General Details
- British
- Married, with 2 daughters (12 and 9 years old)
- Date of Birth: 8th March 1962 (41 years old)
What I Offer
- I consider myself - now - primarily a TRAINER, AUTHOR and MENTOR, with my areas of expertise being JAVA and WEBSPHERE.
- I am also very happy to undertake DEVELOPMENT and GENERAL CONSULTANCY work (technology choices, architecture, performance troubleshooting).
- I currently work as a contract JAVA/WEBSPHERE TRAINER for IBM on an ad-hoc basis.
- I have written (and continue to write) ARTICLES for technical journals on subjects relating to WebSphere and Java web application development.
- My current focus is on the production of my OWN TRAINING MATERIALS for courses on Java and WebSphere: you can review a sample on this website.
- For the previous four years, I have promoted Java and web-serving technology within the Arcadia group. This includes considerable hands-on deployment experience with WebSphere Application Server on the iSeries, including performance testing and tuning.
- I have a small but growing PROFILE in the world of Java technology: I have spoken at one INTERNATIONAL JAVA CONFERENCE, and can now describe myself as a REGULAR TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTOR for Penton (publishers of the iSeries News magazine; News/400 as it was formerly known).
- I have striven to prove my true command of technical detail by taking SUN CERTIFICATION EXAMS.
- I have broad and deep application development skills formed over fifteen years; I have touched most aspects - database, security, user interface design and the rest.
- Throughout my IT career, I have always been valued as someone who can master technical complexity and put this over to others.
Experience - Summary
Education and Qualifications
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| March 2003 |
81% score in Sun Java Web Component Developer Certification (61% is the pass rate) |
| March 2001 |
91% score in Sun Java 1.2 Programmer Certification (62% is the pass rate) |
| September 1984 - July 1985 |
Nottingham University
Post-graduate Certificate Of Education (PGCE) - distinction in education theory |
| October 1981 - July 1984 |
Gonville & Caius College, Trinity Street, Cambridge
Honours Degree (BA Cantab) in English Literature, class 2.1
Attained entrance scholarship to the college |
| September 1973 - November 1980 |
Warwick School, Myton Road, Warwick
A-levels (Summer 1980)
English Literature (A2), History (B), Latin (B), General Studies (A)
O-levels (Summer 1978)
Mathematics (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (A), Biology (A), English Language (A), French (A), Latin (B), History (A),Geography (B), Music (B) |
Publications and Conferences
April 2nd 2003: OT2003 (Object Technology 2003) Conference
I gave a talk entitled "Make Mine An Expresso - An Overview And Evaluation Of The Expresso Framework". Expresso is a framework whose objective is to accelerate the development of J2EE applications over a relational database.
A series of articles commissioned by "e-Pro Magazine" for 2004.
These will cover various facets of IBM's WebSphere Application Server.
Article: "Databases and OO Myths" - due to appear in "iSeries News" early 2004.
My article will describe the current landscape for developers attempting to marry together relational databases and Java applications.
Article: "Join the JSP Tag-Team" - due to appear in "iSeries News" early 2004.
My article describes how to implement custom tags within Java Server Pages.
Article: "Sunny-side Certification" (November 2003).
Published in "iSeries News" magazine.
My article evaluates the Sun Certification program, and describes the benefits - and drawbacks - of undertaking it.
Article: "A Rough Guide to JSPs" (October 2003).
Published in "iSeries News" magazine.
My article describes how to implement Java Server Pages technology using the iSeries database at the back end.
Article: "Make Mine An Expresso" (June 2003).
Published in "iSeries News" (formerly News/400) magazine.
The article describes how to get a simple Expresso application up and running, and includes my own example code.
Article: "Use PTDV To Optimize Application Performance" (July 2002). Published in "e-Pro Magazine".
PTDV is a tool (from IBM DeveloperWorks) for tracing Java performance on the iSeries (AS/400) computer. My article describes how to use the tool, and shows an example of its real-world use.
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Computing Employment
January 2003 - present: Freelance Java Consultant
I took voluntary redundancy from the Arcadia Group in order to establish myself as a freelance Java trainer, mentor, author and consultant. In this time, I have:
- Prepared for and taken the Sun Java Web Component Developer Certification Exam.
- I am a freelance trainer for IBM in the Java/WebSphere arena.
- I am IBM's trainer for course AS14GB - "IBM WebSphere Application Server v5.0 for iSeries: Installation, Configuration and Administration" (last delivered September/October 2003)
- I will be teaching other general Java courses for IBM at the beginning of 2004.
- I have created training materials for my own courses on:
- Basic Java Programming
- Java Application Development for the Web
- Written several articles for iSeries News (detailed above).
- Worked on short-term development contracts.
January 1999 - December 2002: Technology Manager, Arcadia Group plc (formerly The Burton Group, plc)
I was appointed to my "Technology Manager" role to facilitate changes to the application development process (tools & methodologies). In this role, I:
- Defined technical development strategy for our department (migration from proprietary AS/400 environment features to open, Java-based standards).
- Investigated and evaluated OO possibilities, including IBM's San Francisco component methodology.
- Ran all aspects of a Java/OO client/server pilot project (piloting the OPEN methodology and Java on the AS/400) - from selection of mentors to the lowest coding details.
- Gave presentations to Arcadia board members and to the entire systems department on the merits of moving to OO.
- Devised, developed and (in part) delivered education programmes for technical staff within Arcadia - on HTML, HTTP and specific Java technologies (Struts and log4J among others).
- As part of the above, devised standards to evolve 3GL RPG staff towards Java (via exploitation of modular features in a language to which they were accustomed - using service programs and other ILE features).
- Evaluated and implemented Java-based "legacy extension tools", for rapid web-enablement of existing systems.
- Instigated significant JSP/Servlet projects, and provided development, design and technical standards assistance to these projects.
- Learned most aspects of HTTP Server and WebSphere Application Server configuration, in support of the above projects.
- Produced an OO methodology for Arcadia based on the Rational Unified Process.
- Seconded myself as a developer to assist with a mission-critical JSP/Servlet system (a system for modelling the impact of proposed price changes).
August 1996 - December 1998 Project Manager, The Burton Group plc
- Data Warehouse - project manager for server-side team
- Evaluated Microsoft-based development tools (Delphi in particular) - built small pilot systems with Delphi systems connecting to DB2 databases on AS/400s.
- Co-ordination role on series of systems conversion projects
March 1993 - July 1996 Project Leader, The Burton Group plc
- Built change control system for object and source management; used this to implement large MIS system (Integrated Forecasting and Performance Reporting - IFPR).
- Led the support team for IFPR.
- Led major project (team of eight) to enhance IFPR's database structure and forecasting facilities.
- Evaluated client/server software for project to rewrite Purchase Order Management/Delivery Control system (Integrated Supplier Chain Management - ISCM).
- Developed prototype for a 'critical path monitor' for orders, using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic for Applications.
- Co-led ISCM Project (team of sixteen).
August 1990 - Feb 1993 Team Leader, EPG Computer Services Ltd.
- Developed part of an insurance package for Lloyd's syndicates (ISYS), and then in charge of maintenance for whole package (team of four).
- Main development role was extracting transaction data from electronic messages through use of EDI products (Multinet) and RPG400 programs to the product database, then providing Synon/2 programs to further manipulate the data.
- Evaluated and implemented change control systems.
- Wrote and implemented numerous programming, design and change control standards for BS5750.
November 1988 - July 1990 Helpline Consultant (latterly Senior Helpline Consultant), Synon Ltd.
- Provided technical support to clients using Synon/1 and Synon/2 products on the System/38 and AS/400. (Synon/2 - now named COOL:2E - is a CASE-tool-cum-code-generator for AS/400 applications).
- Offered detailed advice on design and implementation of Synon generated applications.
- Investigated reports of faults with the Synon products, reproducing these and supplying work-around solutions to clients where possible.
- Had much contact with Synon's overseas distributor network, including trouble-shooting visits to their sites.
- Directed junior colleagues in one of Helpline's four-person teams.
Feb 1988 - Oct 1988 Junior Programmer, Triad Computing Systems
- Developed shop floor data capture system in Databasic and fourth generation language ALL (= PROIV)
- Involved programming and meeting clients to define points of system functionality.
- Liquidation of company caused rapid move to Synon.
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Past Lives
September 1986 - February 1988 English Teacher
Employed by Lincolnshire County Council, working at De Aston Comprehensive School, Market Rasen.
August 1985 - August 1986 Various concurrent jobs
- Volunteer worker for Nottingham Social Services working with mentally handicapped adults.
- Editor of community newspaper.
- Piano teacher.
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Other Skills, Aptitudes, Interests
- 97% score in BIS computing aptitude test (1990).
- Touch-typist.
- Driving licence.
- Music - piano, viola, recorder. I have accompanied musicians in public concerts. I am currently working my way through the Associated Board grade syllabus on the viola.
- Languages - some knowledge of French.
- Sport for fitness - running, cycling, karate.
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