Curriculum Vitae Ricky Chalmers

Academic Qualifications:

Microsoft Qualifications:

MCP - Systems Development

Macrovision Europe (February 2002 - Present)

Developing a complete engineering test results management system for their QA division. Developed in VB.NET and ASP.NET accessing a SQL Server 2000 database, and distributed globally to all their offices across the internet. www.macrovision.com

Datak Technology (March 2000 - January 2002 - Ongoing) Microsoft Partner

Started a new working relationship with Winterthur Life and other companies. Work is tendered for on a fixed price contract basis, with payment on successful delivery. To date (as at March 2001) 727 work packages have been successfully delivered equating to 3816 person hours of development effort. Developed a work tracking, quoting and invoicing application for use by Winterthur and other clients via the Internet (www.datak.co.uk).

Developed an internet front-end (www.winterthur-life.co.uk/pcs) for Winterthur-Life interfacing to their Pensions Policy Administration system. This provides the policy holder a full range of functions, including fund switching, single premium payment, new member acceptance and a wide range of information relating to their pension.

We are specialising in Visual Basic, ASP, MTS/MSMQ, SQL Server 7/2000 and other Microsoft and Macromedia technologies. The company is a Microsoft Solutions Provider (59301).

WINTERTHUR LIFE (October 1997 – February 2000) - VB Consultant

Employed as a VB Consultant to shore up an existing Group Pensions Policy administration system and to rewrite it in VB5 and SQL Server. At this stage the existing system has been restored to a workable state, and the eight month backlog is being cleared by the user department. The rewrite has progressed well and the system has been rolled out in parallel with the old system. The technology in use at Winterthur Life includes Windows 95/NT/3.1 across a Novell network and using Access-2 as a database repository. The system is written in VB5 using Access as well as SQL Server databases.

Redeveloped the Pensions Administration System using Visual Basic 6, SQL Server 7 and Visual Basic Script and Java on the Internet front-end developed using Microsoft ASP technology. The system is tightly integrated to the Microsoft Office suite and extensive automation is achieved using eMail and overnight SQL Server agent processing. The system is now a major factor in the successful growth and repositioning of the business.

SWALEC/LUSIS (January 1997 – September 1997) - VB Consultant

Working with a team of five Visual Basic developers developing an electricity quotations system for SWALEC. Played the role of lead VB developer and designed and coded most of the infrastructure for the system. Using VB5 and SQL Server, developed a number of classes and OCX components which were used by the developers.

The system is fairly complex involving interaction with MS-Word, MAPI, MS-Excel and a matrix manipulation engine which I developed as an OCX component. In addition I developed a simple VBA based macro language processor for end-user use to define pricing rules and exception logic.

Was responsible for standards and the application of the DSDM RAD development methodology.

The system was documented and driven via an intranet web which I designed and developed using FrontPage 97 and Personal Web Server.

SWALEC (September 1996 – December 1996) - VB Team Leader

Contractor working for SWALEC leading a team of five Visual Basic developers. Introduced standards and an iterative development methodology and secured the existing code by introducing MS-Visual Source Safe as a change control mechanism.

Developed a VB customer enquiry application accessing the CROESO/CSS DB2 data on the mainframe. Developed a series of VB interfaces to MS-Office using OLE automation. In addition developed a suite of development support tools for the data migration teams and played the role of workstation support.

Planned, and lead the conversion of a 35 workstation LAN from OS/2, Lotus Smartsuite, ccMail to a Windows 95 environment using MS-Office and Exchange. The conversion, including limited training of the users was completed in a week. Installed a Windows NT 4.0 server including DHCP/WINS and IIS components and SQL Server for as a domain controller and database server on the LAN. Assisted in the introduction of a comprehensive Intranet development using MS Internet Explorer and using FrontPage extensions and ActiveX.

Performed a QA role on the design and coding of a large MIS system written in Visual Basic.

IBM (August 1995 - August 1996) - DB2 Specialist

Contractor working for IBM in a DB2 Specialist role on the CROESO/CSS project in the Technical Architecture and Support team. Continuing to develop and support the Data and Impact Analysis model which has been accepted as a deliverable by IBM and the customers. Responsible for the detailed design of an extract DB2 database and for it’s population using Platinum’s Log Analyser from the central CSS database.

Southern Electric (Jan 1995 to Dec 1995) - Migration Analyst/Business Analyst

Contractor working for Southern Electric in a Business Analyst role on the CROSEO/CSS project as part of an IBM project team. Developed a prototype for a generic part of the application and successfully negotiated it into the system. Developed a PC based data dictionary tool which extracts and displays the DB2 database structure and underlying analysis and change log information. Fulfilling the role of "technical expert" within the team and reviewing all designs and server code specifications with particular regard to performance.

*** EMIGRATED TO THE UK ***

Full British Resident and director of DATAK TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

Southern Life (Feb 1991 to Nov 1994) - Technical Support Manager

Responsible for the creation and support of the development environment for the Vantage project team (a 5 year R32m project to replace the Life Administration Systems at Southern). Planned, purchased and implemented a PC development LAN with 72 workstations connected in a LAN bridged through to the mainframe. Created the environment for, and installed the Vantage software.

Examined the Vantage architecture and proposed an improved alternative. Presented an alternative architecture to Vantage Computer Systems in Hartford Connecticut. Designed and developed and successfully implemented a mainframe CUA CICS architecture for the Life Division of Southern Life. Key components of the CUA CICS architecture include : Screen painter and prototype environment, Active data dictionary, Menus, commands, prompt, help, security, logging systems, Statistics and MIS components, Auditing and "expert" shell support, DB2 tools and utilities (QA, automated binds), PC APPC workstation component running as a MS-Windows app.

Reanalysed and converted the existing VSAM database to DB2 and

successfully tuned it to outperform the original VSAM system. Developed and presented a series of courses on DB2 for applications developers including design, performance and quality assurance issues.

Developed a PC based quality assurance and performance analysis tool to display and filter performance information by combining data from the DB2 explain output, DB2 catalogue and COBOL source code.

Southern Life (Apr 1989 to Jan 1991) - Development Centre Manager

Manager of three teams, Database Administration teams for the IBM (Datacom) and ICL (IDMS) environments, the Development Support team and the Divisional Training team. Developed a series of utility programs providing CUA functionality for IDEAL applications. Developed and presented a series of courses for the division and other companies, including IDEAL programming, Advanced IDEAL programming, IDEAL Utilities, Using IEW with SSADM, The Documentation System, Developing a CUA application, Datacom Database Design. In charge of a Cost Centre with a budget of R1.2m (approx. £300,000) and a staff of 12. Involved in all aspects of System Development at Southern and advised the application development teams on analysis, design, database and systems performance and other technical issues. Responsible for the development of a proposal for the feasibility of re-engineering the current Life Administration systems at Southern.

Southern Life (Apr 1987 to Apr 1989) - Software Specialist

Software Specialist in the Development Centre. Developed a number of utilities for the DATACOM/IDEAL environment including a Database Toolbox, Programmers Toolbox including Skeleton Programs, Automatic Audit Log, Documentation System and DIY Quality Assurance System.

Infoplan (Apr 1986 to Mar 1987) Analysis for Facilities Register

Analysis and Design of a new IMS COBOL system . Project completed on budget and ahead of time. I reported to the Project Leader and had 4 programmers reporting to me.

Infoplan (Dec 1985 to Mar 1986) - Quick Response Shop.

Part of project to reorganise stores. This involved interaction with users and the development of many ad-hoc programs in COBOL and FOCUS.

Infoplan (Nov 1984 to Nov 1985) - Information Centre Technical

Specialist

Responsible for the design and implementation of a mainframe I/C. Responsibilities included : Data analysis, extraction and restructuring for an MIS database, Developing an on-line data dictionary, Developing an on-line context sensitive help system, Transaction Logging and Costing Reports, Security and Access control sub-systems, Computer Based Training, User Training and Hot-Seat support.

Infoplan (May 1983 to Oct 1984) - COBOL Maintenance

Maintenance programming on IMS batch COBOL programs on a Stores System.

Unilever SA (Jan 1982 to Jul 1982) - Trainee

Maintenance programming on a Warehouse Services system. Assisted in the implementation of a pension system for Unilever Pensions.

Part-Time Experience

TCE Publications (Dec 1978 to Jun 1980)

Selection of hardware and development of a small business system in WANG-BASIC to do Order processing, Invoicing, Debtor control and Subscription control.

TCE Publications (Apr 1986 to Jun 1986)

Redevelopment the system on IBM Compatible PC using Turbo Pascal. The system was enhanced to include General Ledger, Creditors, Personnel and Filing sub-systems.

Progressive Federal Party / DP (3 Elections in South Africa)

Developed a voter canvassing application. Downloaded from tape provided by the Department of the Interior. System included on-line search and amend, canvas sheet and label printing and a report writer. It was written in PASCAL as a MS Windows look-alike.

IDEAL program generator

Developed a code generator running in a co-operative manner across PC and mainframe platforms. This generator is now in use at Southern Life.

IDEAL to COBOL code translator

Developed and sold a PC based code translator to translate IDEAL code into CICS/COBOL/DB2.

DB2 and System Information Assistant Tool

Developed and implemented a CASE type of tool for presenting and maintaining system information including the logical and physical databases, client and server programs, copybooks, BP’s, business events, messages, documents,specifications and other system entities. Included an underlying meta model for systems information. The software was purchased by IBM for an amount of £12,000 to be used as the main deliverable of systems information and impact analysis to the cuctomers of the CSS project.

Systems Dynamics Model

Developed a graphical systems dynamics modelling software tool which includes an inference engine allowing the models to be run and tested for stability and "what if" analysis.

TCE Publications (Present)

Redeveloped the TCE Subscription and Advertising administration systems using VB5/Access97 and integrating them with Quicken.

Career Objectives

I wish to be actively involved in a challenging and dynamic environment with a mixture Front-End (Internet) and Back-End (VB/SQL Server) applications. Involvement for me means hands-on leadership and/or technical support, creating innovative solutions to business problems using current technology.

I am committed to the principles of the "Learning Organisation" and the improvement of society through improved productivity.

I wish to be able to have a great deal of latitude in making business as well as technology decisions and to work as a contractor/consultant with a dynamic and aggressive management team.

I am able to play a number of roles in an IT development project but would be best suited to those of Rapid Application Development, Architectural Design, Technical or Database Support. I have played a Team Leadership and Senior Managerial role in the past, but would prefer not to have staff responsibilities.

Hobbies and Interests

I enjoy sailing and am entered for the 2004 Global Challenge race. I am a member of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, the RYA and RNLI, and have recently completed a sail around the UK on my 38 foot Beneteau, Debanessa.

Last 10 Visitors