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Ken Collins' Resume

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Updated On: January 6th, 2010 by kencollins

Contact Information

Address: 2405 Sterling Point Drive, Portsmouth, Virginia 23703
Phone/Fax: (757) 271-3850
Email:

Summary

I am a ruby/rails specialist that thrives on providing elegant solutions to complex problems based on a love for efficiency, working smarter, and seeing positive results. I am a very strong believer in using idiomatic coding conventions in a test driven development process because it helps small teams understand peer code and remain agile. I take ownership of projects, have a strong work ethic, and require no hand holding.

Highlights of Qualifications

PROGRAMMING SKILLS: Ruby, JavaScript, and XHTML/CSS. I am incredibly proficient in Ruby and have collaborated on quite a few open source projects. To date, I have been programming web applications using Ruby and JavaScript professionally for more than 3 years. My XHTML/CSS skills far exceed most programmers since I have been developing web sites for more than 10 years and have been doing compliant presentation layer XHTML for more than 6 years.

WEB APPLICATION EXPERIENCE: Ruby and especially the Rails framework is my love and focus. I have been working in Rails since before its version was 1.0 and migrations were a reality. Unlike a lot of other programmers, I know the Rails framework inside and out and I specialize in ActiveRecord extensions in both the abstract high-level and in detail at the connection adapter levels. My code is highly organized and I pride myself in working smarter by keeping up to date in the changing landscape of both Ruby and Rails as the technologies move forward. My second love is the Prototype JavaScript framework and programming interactive glue in a fully object oriented way.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: Administrating UNIX operating systems in small to mid-size networks, with an emphasis on OSX client/server. Experience in managing Rails applications in production environments utilizing Apache/Mongrel/Capistrano. System Administration skills includes managing postfix/cyrus mail, open directory, split horizon DNS, MySQL, firewalls, and virtual private networks. I am also familiar with configuring Cisco and Extreme Networks routers/switches.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE: A Mac with TextMate and a terminal. In detail, for application development, I prefer to build a full stack that mimics as closely as possible any production environment I will be deploying to. Typically this involves using MacPorts to install my own Apache2, MySQL, Ruby, Git/Subversion, SQLite3, FreeTDS/ODBC/DBI, OpenSSL, Libxml, ImageMagick, etc. I am a proficient in the Unix shell, and recently have moved to ZSH. On the creative side, my previous design experience has kept me strong in the usage of PhotoShop/Illustrator for doing my own site designs and/or splicing other's designs into hand coded XHTML/CSS to match pixel for pixel. I am equally proficient with Subversion and Git alike. I prefer to work with Git and local topic branches and if necessary, I have extensive experience with git-svn.

PEOPLE SKILLS: I love to work with talented people. Even more I love to teach and help others learn about the things I love to do. I am currently the organizer for the Hampton Roads Ruby User's Group (757.rb) where I give talks each and every month. Teaching others and writing articles is not only enjoyable, but helps me stay current.

Professional Experience

Decisiv, Inc. - Richmond, VA
Sr. Software Engineer - 2006 to Present

Joined a small development team and assumed lead developer for 2 core Rails applications actively being ported from Java to Ruby. Redesigned and wrote the whole presentation layer for both applications, which now also includes custom AJAX LinkRenders for WillPaginate. Ported components from Java/Struts to Ruby/Rails while rewriting SQL Server stored procedures to ruby class/instance methods. Champion and developed unit/functional testing processes in both applications. This included writing low level SQL Server rake tasks which tunneled commands via SSH to window boxes for cloning schemas, and replicating stored procedures for test databases to rewriting both applications authentication systems to idiomatic rails libraries that include test helpers for functional testing while still maintaining backward compatibility to SSO services for legacy Java components. Create and maintain numerous libraries/plugins that extend the rails framework for the business model. These happen at almost every component to the framework but I specialize in ActiveRecord plugins to support legacy schemas and multi platform systems. Wrote all PDF::Writer generator classes that abstract out typical verbose PDF::Writer code to a friendlier interface.

Decipher, Inc. - Norfolk, VA
Software & Network Engineer - 2005 to 2006

As the sole developer created a greenfield rails eCommerce application tailored for the consumer coupon industry. Due to the unique nature of the digital goods, virtual inventorying and security, the entire application included strict business rules on the monthly inventory per retailer campaign that had timeout hooks in the front end shopping cart. Digital goods were compiled and delivered via a custom Java application per transaction that created serialized coupons with barcodes for that specific transaction by the central rails application. Made extensive use of ImageMagick and the GNU Barcode ruby wrappers. Developed payment processing utilizing both the direct and express checkout methods of PayPal's NVP API. This app never made it to public view and most details are still patent pending. Built a community marketing site for the company's upcoming trading card game (TCG) called FightKlub. The majority of my involvement for this application involved developing customizations to Mephisto/Beast and deploying them into production. These sites can be currently found at decipher.com and include Prototype animations, custom liquid templates, and core extensions to Beast to register new founding mentors.

Moved entire company from Microsoft ActiveDirectory/Exchange services to Apple XServes using OpenDirectory/Postfix/Cyrus. Also moved all non legacy .Net applications and websites to those existing XServes. Troubleshooted critical routing errors by predecessors and firewall configurations which also involved setting up new gigabit Cisco equipment to maintain companies DMZ and existing VLANs to offsite warehouses.

Arcamax, Inc. - Newport News, VA
Marketing Director - 2004 to 2005

Joined the Executive Committee to help provide steerage for the company's new business unit that focused entirely on eCommerce sales of closeout CD-ROM Software and DVD Movie titles. It was my responsibility to maintain the profitability of the company, which relied heavily upon my previous Online Marketing experience and my technical prowess to leverage their existing IT infrastructure and Internet Publishing assets.

I successfully integrated all revenue and marketing channels into a trackable system that utilized a combination of their proprietary systems, 3rd party conversion tools, new custom code that captured and reported on aggregate data. A summary of these channels include:

SwissDisk, Inc. - Los Angeles, CA
Vice President - 2004 to Present

In the later part of 2004, I partnered with my brother Ben Collins to start up a small company in the niche market of the online storage industry. Even though our company was bought out, I still contribute by maintaining a position on the Board of Directors and continue my prior creative work and online marketing efforts.

Stratum Marketing - Norfolk, VA
Technical Director - 1999 to 2004

Responsibilities included identifying customer requirements, making build-versus-buy decisions, maximize technology partnerships, and developing products to capitalize on existing and emerging market opportunities. Defined and managed the company's collocation/hosting needs, hardware/software suppliers, online media placement channels, e-commerce strategies & content management systems. Provided documentation/training, and many other hands-on IT support services.

Developed and managed many solutions for large-scale projects throughout the company. Successes were attributed to a utilization of strong organizational skills, standard management processes, and a hands-on understanding of numerous UNIX, Windows and Internet development practices. Maintained the highest customer satisfaction rating and strict adherence to project and financial milestones.

InfiNet - Norfolk, VA
Product Development & Affiliate Support - 1998 to 1999

Worked to obtain lead technician by providing strong affiliate support, documentation of skills, and the ability to train new/existing staff. Provided the department with new efficient processes and applications.

Working with the head of Product Development, I was awarded a contract with NetSurfer to provide consulting and development for its Macintosh software distribution method. While partially on-site in Atlanta, Georgia, the product was built, tested, and integrated into the CD Surfer Kit for distribution to InfiNet and all of their affiliate newspapers.

Provided design and print services for the Human Resources Department's latest campaign of collateral pieces for their employment workshops.

MacGRAPHICS - Virginia Beach, VA
Account Manager & Design - 1994 to 1998

Honed previous design, typography & layout experience in a full-service boutique agency during the cusp of the digital media age. This allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge and skills in the mechanics of traditional design/layout while using the earliest computer applications.

Worked with exciting local industries and brands such as the logo/collateral design for ABNB Credit Union, package design for Kettler International, and Womble Realty. Streamlined operations and developed efficiencies in workflow for many of these clients including re-writing sales and development specs for Bell Atlantics Yellow Pages ad production.

Created a new line-of-business for Internet Marketing at the onset of the development of other new-media companies. This was done by strengthening an existing client relationship in the Travel-Tourism/Hospitality vertical of the business. I was responsible for hiring and training new staff for this market.