RICHARD D. ROBBINS

IT Veteran with 30+ Years Full-Spectrum Software Experience

18 Cross Highway, Westport, CT 06880 (203) 557-3558 (h), (203) 856-4137(c) richard@richardthecomputerwizard.com

OBJECTIVE:

Seeking a position where my extensive programming background, architectural and design skills, and seasoned judgment will be effectively utilized for the maximum benefit of the employer

TALENTS & EXPERTISE:

• 7 years experience in OO languages: Enterprise Java, C++. Extensive experience in many other languages such as C, Visual and other Basics; good scripting skills, Python enthusiast.
• Excellent software architecture and design skills. Comfortable with UML and OO design methodologies.
• Strong foundation in database skills – data analysis, querying, reporting. Hands-on experience with both MS SQL Server and Oracle environments.
• Strong analytical skills. Able to effectively grasp complex problems and devise complete, practical, and cost-effective solutions.
• Seasoned judgment combined with rational and thoughtful decision-making ability; able to think within or outside the box as the situation requires.
• Extensive hands-on experience with full-lifecycle software development, from conception, analysis, architecture and design, through implementation, QA, production release and ongoing support. Knowledgeable about SDLC models, able to pick the best for a given problem.
• Superior written communication skills – proposals, specifications, presentations etc. Well-versed in visual display of quantitative information as propounded by Edward Tufte.
• Proven ability to manage and supervise software developers, while inspiring loyalty, top performance, and employee retention via my enlightened and effective, Agile-influenced managerial style.
• Proven ability to gather business requirements from nontechnical users, and devise effective technical solutions.
• Eclectic technical background with many minor specialties: rule-based systems/AI, business process monitoring/alerting, ETL processes, scientific/engineering software, voice IVR systems.
• Windows specialist with good *nix familiarity/comfort; have used Ubuntu at home.

NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Improved efficiency of enrollment and agent recruitment teams at Healthmarkets through business process analysis and implementation of solutions using SalesLogix CRM.
• Conceptualized, architected, designed, spec’d, pushed through bureaucratic hurdles, and implemented a Web site cobranding system, driven by XML and coded in Java.
• Implemented complex, high-performance rate-calculation algorithm in Java.
• Architected, designed and implemented highly customizable mass mailing engine to notify customers of insurance events, using business monitoring package called KnowledgeSync.
• Conceived and spec'd an innovative mechanism for accomplishing real-time ETL transfers of data between databases using Java EJB message beans and JMS technology combined with Java stored procedures.
• Formed a successful consulting company under which I marketed my programming services in C++ and Java to numerous clients.
• Wrote successful process-monitoring system for beverage industry, detecting and controlling realtime CO2 content in soft drinks, in Visual Basic.
• Played major role in design and implementation of the interface software to a commercially successful line of spectroscopic analysis workstations; written initially in Prolog, then in Basic.
• Designed and implemented full-featured word processor in C.
• Invented and implemented intelligent, heuristic algorithm for translating abbreviations into email addresses in assembler language.
• Designed and wrote highly sophisticated artificial intelligence program in Pascal to play backgammon (Master’s project at University of Miami).

RICHARD D. ROBBINS, cont’d

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY, 2000 - 2010:

Senior Developer (Sectra N.A. Inc., Shelton, CT, June 2009 – present)

Skills: Server-side J2EE Java using Struts, Velocity, JSP, servlets running under Tomcat; MS-SQL Server database; Python scripting;

· Maintenance and enhancement of a Radiology Information System (RIS) widely used by hospitals and medical imaging clinics throughout North America.

· Wrote highly sophisticated 2000-line Python program for performing complex ETL transfer of customer legacy data from competing RIS system.

· Currently performing major rewrite/refactoring of scheduling subsystem.

Manager of Episode Development (HealthMarkets Inc., Norwalk, CT, Oct. 2006 – Nov. 2008)

Skills: guiding, mentoring and overseeing software developers; project management/scheduling; driving projects to completion in corporate environment

· Managed and mentored 4 programmers, 2 C++ and 2 database developers, in the development of a highly sophisticated, rule-based, real-time claim grouping system written in C++.

· Managed relationship with external consultant, resulting in successful delivery of VB application for data maintenance.

· Directed the design and implementation of enhancements to the engine, culminating in successful release to a production environment where it was used to recommend claim payments for a self-directed insurance product known as Smart Funds.

· Directed the adaptation of the grouper to drive a vital compliance-related application, resulting in on-time, in-budget release to production where it dynamically applied complex rules regarding state mandates to claims.

· Oversaw maintenance and enhancement of a sophisticated multidimensional Data Mart, implemented using Oracle data warehousing tools, for the storage, display, and analysis of claim data output by the grouping system.

· Made excellent hiring decisions; was responsible for bringing three programmers on board who proceeded to prove themselves top-performing and stable employees.

Senior Software Engineer (HealthMarkets Inc., Norwalk, CT, May 2000 – Oct. 2006)

Skills: Server-side Java programming in J2EE environment; JSP; XML; EJB’s; Struts; Weblogic and Jboss app servers; web services; business process analysis and implementation in SalesLogix CRM; ETL using Scribe; business process monitoring using KnowledgeSync; report writing in Crystal Reports; Voice XML; Windows 2000, XP environments.

· Wrote customer service subsystem of web site using Java/JSP/Servlet technology. Analyzed and redesigned website user handling resulting in greatly improved functionality and maintainability. Performed website maintenance/enhancement using Java/JSP/Struts/EJB server-side technology.

· For 3 years, maintained/enhanced crucial SalesLogix CRM application for business workflow and product sales automation. Interfaced to users to gather requirements, to observe behavior and determine efficiency improvements; improved user productivity via functional enhancements. Wrote many related ETL jobs using Scribe, and email alerts using Knowledge-Sync. Queried and manipulated databases using PL-SQL; composed reports using Crystal Reports.

· Designed and implemented functional IVR prototype of a customer service system using Nuance Voice XML technology.

· Accomplished following items previously noted: website cobranding system, rate calculation algorithm, mass mailing engine, real-time ETL transfer methodology

EDUCATION:

· Masters Degree in Computer Science, University of Miami (FL), 1980

-- Concentration in AI – wrote sophisticated backgammon program as Master’s project.

· BA in Psychology, Northwestern University (IL), 1978

ENDORSEMENTS:

Available at my Linked-In public profile: www.linkedin.com/in/richarddrobbins

RICHARD D. ROBBINS, cont’d

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY PRIOR TO 2000

Senior Programmer (Plural, Inc., Stamford, CT, May 1999 – May 2000)

Plural was a consulting company under which I was sent to the following two main clients:

Consulting Programmer (Mfr of industrial systems; Fairfield, CT Jan. 2000 – May 2000)

Skills: Java GUI programming (Swing and AWT) under Windows; used in process monitoring application.

Consulting Programmer (Priceline, Inc.; Stamford, CT June 1999 – Jan. 2000)

Skills: Visual Basic v. 6; used in Grocery application.

Owner (Synergy Software & Services, Inc.; Westport, CT Feb. 1992 – June 1999)

Synergy was a consulting company I started, owned and operated. I marketed myself to, and worked for, the following companies during that time:

Consulting Programmer (MECA Software, Inc.; Trumbull, CT Oct. 1996 – Apr. 1999)

Skills: Visual Studio C++ user interface programming under Windows, used in Managing Your Money app.

Consulting Programmer (EIS, Inc., Stamford, CT: Aug. 1995 – Oct. 1996)

Skills: C++ and MFC under Windows/Visual Studio; AWK utilities, used in various in-house applications.

Consulting Programmer (Crescent Software, Inc., Ridgefield CT; Mar. 1995 – Aug. 1995)

Skills: C++/Visual Studio under Windows, used in Visual Basic custom controls.

Consulting Programmer (Hyperion Software, Inc., Stamford, CT; Jan. 1994 – Mar. 1995)

Skills: Embedded Basic modules, database manipulation, some C++, Windows environment, used in BI app.

Consulting Programmer (EIS, Inc., Stamford, CT; June 1993 – Dec. 1993)

Skills: Microsoft C++ under Windows, used in in-house applications.

Consulting Programmer (General Analysis Corp., Norwalk, CT; Oct. 1992 – June 1993)

Skills: Visual Basic, C, in Windows environment, used in the COLA process-monitoring app.

Consulting Programmer (Stamford Advocate, Stamford, CT; Aug. 1992 – Oct. 1992)

Skills: Think C++; used in a serial communications file-transfer program.

Consulting Programmer (Must Software Int’l, Norwalk, CT; Feb. 1992 – Aug. 1992)

Skills: C under Windows; used in a 4GL language parsing app.

Programmer (Spectra-Tech, Inc., Stamford, CT, Dec. 1987 – Feb 1992)

Skills: Arity Prolog, Realizer Basic, Windows SDK in C; used in spectrographic workstation interface.

Chief Programmer (Master-Graphics, Inc., Westport, CT, June 1984 – Dec. 1987)

Skills: C under DOS and PC-IX (an IBM UNIX derivative), team leadership; used in MasterGraphics products.

Programmer (Challenge Systems, Inc., Dallas, TX, Feb. 1983 – June 1984)

Skills: C word processor under CP/M (DOS clone); used in language translation workstation

Programmer (Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, TX, July 1980 – Feb. 1983)

Skills: TI-990 assembler language, Pascal; used in internal office productivity apps.