Resumè for
Howard Cohen

hoco@timefold.com
http://www.timefold.com/resume
5518 Vallejo Street, Oakland CA 94608
(510) 658-8497


Summary of Skills

  • Operating Systems: Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows XP
  • Languages: Perl, C, Objective-C/Cocoa, Java, J2EE, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, Tcl+Tk, Bourne shell, make, sed, awk, Ratfor and Fortran
  • SCM Systems: ClearCase, SVN, CVS, RCS, SCCS
  • Other knowledge: iPhone and Mac Application development, MySQL, CGI and HTTP, Unix Networking, Ssh, GD, Apache Admin, OS X System Administration and Maintenance
  • Specialties: Server-side Internet Applciations, Requirements Analysis, Process Automation, Business Process Engineering, Engineering Tools Implementation, Technical Documentation, Training, Software Configuration Management, Database Design, Data Transformation, Negotation and Mediation, Test Automation, Rapid Prototyping, Data-driven Software, iPhone and Mac Application Development

Business and Employment History

Vertical*i
Senior Staff Engineer 2008
Vantage Partners licensed Alliancesmith to Vertical*i in 2008 and arranged terms so that Vertical*i would take over maintenance of existing Alliancesmith customers. I joined Vertical*i at the same time to help with the transition and to provide some customer support. I also helped with their J2EE application developement efforts. My main achievements at Vertical*i was the nearly seamless transition of the Alliancesmith development and production systems to a different hosting center, and the completion of a customized deployment, training and support of a new Alliancesmith customer.

Vantage Partners, LLC
Chief Software Architect 2006 to 2008
After Vantage Technologies, Inc., merged with Janeeva, Inc. in October, 2006, I remained with Vantage Partners as their Chief Software Architect.

  • Developed a lightweight, single-tool "Point of Presence" system to allow the use of individual tools outside the context of a complete system offering.

  • Directly developed and supported Alliancesmith products and enhancements for Schering-Plough, Abbott, Roche, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

  • Facilitated the transition of Partnersmith products to Janeeva.

Vantage Technologies, Inc.
Chief Software Architect and CTO, 2000 to 2006
Vantage Technologies was a technology spinoff from its parent company, Vantage Partners, LLC. the premier negotiation and alliance building consulting firm in the world. Vantage Tecnologies, Inc. merged with Janeeva, Inc., in October 2006.

  • Co-Created Partnersmith
    Partnersmith included a wide variety of negotiation management tools, as well as many collaborative workflow tools, document management, communication management and business process support tools. It was used by companies including Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Road Island, KLA Tencor, TIAA-CREF, Johnson & Johnson, Swiss RE, CIBC and the United States Air Force.

  • Co-Created Alliancesmith
    Alliancesmith was an application which supported alliance and partner definition and management, including support for issue tracking, document management, milestone tracking and management, and a sophisticated partner relationship health survey system. It was used by Abbott, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, and Schering-Plough.

  • Created numerous web-based technologies, including:
    • A back end for Macromedia Flash applications.
    • Several different data-driven application building frameworks
    • A data-driven process engine
    • A data-driven metrics engine
    • A high-level database-independent API for web and data access and management.
    • A user capability profile management system
    • A contact management system
    • A pre-mod_perl application server
    • An scm tool system build on cvs to automate and simplify branching
    • Many specific applications such as "One Text", "Organization Mapping", and "Negotiation Preparation"

Media in Motion, LLC.
CTO, acting Vice President of Engineering, 1997 to 2000

  • Co-Created Snapcast.
    Snapcast is internet server-based multiple-contributor web site creator offered as an internet service to brand owners to allow their retailers to co-brand and customize centrally maintained content. It is also based on MIM's three-tier application server architecture.

    Written in Perl and Java its features include an XML language for defining shared content, an XML preprocessor and compiler integrated with an automatic data entry form generator and a runtime page generator.

  • Co-Created Snapshop.
    Snapshop is internet server-based community-based consumer e-commerce and multilevel marketing management system based on a three-tier application server architecture. Written in Perl and Java it's features include a universal shopping cart and order distribution system, flexible multilevel page content definition, a product pool from which shopkeepers stock their stores, browser-based control interfaces, and seamless integration with community sites, such as Delphi. Snapshop was used at Delphi for their community e-commerce shops.

  • Co-Created Snapsite Web Architect.
    Snapsite is internet server-based web site creation system based on a three-tier application server architecture. Written in Perl and C it's features include full commerce support, email forms, curriculum support, licensing and reporting. Includes an integrated data dictionary, page template language, automatic image generation, and a client-server CGI server process group.

Timefold Software Configuration Management Training and Consulting
Owner, 1995 to Present

  • Created TOES, Timefold Online Education Services.
    Offering a complete Learn ClearCase course featuring SCM fundamentals, key strategies, task-oriented procedures and much more.

  • Created CCSPIN, the ClearCase Service Provider Index.
    A free service to the SCM community, listing consultants and firms which provide ClearCase services.

    Sybase, Software Engineering Technology and Infrastructure (SETI)
    Senior and Staff Engineer, 1992 to 1995

    • Created BART, Build and Regression Testing system.
      Multiple platform and product nightly build and test automation system. Written in Bourne shell and operated on eight different Unix architectures. Wrote configuration and operation manuals in FrameMaker.

    • Supported Sybmake, Multiple Platform and Product Software Build System.
      Fixed problems, added features, answered questions. Wrote the only user and administration manuals. Sybmake was written in Bourne shell, sed and make.

    • Created CALM, Configuration and Lifecycle Management system based on ClearCase.
      Performed SCM requirements analysis, product survey and selection, implementation, pilot program and final rollout. Designed and implemented metadata and cspec management policies and tools, view and VOB management tools, merge automation tools. Created an ECO system GUI in TCL+Tk. Trained engineers and CM administrators. Wrote user and administration manuals in FrameMaker.

    • Created ECO, ClearCase Change Grouping and Automation system.
      Created a command layer over ClearCase which automated operations for change groups supporting the entire change lifecycle, including integration with the Sybase bug tracking system. Written in Bourne shell, awk and sed. Wrote user manual in FrameMaker.

    National Risk Management
    Staff Engineer, 1991 to 1992

    • Designed an Insurance Claims Processing System.
      Prototyped in the UNIFY RDBMS and ACCELL.

    • Created DBT, a General Purpose Database Transformation Language.
      Written in C for the UNIFY RDBMS. Used to transfer the State of New Jersey's entire Workman's compensation and liability claims database. Written in C.

    Cohesive Network/DCA/Racal Milgo
    Mid Level and Senior Engineer, 1986 to 1991

    • Supported and Enhanced the System 9000 Network Management System (NMS)
      The System 9000 was an Intelligent T1 Network. Implemented 3 major NMS product releases in four years, plus several minor releases. Created a new, critically acclaimed user interface. Created database transformation methods and tools. Created a network management server. Wrote feature NMS specifications. Wrote a critical document on Alarm conditions in the T1 Network. Created make system and SCCS version control system with symlink populated views. Provided Unix support for engineers. Products written in C using the UNIFY RDBMS and ACCELL.

    Helmsman Systems
    Entry Level, Mid level, and Senior Engineer, 1982 to 1986

    • Implemented H-Champ, a Unix-like operating environment running on CP/M and MS/DOS.
      Implemented and documented many unix tools and special utilities. Created a novel text transformation tool called tabtran, used for database transformations and automated text processing. Created a novel "visual procedure" system used internally as a combined CM, build and test system and by customers as a friendly batch system. Written in Ratfor.

    • Implemented H-MRP, Material Requirements Planning system.
      Implemented and documented a suite of over 50 application programs (data entry, report generation, MRP explosion, database doctor, and others). Operated under Unix and H-Champ. Written in Ratfor.
  • Education, Awards and Other Experiences

    • EBMUG Presentation on the Unix Shell, 2008
      Made a presentation at the December 2008 East Bay Macintosh Users' Group on using the Terminal application and the Unix shell. Based on http://www.timefold.com/osx/tips/shell.html.

    • CCIUG Presentation on Policy Implementation, 1995
      Made a presentation at the 1995 ClearCase International User's Group on Policy Implementation.

    • Sybase Quality Award Runner Up, 1994
      I was a finalist for the Sybase Quality Award for my work on Software Configuration Management using ClearCase.

    • Caltech, California Institute of Technology, 1980 to 1981
      Studied Digital Electronics. There was no software engineering curriculum. Left to pursue a career in software. Freshman year advisor was Carver Mead.

    • NASA, Space Sciences Division, 1979
      Volunteer at the NASA, Ames Research Center for one summer. Programmed an HP Desktop Calculator "computer" in support of a cryogenic research project for the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). Also responsible for regular maintenance of the lab and liquid helium and nitrogen dewers.


    Revised: 1/1/2009