Michael Arthur Thomas

SUMMARY

Over 29 years of IT experience (since ’82), 22 years of programming experience (since ’89) with the last 13 years as an IT Architect/Specialist focused on architecting, developing, integrating, customizing, migrating and implementing web-based eLearning solutions and has performed the roles of application developer, DBA and Windows Server System Administrator (1998-2011).  Heavy experience with web applications that use MS SQL, HTML, JavaScript (server & client side) and Windows Servers.  6 years of hardware maintenance and over 4 years of IT Management experience in coaching a team of IT professionals in Business Process Re-Engineering & development of end-to-end Software.

EMPLOYMENT AVAILABILITY: Available now, C2C (via JCrazy LLC), 1099, W2

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Java Instructor: Java Core, Design Patterns Bootcamp, OOP Bootcamp, Struts 2
Java Technologies (2yrs) – Java, JSP, Struts etc… over several years.
SQL programming (7yrs) – MS SQL (2000 & 2008) (7yrs), Oracle 10g (Toad) (6mo), DB2
Web Applications (13 years) – Development, maintenance & Windows servers.
Servers: Windows 2000, 2003, 2008 (7yrs);
Web Servers: IIS (7yrs), Tomcat (1-2yrs); exposure to Websphere & JBoss
LMS (Learning Management Systems) or online Universities (13 yrs)
LMS Administrator & LMS Developer (Web App): SumTotal Docent (7 yrs), Saba (1 yr total), Pathware,
LMS courseware integration: Lectora, TestCraft, Flash (ActionScript), Dreamweaver/Coursebuilder, etc
Lotus Learning Space (LMS) (3 yrs) – also courseware integration and customization.
Other Apps: Centra 7.x (eMeetings, Conferencing) (2 yrs including installs but not primary focus)
Saba Certified (Level One Partner)

Java (Sun Certified JDK 1.1), JavaScript (13yrs) (server-side & client-side) , VBScript, HTML, XML, JSP, ASP,  SQL, .Net and other technologies to web solutions that run on MS IIS, Tomcat (Struts), or WebSphere web servers using DB2, MS SQL (2000 & 2008) and Oracle DBMS (10g) systems (Toad 10.5).

Technical writing:  since 1999 developing web tutorials at: www.michael-thomas.com. The site features "Java Certification Training" and resources for other web technologies.  For years this web site has been on the search first page if you search for “Java Training” from www.google.com.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent Consultant                                                                                  04/2011-Current

Java Technology Instructor                                                                            04/2011 – 08/2011
Courses taught:

• Struts 2 (5 day) – Clicks LLC by Scott Stanlick
• Software Engineering SSAD & OOAD (2 day) – Cognizant & nTier
• Java for Mainframers (5 day) – Berkeley Training & nTier
• OO Bootcamp (5 day) – nTier
• OO Design Patterns Bootcamp (14 day) - nTier

Specialty Systems Integrator (IBM Global Business Services)                       04/1998 - 03/2011

As an IT Architect/Specialist developed, integrated, customized, migrated and implemented web-based eLearning solutions primarily around LMS (Learning Management Systems) with Saba, Docent, Lotus Learning Space and others.

Non-Profit Organization (American Red Cross)                                                  09/2010 – 01/2011 
Oracle Data Migration

• Migrated data from several different LMS platforms into Saba (5.4.3.0) LMS implementing ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) using Oracle 10G’s SQLLoader control files, validating procedures on staging tables and loader procedures to live tables. 

Specialty Systems Integrator (IBM)                                                                   08/2010
DB2 SQL Code Optimization

• Took a process that took 12 hours & 4min and optimized the code to run in 2 min & 17 sec which was 317 times faster.

Automobile Manufacturing Company (BMW)                                                      05/2010 – 07/2010

• Moved Docent 6.5 LMS from Win 2000 w/IIS 5 servers to Win 2008 w/IIS7.5 servers – there were many OS and IIS changes that were necessary to get the older legacy app to run under Win 2008 & IIS 7.5.  The new architecture used VM servers with one Sand drive.  Each legacy server now ran inside of a VM within a VM server. Migrated data from several LMS platforms implementing ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) using MS SQL text imports, validating procedures on staging tables and loader procedures to live tables.
  
   

Non-Profit Organization (American Red Cross)                                                  04/2010 – 07/2010
Centra install/integration with Saba

• Installed Centra 7.6 (SP3) in QA and PROD and integrated with Saba (5.4.3.0) via the Saba VLE connector.

Automobile Manufacturing Company (IBM-BMW)                                               2005 – 03/2010

• LMS Administrator & massive LMS customizations (Docent 6.5), custom reporting, problem resolutions using server side JavaScript and MS SQL DB.  Courseware used SCORM API.
• Developed a way to identify SQL statements that may hang applications (solid or temporarily) running on MS SQL 2000 servers (SQL Monitor, custom procedures & queries).
• Worked heavily with SQL coding, procedures, DTS packages and triggers.
• Migrated data from several LMS into Docent LMS app using MS SQL server 2000. 
• Integrated several portals for single sign-on into Docent LMS app.
• Handled the server issues and interfaced with hosting as well as working with Crystal Reports v10. 
• Customized Docent Outliner templates and worked with content integrations: Lectora, Harvard Business, NetG and MateryNet. 
• Created the framework for a new web application which handled registration for training events that connected to a Docent LMS using standard ASP (VBScript). The framework included login, page security, and connectivity to MS SQL DB and example pages used by a team of developers.  
• Used  (Concurrent Versions System (CVS) the most compatible predecessor Subversion (SVN).
• Service Excellence Award for an automotive client’s project (2005).

Telecommunication Company (IBM-AT&T/Cingular)                                           2003 - 2005

• LMS Administrator for cellular company’s University using Docent LMS version 6.5x with Centra (6.1 & 7.1) for eMeetings, eConferences, live and recorded events, and Analytics (also DashBoard2) for enhanced reporting.  Courseware used SCORM API.
• Made customizations/enhancements to the LMS and implemented Docent SP3. 
• Built new screen for easier data entry, created new to-do’s, and made other customizations. 
• Developed many SQL scripts for LMS maintenance and enhanced reporting. 
• Integrated courseware from several vendors:  Docent Outliner, PrimeLearning, Trivantis, KP, and SimPro.
• Supported all HelpDesk calls when needed 
• Applied SSL to the login screens, created DTS packages and FTP data nightly to a Data Warehouse application.  Production Docent 6.5 server implementation: 1 Docent Web Server, 1 Docent Backend Server, 1 Docent Admin Server, 1 DB Server, and 1 Centra Server.  

Multiple Companies (IBM clients)                                                                      1999 – 2003
LMS (Learning Management Systems)

• Saba Certified (Level One Partner Certification Program) 8/99  - first vendor group to be level one certified.  (LMS/EMS system with WEB access for large ERP companies.)   Technologies used:  HTML, JavaScript, JSP (Java Server Pages), Java, Oracle, MS SQL (Worked 4 months – doing version upgrades and customizations for Saba’s clients.) (1999)
• Worked with Pathware 3.0 LAN, Pathware 4.0, Learning Space (LS) 4.0 & LS 5.0
• Installed, performed admin tasks, and customized the LMS applications working with Docent 6.5.
• Worked with SCORM and AICC for courseware to LMS via Applets & HTML posting.  Integrated Flash to LMS via JavaScript to Applet (SCORM).

IBM Internal (IBM)                                                                                            01/2003 -05/2003
WAS & Struts                                                                                                  

• Took Struts w/ Tomcat application and ported it to WSAD.  Converted the application to conform to IBM's internal GWA web standards and deployed to the CDT running Struts on a WebSphere server using DB2. 
• Enhanced, changed and tested the application using the WSAD WebSphere test server.

Multiple Companies (IBM clients)                                                                      2001 - 2002
System Integrations                                                                                         

            Java LMS App

• Developed a small primitive Java LMS App (Learning Management System) system which included a Java Application GUI management tool with XML storage of data using JDOM (Java Document Object Model for XML) and a Socket server (Java) which connected to learning content create with Flash 5. 
• Used the Flash 5 XML socket object to save/retrieve learning data to the socket server.  Specs required that system could run without a web server and must run on Windows and MAC machines but training content must be web ready for the future. 
• Created a Java interface between LS5 (Learning Space LMS) and MQSeries.  Used RMI (Remote Method Invocation) because one system required had to run under MS J++ (1.1 JDK) and MQSeries required 1.2 JDK and above.  Since data had to flow both ways, 2 RMI servers & clients had to be created.

Tomcat/MS IIS/ASP/JSP

• Interfaced JSP pages running under Tomcat with ASP pages running under MS IIS and used JavaScript for DHTML update of forms. 
• Worked with many web applications integrating technologies: DHTML (JavaScript, Applets, Flash, etc…), Java, JSP, ASP, SQL, XML, etc. and used application web servers: Tomcat, WSAD and MS IIS.

Tomcat/Struts/DB2

• Developed a Knowledge Portal using Struts Framework (under Apache's Jakarta project).
• Used Struts MVC (Model View Controller) framework using XML config files, JSP (Java Server Pages) for front end and Java Servlets with SQL for the backend.  Application server was Tomcat with DB2 as the database engine.

LMS Courseware JavaScript Engine

• Created a DHTML web based courseware creation framework (content and assessment tests) which used Dreamweaver w/Coursebuilder and a custom built JavaScript navigation engine.  The client then created content and assessment tests using Dreamweaver w/Coursebuilder.  The student’s progress and test scores were sent to a LMS system (Pathware & Learning Space 4). (American Airlines) HTML posting to LMS using SCORM.
• Developed a multi-frame solution with one persistent frame storing scores, tries, time, and question selection.  Test questions had coaching layers (suggested answer and why) that would appear directly after pre test questions and in the post test session would appear after the test was completed in a review session.  To help streamline the building of test questions, created Templates with editable/non-editable regions.  The custom JavaScript was stored in .js files. 
  (Johnson & Johnson and American Airlines) HTML posting to LMS using SCORM.
  Java AWT UI for Reporting
• Created a UI using Java AWT in JDK1.1 environment to report against DB2 database for material requisitions for a LMS system.

Specialty System Integrator (IBM/Prudential)                                                 04/1998 - 06/1999 

• Received a Team Award for a highly technical, high profile project that brought high customer satisfaction.
• Worked on client’s health billing systems, customer service (excluding claims), and implemented changes to the systems to comply with HIPPA regulations.

Instructor (Part time)                                                                                      2001

• Adjunct Professor - UNF (University of North Florida).  
  OOP w/Java (COP2551) - Spring of 2001, Fall of 2001
• Instructor - FCCJ (Florida Community College of Jacksonville).
  Java for the World Wide Web (One 12hr short course) - Spring of 2001

Information regarding Professional Experience from 4/1998 and prior available upon request

Professional Development:

·        Processor Server Workshop - WebSphere Server (2006) (80 hrs)

·        SOA Workshop (SOA Deep Architect Program) (2006) (40 hrs)

·        WebSphere Business Modeler v6.0 (Jan 2007) (24hrs)

·        SOA Bootcamp (SOAWS10) - (July 2006) (24hrs)

·        StrutsOS (Struts on Steroids) - (May 2005) (40hrs)

·        Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform) - (Sept 2005) (40hrs)

·        Intro to OOAD IBM Global Services Methods (July 2005) (40hrs)

·        Analysis and Design with PanDOORA (2005) (24hrs)

Education

·        College Degree (BA)
Southeastern College, United States of America, 1980

Certifications

·        Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) JDK 1.1. – 05/14/1999

·        Saba Certified (Level One Partner Certification Program) 8/99  - first vendor group to be level one certified.  (LMS/EMS system with WEB access for large ERP companies.)

Last Changed: 09/22/11