Information Technology Systems Analysis and Design
38 Johnson St, Warrenton, Georgia 30828
Email: michael@huebener.com
Phone: 706-465-2743 ext 111
Objective: Information technology projects that bring high impact solutions with positive return on investment to customers. Help customers determine their information technology needs, decide on methods to accomplish requirements, and implement decisions.
Synopsis: I build successful teams and successful information systems projects
through creative problem solving and the ability to bring diverse pools of
resources together to accomplish the goal. I have been described as having an
unusual ability to see through a morass of technical details and drive directly
to the heart and solution of a problem.
EXPERIENCE:
Software Systems Consulting Projects as Owner of Michael Huebener, Inc. since October 1999
Software Project Manager - February 1999 - October 1999 - Vialog, Montgomery, Alabama
Successfully planned and executed the migration of all IT services from Atlanta into a merged facility in Montgomery, after which Vialog requested that I continue working in a telecommuting role to continue support of the systems remotely and guide development of new projects at the Montgomery site. The majority of my efforts focused on programs to retrieve call completion data from several types of teleconferencing bridges, manipulate the data into SQL database structures, and prepare the data for input to billing systems. Most development was in Visual Basic, but I also used VBA (in Microsoft Access) and C where appropriate. The challenges were a mix of stable-systems maintenance and development, mostly in FoxPro, and quick-fix solutions to unexpected problems. To enhance my ability to produce results, I mirrored most of the systems in my Atlanta office. Two Linux servers emulate the UNIX bridge equipment, and an NT Server provides the back-end database functions, with Win95, Win98 and NT Workstation clients to test the user interfaces. I also implemented IP tables on one Linux server to connect my internal network to the Internet. Supporting this environment helps keep my network design and monitoring knowledge current.
Director of Information Technology - May 1998 - February 1999 - Vialog, Atlanta, Georgia
Vialog is the corporation formed by the merger of Conference Source International and five other teleconference service providers. Shortly after the merger, I was promoted into this position to stabilize the Atlanta office information systems, halt increasing downtime problems, and promote increased use of information technology to reduce operating expenses and increase information availability. I succeeded in reducing downtime from periods frequently measured in hours per day to virtually none by analyzing failure points and instituting routine procedures to halt and prevent system problems. I provided for integrated parallel use of modern office automation tools to reduce the load on the existing production systems. This provided greater systems availability to customer service and operations while enabling managers to use powerful query and analysis tools to access systems data for control and improvement of revenue-producing operations. I replaced procedures for producing reports for wholesale customers and thereby reduced the reporting times from days to hours, and cut more than half the time required to close billing cycles. I produced, from local data sources, data feeds for corporate marketing programs that had been thought unavailable from this location.
When we later made a strategic decision to merge the two Southeast centers into a megacenter in Montgomery I elected not to relocate. The consolidation provided more opportunity for me to apply my skills to smooth the transition. I specified, procured, and configured components for data communication circuits between three sites that provided; valuable education for staff members, the ability to securely and rapidly exchange data between the sites during the consolidation, and a critical remote operations capability that alleviated problems caused by personnel attrition as Atlanta was downsized. I also designed remote data retrieval methods and consulted with operations managers in order to create programs to convert call completion data records into the format required for input to the Montgomery billing system. As the move timeline approached the critical stage, I assumed the task of project management for the final details. I helped the parties involved define their milestones, tasks, and timelines and provided a central point of contact for the rest of the executive staff.
MIS Manager, October 1997 - May 1998 - Conference Source International, Atlanta, Georgia
Transitioned the existing automation infrastructure from older technologies to modern network and software/database systems. Analyzed and documented the current network architecture and software systems, evaluated applicability of those systems to the user and customer needs, and made recommendations to management of upgrades and solutions to solve existing problems. Converted database routines from Clipper and other DBMS to SQL-compliant products. Maintained an overburdened, failing Novell LAN during the migration to Microsoft NT. Replaced a wide variety of "sneakernet" practices with network-based systems, often by writing and fielding quick-fix interim utility programs. Installed, configured, and implemented local and Internet mail. Obtained data from real-time UNIX-based digital conferencing bridges to support billing operations and management overview data. Provided a cost-effective, secure interface between the company and the Internet.
Network Manager - 1991-1997 - U.S. Army Reserve Command, Atlanta, Georgia
Designed, specified, and supervised the installation of three separate LANs at three sites as the organization grew from 400 to over 1000 users. The LAN has become a model for other organizations. Advised members of management on costs and budgeting for growth, often convinced them to proceed with projects they did not see the need for, but later appreciated. Repeatedly refined budget proposals as the project leader for various initiatives. Successfully predicted which technologies would endure and was an early adopter of technologies such as Ethernet switching and ATM in a campus backbone, which managed to keep up with unanticipated growth. Specified the architecture to extend the interface to ten remote offices incorporating one of the country's first implementations of ATM over T1 circuits. Selected the types of service and communication rates for a variety of other data circuits. Supervised, and if required performed, the installation and configuration of the equipment and services. The LAN currently serves over 1000 users at the central site, and over 4000 at the remote sites over ATM, ISDN, Frame Relay, and DDS circuits at rates from 56kbps to DS-3. Trained other staff members in the use of test and monitoring equipment, router configuration, troubleshooting techniques, systems and security administration, and operations in disparate operating systems. Primary LAN clients were Windows NT, Windows 95, MS-Windows and UNIX. Primary server operating systems were Windows NT and UNIX. Prepared special training instructions and informational articles for network users, prepared and presented briefings for management. Installed and maintained the UNIX-based firewall that isolates the corporate network from the Internet and configured the sendmail programs and DNS servers that ran on the firewall. Installed and set up security on the corporate World Wide Web server, and provided tools and instructions for the users who would maintain the content. Positively impacted the development and redesign of the Reserve Components Automation System by designing, specifying, installing, and using a network topology that actually worked.
Systems Analyst - 1987-1991 - Army Reserve Personnel Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Developed strategies to move users from a mainframe-centric environment to the use of LANs. Developed PC software to enhance productivity of users connecting to IBM mainframes. Most notably, engineered a front- and back-end system to allow remote users to dump transactions to a UNIX host, which performed edits and transferred data to the mainframe. Designed and coded C language programs to allow local users to efficiently manipulate and retrieve data for customer support in an early example of client-server implementation. Participated in life-cycle planning and configuration control committees for various projects.
Programmer Analyst - 1984-1987 - Second U.S. Army Headquarters, Atlanta, Georgia
Designed and developed a wide range of data input and query and reporting programs in COBOL on minicomputers. Evaluated and used a variety of DBMS tools and systems to enhance users access to information. Teamed on implementation of a broadband communications capability at the headquarters, which connected the minicomputer terminals. The broadband was later successfully used to interface PCs to the mini.
Other information: Excellent written and graphical communication abilities.
Previously held various levels of US Government security clearances.
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