Eric Means

eric@randomtree.org

http://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdmeans

EDUCATION
2000-2001		University of Louisville Speed Scientific School Master of Engineering, Computer Science and Computer Engineering – 12/2001 Thesis: A Dynamic Engine for the Interpretation and Execution of Java Server Pages	Louisville, KY
1995-2000		University of Louisville Speed Scientific School Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and Computer Engineering – 8/2000	Louisville, KY
EXPERIENCE
5/2011-PRESENT		VerveLife	Chicago, IL
		Senior .NET Developer · Senior developer on “floating” team, responsible for individual projects, cross-project infrastructure, troubleshooting, maintenance, and general technical expertise · Developed a set of market-specific stores allowing marketing-driven downloads of music tracks. Created a flexible infrastructure allowing for redemption of codes for credit, either in terms of # of tracks, dollar value, percentage discount, etc. Sites were based on ASP.NET MVC3 using Razor views; jQuery; AJAX; WCF web services; ELMAH; Entity Framework 4.0; Membase; and SQL Server 2008 R2. Web apps used a custom ASP.NET Authentication provider based on BCrypt. Sites supported localized versions, including localized versions of graphics, javascript resources, etc and allowed the user to dynamically switch languages at any time; implemented one Spanish-language localized version. Sites also supported audio preview and similar functionality. See http://www.rhymbakid.com/, http://www.rhymbatween.com/, http://www.rhymbaurban.com/, and http://www.rhymbalatino.com/. · Developed a customer-facing management website for managing media whitelists and other functionality for various other applications/websites. This site used HTML5, ASP.NET MVC3/Razor, a custom ASP.NET Authentication provider based on BCrypt., jQuery, SASS, WCF Data Services/OData, WCF Web Services, ELMAH, Entity Framework 4.1, and SQL Server 2008 R2. · This position is 100% telecommute and involves a great deal of independent work, autonomy, and requires excellent communication skills to coordinate with management, other developers, and testers. Technologies used: HTML5, AJAX, jQuery, C# 4.0, ASP.Net 4.0, ASP.NET MVC 3, Razor, .NET Entity Framework 4.0 and 4.1, WCF 4.0, WCF Data Services, OData, .Net 4.0, SQL Server 2008 R2, Subversion.
3/2010-5/2011		The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation	Austin, TX
		.NET Developer · Senior developer, jointly responsible for the primary line of business application used to make and manage grants totaling over $100 million annually. · Finished development of and launched next generation of grant-making application, a .NET 4.0 web application using AJAX, JSON, jQuery, ASP.NET 4.0, .NET Entity Framework (EF) 4.0, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) 4.0 web services, Unity, Web Farm Framework, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. The launch was praised by all involved, including several experienced contractors associated with the project, as the smoothest they had ever been a part of. · The application has been extremely well received by the program officers, foundation leadership, and other users. It continues to be extremely reliable (downtime is virtually nil; updates can be pushed to production with no interruption in user experience). In the course of developing the application I interacted with users at all levels from the foundation’s Executive Director down and have received many positive comments regarding these interactions. · Application development was a lightweight Agile style, with requested features and bug fixes being implemented and pushed out to users generally within days (occasionally within hours or even minutes). We maintained and even increased our development velocity despite shrinking the active development team from 5 full-time developers to 2. · Served as one of two primary QA testers after our existing QA resource left the organization; I and one other developer and the project manager performed regression and release testing prior to each biweekly deployment. · Served as a general technical resource both for program officers, other tech team members, and grantees. · Developed complex control suites to replace the Telerik control suite. These included a rich editor (based on TinyMCE); a grid supporting client-side AJAX databinding (written from scratch); and a dropdown box replacement (designed around jQuery-UI). These controls reduced page load time and download size by upwards of 30%. Technologies used: AJAX, jQuery, C# 4.0, ASP.Net 4.0, .NET Entity Framework 4.0, WCF 4.0, .Net 4.0, Telerik ASP.NET AJAX control suite, SQL Server 2008, Team Foundation Server 2010, Web Farm Framework.
11/2005-Present		Studio B/L10bridge	Austin, TX
		Subject Matter Expert/Lead Subject Matter Expert · As SME, responsible for creating exam questions for Microsoft .NET Certification Exams (from exams for .NET framework versions 2.0-4.0 inclusive). Questions have to conform to strict Microsoft guidelines and require a thorough knowledge of .NET technologies to successfully write. · I have consistently received praise as a technical writer in this position; both Studio B and L10bridge have invited me to participate in each generation of Microsoft exams, including expanding existing exam question libraries. · As Lead SME, responsible for reviewing exam questions created by other SMEs for technical accuracy, grammar, and conformance to Microsoft guidelines. This job also involved close coordination with the Content Development Manager in order to ensure that the questions could successfully pass Microsoft’s Alpha Review.
3/2005-2/2010		Advanced Solutions International	Austin, TX
		System Architect
		Responsible for design, implementation, and testing of industry-leading and well-regarded customer-relationship software for the non-profit and association market, including server-side, web-based, and thick client components. Supplied technical direction for the application architecture and implementation, including serving as technical resource for multiple teams at various stages of implementation. Lead development of a brand new, .Net 3.5/Web Parts-based, highly extensible Content Management System integrated with (and used as the platform for developing) the rest of the application. Developed a Unified Login process/module for use by all applications in the suite based on the .Net 2.0 Provider model, and extended use of this module to third-party developers. Included development of a web service, documentation, sample code, and support of both internal and external developers. Served as the technical lead for the Tools Feature-Based Team (responsible for developing the framework/tools used by both internal and external developers and administrators) from January 2007-May 2008, and the team lead for that team from January 2007-June 2009. Served as “technical expert” for our installation of Team Foundation Server, including providing guidance and support to developers and management. Presented on new and upcoming features at developer and customer conferences. Technologies used: C# 2.0-3.5, ASP.Net 2.0-3.5, .Net 2.0-3.5, Telerik ASP.NET AJAX control suite, SQL Server 2005 and 2008 with Analysis Services and Integration Services, Team Foundation Server. ASI converted to the Agile process in June 2009, so I have hands-on experience.
10/2003-3/2005		AutomationiQ	Austin, TX
		Software Architect
		Designed, developed, tested, maintained, and supported custom software for the automation of high-end commercial and residential spaces; more specifically, to provide an integrated, intuitive, flexible, and friendly way for homeowners to control every aspect of highly complex homes and systems. Created software interfaces to security systems (Apex, Radionics), lighting systems (Cutler Hammer, LiteTouch, Lutron), pool controllers (Jandy), phone systems (Televantage), and a wide variety of IR- and RS232-controlled audio and video devices. Performed ground-up redesign of application from Visual Basic 6 forms application to C# Windows Service, including modules which support self-management, remote control and configuration, and automatic error reporting.  Technologies used: Visual Basic 6, SQL Server 2000, C# 1.1, OPC, Serial (RS-232) and infrared communications, device-specific protocols and drivers
8/2001-10/2003		The Boeing Company	St. Louis, MO
		Embedded Software Engineer
		A primary developer involved in redesigning, implementing, and testing several industry-leading, cutting-edge software applications pertaining to the maintenance of the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet tactical aircraft. These applications were designed as modular 3-tier solutions which integrated identically with multiple back-end databases (incl. Access, Oracle, Sybase, and SQL Server) and vendor-supplied Maintenance Management Systems.
		Designed and supported a secure, dynamic website which hosted documentation, testing information, and trouble reporting for supported application suites which conformed to US Navy security requirements.
		Primary developer responsible for customizing and maintaining our process automation tool for managing change request process/activities, producing software metrics, etc.
		On my own initiative designed, implemented, and supported a custom, extensible in-house application to manage automated software builds for multiple project languages, settings, and versions. The software integrated directly with SourceSafe for version control, cutting time to manage software builds by 50%.
		Technologies Used: Visual Basic 6, Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server, Microsoft Access, ANSI C, Visual C++ 6, COM, Perl, HTML, ASP, ADO.
4/2001-8/2001		Everest Technologies	Louisville, KY
		IT Consultant
		Technologies Used: Active Server Pages, Visual Basic 6, SQL Navigator, Oracle 8i, DCOM, COM+, Delphi.
6/2000-4/2001		Darwin Networks	Louisville, KY
		Application Developer/Web Developer
		Technologies Used: Active Server Pages, Visual Basic 6, COM, SQL Server, ColdFusion, ADSI, Exchange.
8/1998-5/2000		Louisville Gas & Electric Co.	Louisville, KY
		IT Programmer/Analyst
		Technologies Used: Active Server Pages, Visual Basic 5 and 6, SQL Server, Crystal Reports, Delphi 4.0, Oracle.
TECHNICAL
	Programming Languages: Visual Basic .Net, C#, Microsoft.Net, Microsoft Dot Net, Visual Basic 6, VBScript (including Active Server Pages), Javascript (including AJAX and jQuery), C++, T-SQL, PL/SQL
	Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows and Windows Server; OpenBSD; Linux
	Databases: MS SQL Server, MSDE, and SQL Express; Microsoft Access; Sybase; Oracle 7 and 8; MySQL; PostGRE; embedded databases including SQLite.
	I am familiar with multiple home automation systems (including Sony’s S-LINK and AMX systems), audio/video/security/lighting device control protocols, and OLE for Process Control (OPC) 2.0. Familiar with using the Agile software development process to plan and implement software.
CERTIFICATIONS
	Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) Microsoft Certified Solution Developer for Microsoft .Net (MCSD) Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) o .Net Framework 2.0: Distributed Applications o .Net Framework 2.0: Web Applications o .Net Framework 2.0: Windows Applications · Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) o Enterprise Application Developer
OTHER INTERESTS
	· Player and occasional captain in local ice hockey league