new six-figure revenue streams, and facilitate a decided competitive edge in the marketplace. Advanced technology skills encompassing object-oriented design/development, cross-platform expertise, six-plus years of experience in Web development/site administration, and hands-on familiarity with a variety of languages/software/tools. Strong understanding of business flows/processes; able to rapidly discern and incorporate operational needs/requirements into user-centered, cutting-edge solutions. Articulate communicator, equally effective interacting with technical and operational teams.

 

Expertise

 

§         Scripting/Documentation §         OOA/OOAD/UML §         Technical Infrastructure

§         Complex Programming/Code Generation §         Technical Training & Support §         Cross-Functional Team Leadership

§         Testing/Debugging §         Software Product Development §         Cost-Effective Solution Delivery

 

Technology Summary

 

Languages:

C#, ASP.NET, Smalltalk, C++, Objective-C, Java, HTML, JavaScript, Lisp, Perl, XML, XSLT, VB, ASP, PHP

 

Software:

Visual Studio.NET, VisualWorks, VisualAge, NeXTSTEP, Envy, FrameMaker, Interleaf, Rational, SunONE Studio, XML Spy, Dreamweaver, FrontPage, ActiveReports, CodeSmith

 

Systems:

Windows NT/2000/XP, NeXTSTEP, UNIX, Linux, Lisp Machine, HP-UX, Solaris

 

Databases:

DB2, Oracle, Microsoft Access, MS SQL Server, MySQL, Gemstone, Versant

 

Methodologies:

UML, OMT, Use Cases, CRC, Fusion, Catalysis, XP: Extreme Programming

 

Certifications:

MCAD, MCP - C# Web/Windows, SQL Server 2000, XML Web Services, VB6, CIW Professional (Site Designer), Brainbench certified in Web Developer Client-Side/Server-Side/DB, Web Designer Page Layout, J2EE 1.4, C#, ADO.NET, ASP, XML, XSL, UML, Smalltalk, VB 6.0, HTML 4.0, Dynamic HTML, JavaScript, SQL Server 2000 Programming, Dreamweaver 4, FrontPage 2000, OO Design Patterns, OO Concepts, Web Design Concepts, Web Development Concepts, Web Design for Accessibility, Programming Concepts, RDBMS Concepts. Currently enrolled in MCSD .NET certification program.

 

Professional Experience

 

.NET Application Developer, 2004 to Present

Concentra Health Services — Addison, TX

Recruited for design and development of company-wide sales revenue & commission applications using C#, ASP.NET, custom controls, SQL Server Reporting Service, SQL Server 2000, Sybase.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Technical Lead on multiple .NET applications for sales revenue and commission reporting and tracking.

§         Design and development of new functionality for tracking marketing and sales activities, sales, customers and transactions.

§         Design and development of custom contact management application.

 

.NET Application Developer, 2003 to 2004

RedRiver Systems — Plano, TX

Recruited for design and development for online donation systems using C#, ASP.NET, custom controls, ActiveReports, XML, XSLT, SQL Server 2000.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Developed contact directory component for in-house Content Management System.

§         Participated in development of custom benefits enrollment application for major law firm.

§         Developed custom database migration tool using ASP.NET and SQL stored procedures.

§         Documented current and proposed applications using UML.

§         Responsible for enhancements and fixes of Import, Report, and Export functionality, using C#, ASP.NET, Stored Procedures, ActiveReports.

§         Extensive use of stored procedures, triggers, code generation, custom controls.

 

Web Developer, 2002 to 2003

TTI, Inc. — Ft. Worth, TX

Recruited for extensive OO background and knowledge of OO Design and UML to help drive redesign of enterprise website for major electronics components distributor using .NET.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Documented current website applications using UML Use Cases, Interaction Diagrams, and Activity Diagrams.

§         Key team member involved in redesign of current website into C#.NET framework.

§         Performed on-call support of existing ASP web applications.

 

Adjunct Instructor, 2002

AEC Texas Institute — Hurst, TX

Recruited to teach computer technology courses.
Courses Taught:

§         Java, Internet and World Wide Web Programming, including HTML, JavaScript, Dynamic HTML.

§         Object-Oriented Concepts and Programming in C++.

 

Software Engineer, 2002

Cerecom Systems — Plano, TX — www.cerecom.net

Recruited to develop software for custom call automation applications, utilizing Visual Basic and C.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Performed integration of 3rd party components to add functionality to ACD Reporting Presentation Software.

§         Developed custom VB modules using Windows API calls utilizing new FSO component.

§         Developed customization of Microsoft Setup/Install tool to add numerous features for application installation.

§         Open Source software contributor provided bug fixes and enhancement to Open Source software.

 

Web Developer, 1995 to Present

Kypris Software — Dallas, TX — www.kypris.com

Heavily involved in web technology since 1995. Designed, developed, and maintained personal site averaging 17,000 hits per day.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Redesigned commercial web site to increase traffic and exposure, for Cerecom Systems.

§         Designed and developed special-interest sports site Dan's Field of Dreams Baseball.

§         Designed and developed an educational institution site with over 1,000 registered alumni.

§         Designed and developed site for middle school band Web site manager for Downing Middle School Band.

§         Designed and developed 2 celebrity fan sites .

 

Software Engineer, 1999 to 2001

TransCore — Dallas, TX — www.transcore.com

Recruited to provide team leadership of major application redesign of company’s core product line of RFID technology supporting toll tag systems for airports, parking garages, and toll roads.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Contributed to six-figure revenue growth as lead developer of new ground transportation management system (GTMS) software application. Completely overhauled Transcore’s PassKey system, a gated parking facility application, to architect new GTMS application targeting airport clientele. Successfully restructured entire system to accommodate major shift in core business model to accommodate new event-driven (vs. dwell-time) operations, delivering an innovative, in-demand product installed in major airports (e.g. Los Angeles, Seattle).

§         Designed client GUI in VisualAge Smalltalk to achieve interface with Oracle, DB2, and back-end processor written in C++ within client/server architecture, and served as Envy library supervisor. Efforts resulted in significant improvements to version control, programming efficiency, and cross-developer communication.

§         Formally recognized for superior performance; earned “Outstanding Service” honors in 2000.

 

IT Consultant / Technology Specialist, 1991 to 1999

Dallas/Irving/Richardson, TX

Selected by boutique IT consulting firms to lead high-profile contract engagements (software/systems development, technical training/support) for Fortune 500 and major accounts including Sprint, Texas Instruments, Northrop-Grumman, Nortel, and MCI. Led technical and cross-functional teams in various project phases, including business requirements definition, design, coding, testing, documentation, and implementation.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Restored full functionality to MIS-critical Smalltalk applications that were negatively impacting customer service and sales by correcting coding issues and eradicating bugs within Odyssey, GEMS, Order Manager, and Receivables. (Sprint)

§         Delivered dramatic improvements to speed and efficiency of Indexing framework within ProcessWORKS application used for advanced process control within semi-conductor manufacturing. Set up customizable processes for various steps and machines used throughout fabrication operations through leading-edge, object-oriented design. Served as QA specialist/test monitor for minor release cycle of software and performed numerous fixes/enhancements resolving time-sensitive, customer-reported problems. (Texas Instruments)

§         Designed and developed integrated billing system (IBIS) incorporating multi-tiered price rule definitions into GUI components. Overcame challenges presented by add-on feature requests subsequent to requirements document approval, delivering a widely praised system within compressed timeframe. (Sprint)

§         Played an integral role in strategizing long-range technical architecture for company-wide application development. Trained client technology team in advanced OO methods to enable successful completion of pilot project employing corporate-side Manufacturing Execution System using Smalltalk and distributed objects. (Northrop-Grumman)

§         Analyzed, designed, and developed robust cellular network performance/monitoring system (using VisualWorks/Smalltalk) that gave client first-ever ability to run complete, accurate performance simulation analysis. Incorporated drag-and-drop network element catalog into layout, enabling efficiency-enhancing re-use for future network layouts and performance testing. Innovative solution greatly alleviated bottlenecks and was well received by client. (Nortel)

§         Provided 24x7 technical troubleshooting and support and conquered logistical challenges presented by an 83% reduction in IT staff and aggressive deadlines. (Nortel)

§         Developed departmental intranet site, with accountability for design, development, and architecture. (Nortel)

§         Right-sized stalled GUI development project, creating and implementing user-friendly interface (utilizing C++ on OS/2 platform) to enable crucial support of international telephone line configuration and provisioning system. Identified object-model flaws in class hierarchy for marked improvement in provisioning network element efficiency . (MCI)

§         Architected object database application (using C, OSQL, and UNIX scripts) to enhance network resource measurement/ management. Developed corresponding GUI application with 9,000+ lines of Access Basic code. (Texas Instruments)  

§         Quickly became self-taught expert in Smalltalk to engineer and launch software supporting digital cross-connect switch. Coached OO practices/methodology to technical team and innovated equipment redundancy schemes for real-time fault tolerance and general provisioning of digital cross-connect switch devices. (DSC Communications)

 

Senior Software Developer, 1998 to 1999

ClearSystems — Irving, TX — www.clearsys.com

Retained by telecom billing systems provider following major walkout of development team. Challenged to co-lead restoration of abandoned Innoverse software development project, a billing system coded in VisualWorks Smalltalk and Versant ODB.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Salvaged design of complex system with complicated design patterns to avert loss of six-figure investment in project.

§         Modified software for functionality improvements and used underlying core to redevelop objects in C++, HTML, Perl, and JavaScript, achieving successful transformation to a Web-based application – an enhancement key to the product’s subsequent five-figure sale to Atlanta-based company.

 

Member of Technical Staff, 1984 to 1991

Texas Instruments — Dallas, TX

Accountable for solution-centered software development and design furthering business goals.
Accomplishment Highlights:

§         Led application development/implementation for knowledge-based, interactive signal interpretation and seismic-processing workstation. Investigated human interface issues to facilitate conversion from batch-oriented tasks to interactive tools.

§         Developed, enhanced, and supported Lisp Machine software development tools, including the Zmacs Editor, Window Debugger, Inspector, Trace, and Stepper tools. Delivered marked improvements to Lisp Machine application command shell after previous failed attempts by other development teams.

§         Integrally involved in development, integration, debugging, and productization of X Window System server to TI’s Explorer Lisp Machine. Additionally, researched, recommended, acquired, and installed first copy of X-Windows System at TI.

§         Participated in structuring one of the first C++ class libraries to support tools and interfaces for improvement of C/C++ development environments. Modified and ported software and libraries to various platforms.

 

Education & Credentials

 

University of Oklahoma — Norman, OK — BS in Mathematics, Minor in Computer Science

§         Training: OO Analysis & Design Using Catalysis (1997), Advanced C++ (1994), OO Programming Using Smalltalk (1992), NeXT Developer Camp (1991), C++ Programming (1991), Graduate-Level Psychology Courses (15 cr. hr.) (1990-1991)

§         Affiliations: ACM (1984 to 1995), IEEE Computer Society (1984 to 1995), NtS4Ot (1992 to 1995), International Webmaster Association — HTML Writers Guild (1997 to present), American Mensa, Ltd. (1975 – 2000), Intertel (1986 – 1987), DDNUG (2003 to present)