Professional Profile

Senior Information Technology consulting professional with wide ranging and progressively responsible experience in information systems, business, management, project management, and consulting with specialization in:

• application integration strategy, planning, and architecture
• technical architecture
• infrastructure strategy, planning, and architecture
• systems planning and architecture

Technical strengths in multiple disciplines include distributed systems, middleware architecture and implementation, data analysis, e-Business portals, strategic planning, network engineering, network security and firewall implementation, Internet access, desktop connectivity, expert systems development and implementation, systems analysis and design, productivity improvement, training, and end-user support.

Industry background includes banking and finance, transportation, telecommunications, utilities, distribution, health care, and public sector.

Professional History

Independent Consultant, 2002 and 2004-Present

Senior level consultant for IT strategy, planning, and architecture. Specialized in application integration using commercially available and Open Source middleware systems, infrastructure architecture, technical architectures, Voice over IP systems, and virtualization planning.

Excel Polk County Schools (2006-2007)

IT Planning consultant. Provided advisory services for Instructional Technology spending plan. Created high level design for wireless network of two campuses, specified replacements for Windows servers and PCs. Identified and evaluated classroom management software. Recommended computer based training for professional development of school administrators and teachers.

Result: Well documented spending and procurement plan meeting grant and audit requirements.

Sprint-Nextel (2005-2006)

EAI architect for pre-paid telecommunications platform, Human Resources, and Identity Verification System. Designed application integration architecture for file transfer, messaging, and Web Services interfaces between internal systems and external trading partners. Assisted project intake analysts with determining levels of effort of proposed EAI solutions. Initiated and fostered the use of UML in design documents.

Result: Enabled improvements to the architecture of platforms and systems that were planned to survive the merger of Sprint and Nextel. Created reference architectures for integrating HCM and Financials with internal systems and with trading partners.

Capital One (2004-2005)

Architecture consultant. Participated on a team developing a division level target architecture based on business services that connects the enterprise business architecture with domain architecture efforts. Responsible for road map to interim and end state target architecture.

Result: An architecture that underlays a major systems replacement that will keep Capital One positioned as a technology and business leader in a highly competitive market.

Business Systems Analyst. Developed data and information quality standards and guidelines in support of new Management Information Systems and Enterprise Data Policy.

Result: Positioned Capital One for improved compliance with regulations and internal audit requirements particularly as relates to the Capital One Information Based Strategy.

Microsoft (2002)

EAI consultant. Participated in creating an interface between Windows based web services platform and J2EE web application server. Implemented XML interface over WebSphere MQ between Microsoft Host Integration Server and IBM WebSphere Application Server using DB2 XML Extender.

Result: Successfully rolled out demo system for thirty-five sales offices.

world-luxury.com (ongoing)

Web infrastructure consultant and system administrator. Set up web servers and technical infrastructure for new web shopping sites. Administered systems and provided technical consulting to proprietor. Programmed the integration of data feeds into four shopping web sites.

Result: Allowed world-luxury.com to grow at an annual rate of 100% for its first three years and provided the technical infrastructure to support its growth for the foreseeable future. Reduced effort of maintaining web sites with data feeds.

CommerceQuest, Inc., Principal EAI Architect 2003-2004

Senior EAI architect in professional service organization. Designed enterprise level application integration architectures and prepared and documented detailed application integration designs.

Nextel Communications (2003)

EAI architect for major enterprise software upgrade to PeopleSoft HR, Financials, and Supply Chain. Created technical architecture and detailed designs for secure external interfaces with service providers and trading partners and for interfaces with a wide variety of internal systems including messaging interfaces using IBM WebSphere MQ and file transfer interfaces using CommerceQuest Data Integrator.

Result: This complex of interfaces was a positive evolution of the Nextel Service Oriented Architecture and served to make the enterprise more event-driven than was true of the integration layer it replaced.

Other Major activities

Major drug store chain. Proposal for professional services for extending use of mainframe process management package. Created conceptual architecture and project estimates for e-Business exchange connectivity resulting in won work.

Healthcare internet data exchange: Proposal, architecture, and design for outsourced communications solutions to exchange HIPAA compliant documents in the form of web services. Developed solution architecture and determined resource requirements to support implementation project and ongoing operations.

Global car rental, lodging, and parking company: Responded as IBM reseller to RFP for Web Application Server acquisition. Coordinated sales effort and creation of high level solutions architecture using WebSphere Portal Server.

Major healthcare insurer. Proposal for EAI strategy and architecture to include cost/benefit model and center of excellence.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Principal Consultant 2000-2002

Senior level consultant in the Enterprise Application Integration practice of the Information Technology Solutions service line. Specialist in EAI strategy and architecture, technology strategy, and technical architectures.

Internal Firm Projects (2002)

Designed and developed a metadata repository for the resource management system that matches consultant skills to client needs. The repository provided developers an authoritative source for format, usage, and semantics of data elements in the system. Developed the data model and deployed the repository database.

Result: Staff doing development work on the consultant resource management system had better information about the data contained in the system.

Provided system analysis services to the Firm's IT organization for Human Resource systems affected by the separation of Management Consulting Services from the firm in preparation for an IPO.

Result: These activities helped identify and isolate the system changes needed for separation from the parent firm.

Target (2002)

Guided the client in the validation of an earlier selection of an EAI software product. Candidate products included IBM MQSI and SeeBeyond e*Gate.

Result: Protected Target’s investment in a Proof of Concept that consisted of fifty-four interfaces.

American Express (2001-2002)

As part of a project to implement a replacement accounts receivable system and as a member of the interfaces team, developed the contingency costs and design considerations for interfacing existing customer servicing systems to the new single AR system against the eventuality that an enhanced customer servicing system would not be implemented at the same time as the replacement AR system. As part of the definition of a Proof of Concept for the new AR implementation, defined interfacing test strategies and methodologies and the interfacing infrastructure for legacy systems to the single AR. Legacy systems were largely IMS with the target messaging architecture built on MQSeries and MQSI.

Result: The improved ability for American Express to evaluate their alternatives for which AR system to use as the single AR.

MediaPort LLC (2001)

Participated as a member of a team to develop a technology strategy for a start up company in the advertising industry buying and selling space.

Responsible for technology infrastructure aspects of the business plan presented to the Board of Directors including detailed estimates on cost to build the technology platform, including infrastructure and ongoing costs as well as staffing and resource needs for product build out and ongoing operations.

Interviewed CTO’s and CIO’s of the large advertising agencies and media companies to assess the technology direction in the advertising industry and evaluate technology needs.

Performed a technology assessment of vendors in the media selling space.

Developed multiple scenarios for implementing the system based on several business strategies and requirements. Performed technology evaluation on several potential acquisition candidates.

Developed a process and data blueprint for building the platform. Created process maps and data flow diagrams for multiple media-types, and developed a conceptual data model.

Provided RFI’s for selection of technology vendors and infrastructure hosting providers.

Result: Although MediaPort LLC was closed down, the parent companies were able to use this work effort as a strategy for evaluating changes happening in the media industry and to develop effective responses to activities of other companies providing IT and collaboration services to the media buyers and sellers.

Genuity (2001)

Defined the technical architecture for a hosted Siebel CRM service offering. Developed the project plan for rapid roll out and deployment. With other team members created the project plan to develop and implement the rapid roll out methodology.

Result: Project and product plan for hosted Siebel offering.

Avaya Communications (2001)

Participated as member of a team designing the technical infrastructure for a call center implementation for the largest manufacturer of voice communications systems in the US. As part of that infrastructure recommendation, provided client with an Enterprise Application Integration Strategy. Evaluated several integration brokers and recommended a best fit product.

Result: This technology blueprint was allowed to be completed even though the larger eCare initiative was halted. It provided additional insight for system simplification that had begun with an ERP implementation.

John Harland Company (2001)

Guided the client in the evaluation and selection of an EAI software product to integrate CRM, Financials, and legacy manufacturing systems. Provided a framework for weighting the criteria for evaluation.

Result: The larger project was a successful implementation with a robust middleware layer.

GE Transportation Systems (2001)

Validated system architecture based on MQSeries as a JMS provider for a remote diagnostics data collection system and provided middleware recommendation.

Johnson and Johnson (2001)

Provided IBM MQSI product information as part of a three day seminar format attended by corporate IS organization for use in product selection exercise.

AOL (2000-2001)

Participated as a Subject Matter Expert for Enterprise Application Integration in a rapid assessment of EAI tools for use within an internal business systems unit. Gathered requirements and evaluated several integration products and vendors against those requirements and a weighted set of criteria.

Other Major activities

Fortune 50 Telecommunications. Managed the efforts of three partners and eight consultants to develop a proposal in response to RFP to implement an Intranet Portal including resource needs and time frame.

Advertising and media startup: Codeveloped technology strategy and architecture component of a final sales presentation resulting in won work with a budget of over $1mm.

Global pharmaceutical conglomerate: Prepared technical architecture component of response to RFP for global CRM implementation.

Variety of telecommunication companies and manufacturers: Prepared EAI strategy and architecture portions of responses to RFP’s.

CIBER, Inc., Managing Consultant 1996-2000

Local Practice Leader for IT Strategy and Enterprise Integration Practice. Consulted to variety of public and private sector organizations for message oriented middleware architecture and implementation, network redesign, network strategic planning, Internet connectivity, network security and firewalls, electronic mail implementation, operational assessments, application development and implementation support, and system administration. Designed system and network configurations for distributed processing. Client industries included public sector, utilities, education, healthcare, professional services, distribution, and manufacturing.

Seattle Housing Authority (1996-2000)

Managed a project and performed roles of business analyst and technical support analyst to implement alternative rent calculation policy as part of a HUD program limited to thirty housing authorities. The application as implemented is web based with interfaces to the tenant tracking system.

Result: Project implemented on time and under original budget.

Periodically performed network engineering and UNIX, Windows NT, and Netware system administration tasks, and technical support management for a highly regarded public housing agency. Implemented Exchange Server with connectors to cc:Mail and Microsoft Schedule+, guided the selection and installation of UNIX platform for implementation of a multi-user tenant tracking system.

Result: Improved the productivity of agency staff through upgrades to systems and networks. Enabled participation in HUD program limited to thirty housing agencies.

Agilera.com (2000)

Led the selection and designed technical architecture for a new ASP service offering consisting of a B2E portal facing customer staff and offering extended desktop and application access functionality via the web top with integration to back office (ERP) and front office (CRM) applications deployed and managed for the customers.

Result: Guided the final product selection by participating in vendor discussions. Successfully led the initial implementation of the portal and integration broker.

Washington State Department of Transportation (1999)

Led network reengineering strategic planning effort for a state agency with six major regional centers and a central headquarters. Interviewed managers of departments that make heavy use of the agency’s LAN/WAN facilities. Evaluated current state of the network and made recommendations for future design.

Snohomish County Public Utility District (1996-1999)

Provided project management services as well as technical, architectural, product selection, and implementation consulting for the implementation of a cross platform asynchronous messaging architecture on Windows NT, AIX, and OS/390 platforms using IBM MQSeries and Level 8 MQSeries C Wrapper. Co-wrote initial request for proposals for message oriented middleware, designed messaging architecture, acquired software and professional services, performed performance testing and benchmarking of the messaging infrastructure, installed and configured products, designed source code and change management procedures, trained developers and system administrators.

Result: Provided a foundation for future studies that allowed the District to engage in electronic commerce with its suppliers.

Provided application development support for development of a client/server customer information system (CIS). Coordinated deliveries of software from the developer, developed batch run procedures and scripts, maintained and operated environment for Y2K testing, Designed interfaces from CIS to online cashiering system and developed prototypes.

Result: Improvements to the software vendor’s ability to deliver complete code drops for the first time in over three years.

Various Clients

System and Network Administrator for Clients in Utilities, Manufacturing, Health Care, Distribution, Professional Services, and Education Sectors. Administered a variety of UNIX, Windows, and OS/2 systems. Designed and assembled secure networks and firewalls. Designed local area networks, and Internet connectivity. Implemented WWW servers and web sites. Performed operational assessments.

Other Major activities

Public agency. Sold fixed price contract to develop a web front end for a tenant tracking system.

State Department of Information Systems. Prepared technical infrastructure component of response to RFP that won participation in state contracts for a biennium.

University of Washington Continuing Education, Instructor 1999

Taught Client/Server Systems Management class in the Network Computing Certificate Program.

Airborne Express, Sr. Distributed Systems Specialist 1988-1996

Advised system developers regarding appropriate hardware and software platforms and networking for distributing new and reengineered application systems. Designed system and network configurations for distributed processing. Served as Senior Information Center consultant to a variety of departments for problems ranging from logistics to claims administration. Consulted to business functional areas and IS departments to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations. Managed projects for small MIS systems and Netware LAN implementation.

Administered HP, SVR4.x, UnixWare, SCO UNIX and XENIX, and BSD systems, TCP/IP, the X Window System, and multi-protocol wide and local area networking. Designed and assembled the company’s first web site including the web server, secure network, routers, and firewall. Evaluated and selected products for desktop-to-UNIX and desktop-to-mainframe connectivity. Administered a network of UNIX Systems and PCs with over 600 nodes across the US and in five countries.

Developed and implemented prototypes for Sales Force Automation and Executive Information Systems.

Developed and delivered UNIX Fundamentals class. Managed PC training analysts.

Managed a distributed systems support group.

Seattle-First National Bank, Vice President 1973-1988

Managed a unit that provided high quality management reporting. Performed overall project management functions for a project to implement a custom developed consumer loan application processing system. Managed development and maintenance of critical microcomputer and minicomputer based management reporting systems for analyzing the Bank’s loan portfolio. Installed and managed remote data center. Managed a unit of internal consultants conducting high payback productivity improvement projects.

Directed the development of training programs for branch lending personnel in the use of installment loan application processing system and conducted the training sessions. Trained new productivity consultants in statistical techniques for standard setting.

Designed and developed expert systems to facilitate consumer credit examination. Developed prototype expert system to assist documentation specialists in ensuring complete and correct commercial loan documentation. Managed project and served as technical advisor for trial to test an expert system approach to residential real estate mortgage underwriting.

As systems analyst in mortgage banking subsidiary, specified changes to Mortgage Servicing Package and coordinated implementation with the software vendor. Implemented a micrographic filing system for mortgage loan files.

Managed methods consulting unit. Designed and developed numerous programs for the use of internal productivity consultants.

Internal productivity consultant to Branch Banking and a large variety of profit center and cost center departments, including mortgage and service bureau subsidiaries, trust department, bank operations.

Education

MA, Scandinavian Language and Literature, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

BA, Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

Continuing Education, University of Washington, Seattle Community College, University of Puget Sound.

Professional Development

• Cisco SMB Account Manager and Sales Engineer Bootcamps
• Cisco Small Business Communications System Account Manager and Sales Engineer Bootcamps
• Linksys One Sales Training
• Linksys LVS9000 Technical Training
• HP-UX Network Troubleshooting
• Total Information Quality Management
• Process Manager for Data
• Traxion Business Process Manager
• Data Integrator 4.3
• CICS Processs Integrator Bootcamp
• SPIN Selling
• Data Modeling
• Data Modeling Depth in Models
• TIBCO TIB/Rendezvous 4.0 Overview
• Zentoria 2001 (Project Management)
• Coaching Advantage
• OOAD with the UML: Fundamentals
• Java 2 Language Basics
• IBM MQSeries Technical Introduction
• IBM MQSeries System Administration
• TCP/IP Fundamentals
• HP-UX System Administration

Technical Capabilities

Certifications

IBM Certified Specialist - MQSeries, Dec 1998

Languages, Software, and Tools

Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, C, COBOL, d:Base II, XML, XML Schema, SOAP, WSDL

IBM WebSphere MQ, IBM/NEON MQSeries Integrator, IBM WebSphere Portal Server, NEON eBiz 2000, Viador Sage E-Portal Suite, VisualAge Interspace, BEA Tuxedo, CICS Universal Client

IBM DB/2 Universal, MySQL

Microsoft Exchange Server, Sendmail, IIS, Apache Web Server, Apache Tomcat Application Server

MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, MS FrontPage, MS Project, MS Visio, MS Publisher, MS Visual Studio

VP-Expert, OPS-5, Insight+, LightShip, X Window, Attachmate Extra!

SugarCRM

Hardware and Operating Systems

HP, Sun, IBM, Intel based servers

HP-UX, Solaris, AIX, UNIX, Linux, Microsoft DOS, Windows NT, Windows 2000 Server and Workstation, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, VMWare Server

Networking

Ethernet, Token Ring, X.25 , TCP/IP, WRQ Reflection, PC/TCP, HP ARPA Services, Chameleon Netmanage, NCSA Telnet, Eicon IP Router, Cisco Routers, TIS Gauntlet Firewall, TIS Firewall Tool Kit, Sidewinder Firewall, Asterisk VoIP PBX, Linksys LVS9000, Linksys One, Cisco SBCS, Cisco SMB network products

Articles, Publications, and Speeches

"Cost Control in Mortgage Loan Servicing," I.E. News: Banking and Financial Services (a division publication of the Institute of Industrial Engineers), Norcross, GA, Winter 1982.

"Economic Cutoff Strategies," Credit Scoring Conference, The Fair, Isaac Companies, March 1986.

"Using and Understanding Expert Systems," Pacific Northwest Executive, Seattle, WA, October 1986.

"Using Credit Scoring for Maximum Profit," abstracted in Spread Sheet, Robert Morris Associates Puget Sound Chapter, January 1987.

"The Getting of Wisdom: PC Expert System Shells," Computer Language, San Francisco, CA, March 1987, co-authors Mickey Williamson and Bruce Pumplin.

"AI's Role in Finance is Growing," Applied Artificial Intelligence Reporter, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, April 1987.

Message Oriented Middleware, Data Resource Management Association, Seattle, WA, June 1997.

Application Integration: A Messaging Approach, Society for Information Management Puget Sound Chapter, Bellevue, WA, May 1999.

Enterprise Application Integration Using Message Brokers, Puget Sound Midrange Systems Association, Bellevue, WA, October 2000.

Contact Info

Bruce Olsen
100 Beach Dr. NE, #1603
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3969
Mobile: (727) 487-3029
FAX: (425) 940-7783
Email: