Max@AvignonSolutions.com
Professional Experience
A combination of strong engineering and communication skills has enabled me to excel in a variety of technically and intellectually challenging roles in both horizontal and vertical markets. Key skills: relational database design, interactive Web site design, systems analysis, product marketing, pre- and post-sales support.
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1998
to
present
Timberline Communications, Inc.
Chief Technology Officer
Responsible for all aspects of technology selection, implementation and support. The company's strength lies in its combination of excellent customer service and appropriate use of technology, meaning that technology selection and innovation are crucial to new business development.
After consolidating the existing systems, led the process of reengineering the original system to utilize the Internet to create a truly distributed and scalable work force. Also created public Web, Intranet and Extranet Web sites.
Centura Software Corporation
1998
to
October
1998
Director of SQLBase Products
This key role required me to co-ordinate the overall direction and positioning of Centura's flagship database product line, including profit and loss accountability. Rather than managing personnel directly however, this position primarily involved leadership and decision-making. It also required interaction at all levels with sales, marketing, engineering and finance to ensure that the products were congruent with the overall corporate direction, and competitive in the market place. Strong product management skills were also required.Projects undertaken:
- Revised product packaging and licensing to help reposition the product within the embedded database space and address channel requirements.
1995
to
February
1998
Senior Technical Marketing Manager
Responsible for the generation of technical collateral to support the product marketing organization, based on complete in-depth technical knowledge of all Centura products. Created technical briefs and white papers, competitive analyses, product summaries and scripted product demonstrations for use by Sales Engineers and partners.
- Interacted with employees at all levels and in all departments across the organization to ensure products and market positioning were understood.
- Created and delivered technical presentations to internal staff, users, and partners, both within the USA and internationally.
- Originally assigned to SQLBase, took on Web-based products (Centura Web Developer and ForeSite), including the design and implementation of Web-based demonstration applications.
- Twice recipient of company-wide quarterly employee recognition award.
1993
to
November
1995
Senior Technical Support Engineer
After initially specializing in SQLBase in standard front-line support, took on all other Gupta software products (SQLWindows, Quest, connectivity to 3rd party datatabases including mainframes). Became the first TSE in the premium support group, providing dedicated support to top priority customers such as UPS and PeopleSoft. In addition to executing the standard support role, also:
- Produced numerous technical papers, utilities and sample programs for Gupta's on-line resources and Technical Information CD-ROMs.
- Wrote and presented a technical paper at the 1994 Gupta Developer’s Conference.
- Recipient of "Quality, Service and Innovation" Award.
1990
to
November
1993
Synchromatic Ltd.
(formerly Paradigm UK Ltd.)
Senior Software Engineer
As a founding employee of a small but dynamic company creating customized applications for the process manufacturing industry, responsibilities included all aspects of work in a software development and implementation environment:
- Pre-sales presentations and post-sales requirements analysis.
- Technical team leader for a number of projects.
- QA of database design and applications.
- On-site system implementation and customization.
- Database/Application performance tuning.
- Development of user interface and programming standards, advanced SQL*Forms 2.3 and 3.0 techniques and programming standards using Oracle V6 RDBMS in Unix and VMS environments.
- Designed and implemented a SQL*Forms support environment utilizing PRO*C
1988
to
December
1989
Allied Mills Ltd.
Computer Systems Group
Software Engineer
Major contributor to the implementation of the UK’s then-largest 4GL process control system, which used Oracle RDBMS under UNIX (HP-UX) to monitor and control live plant. A year on site in Edinburgh saw a successful conclusion, during which time in-depth knowledge was gained of database optimization under Oracle, complex time-critical database querying and DML, and advanced SQL*Forms programming techniques. Carried out system development in parallel with 24x7 production support.
Education
to
1988
University of Birmingham
Bachelor of Science, Software Engineering/Computer Science (Hons.)