JAMES K. SHAW

Consulting & Employment

• YourAreaCode, LLC 2011 - 2015

  Product and Service Development

  Grand Rapids, MI - Completely revamped and optimized legacy web marketing systems from the ground up. Armed with the latest web technologies and social media APIs, the first objective was to create a well-connected high-speed content management system (CMS) for our business websites. This was very challenging project as the previous developers were gone and unable to assist in deciphering the poorly designed service. Acting as our digital archaeologist, I literally sifted through over a million lines of undocumented source code in order to extrapolate the actual business and system requirements.

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  Once successfully reverse-engineered, I developed a long-term project plan and directed the team through a phased roll-out of the next generation. The end-results were nothing short of spectacular. A solid architecture, significantly increased performance, and greatly reduced man hours needed to maintain the system were just a few of the key features. We ultimately achieved a pure standards-based business website server sporting mobile-responsive layouts and super-charged for SEO. Something rare in today's fast-paced business world.

  Other responsibilities included educating the development teams on latest technologies, user experience, UI and conceptual design, requirements, frameworks, security, standards compliance, and many other best practices observed by high-end developers. Additionally, an Agile SDLC was established along with a QA Process for maintaining system integrity during continual system updates.

  Key Achievements:

  • Cross-platform and responsive mobile app development (both native and web)
  • Major roles included business analysis, architect, project management, and development.
  • Internal systems development included a specialized workflow process for launching new client websites.
  • Responsible for and management of system integrity spanning some 350 database tables, 450 business objects, and over 1.2 million lines of code across multiple server environments.
  • API design and implementation using Web Services (SOAP) and JSON-RPC enabling developers access to our services.
  • PCI Compliant and McAfee Certified development for payment gateways including Bitcoin, Authorize.net, Intuit Payments, Paypal, Stripe, Braintree, BeanStream, and Amazon Flexible Payment Service (FPS).
  • High-end optimization which reduced page load times from 17.63s avg down to less than 0.48ms avg.
  • Saved over 205 man hours per week by completely streamlining and automating the service
  • Integration with 3rd party services and APIs such as Facebook, Twitter, Open Id, Amazon Web Services and many more.

  TECH: PHP, .NET, iOS Objective-C, Java, Web Services, SOAP, JSON, CORS, JSON-RPC, XML, XHTML, Ajax, Apache Cordova, Adobe PhoneGap, Xapp Framework, PHPTal & Smarty Template Engines, Javascript, jQuery, jQuery Mobile, Foundation js, Bootstrap js, Responsive Layouts, HTML5, CSS3, CMS, Eclipse, OOP, dotProject, CSV Imports and Data Migration, Apache, IIS, Google APIs, Facebook, Twitter, Open Id, GitHub, MySQL, SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, MySQL Workbench, Sequel Pro, PhotoShop

  Payment Gateways: Bitcoin, Authorize.net, Intuit Payments, Paypal, Stripe, Braintree, BeanStream, and Amazon Flexible Payment Service (FPS)

  OS: Linux, Windows Server, Mac OSX, iOS, Android

• USA Wealth Management 2009 - 2011

  Product and Service Development

  Grand Rapids, MI - Created a fully automated private vault service for securely managing documents, files, photos, medical details and other important information. Once registered, consumers receive access to retirement and financial planning reports based on the live account balances from their bank/stock trading portfolios.

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  On the administrative side, a control panel was developed to manage the financial advisors, sponsors, and consumer accounts interacting with the system.

  Also conducted the research, evaluation, and selection of key 3rd party vendors to produce complex business components such as live financial tracking, credit card processing, reporting, and Amazon S3 Cloud file storage. Once selected the entire team was led from concept to production roll-out using structured and formalized project management practices.

  Key Achievements:

  • Live financial transactions (Yodlee API) for mint.com style account transactions, budgets, and reporting.
  • Fully automated recurring billing, credit card processing, and Quickbooks export of transaction data.
  • Payment gateways included Authorize.net (CIM/ARB), Paypal, and Chase Paymentech API integration.
  • PCI Compliant and McAfee Certified development.
  • Designed and implemented a Web Service API for other developers to integrate with our services.
  • Interfaced with executive echelon to conduct project status updates and board meetings.
  • Cross Platform Mobile Application Development.

  TECH: .NET, Web Services, SOAP, PHP, RSS, CSS, XML, HTML, XHTML, JSON, jQuery, Ajax, MySQL, MSSql, Paypal, Authorize.net, Chase Paymentech, Amazon S3 Cloud Storage, Photoshop Creative Suite, OOP, dotProject, Quickbooks IIF, Javascript, Apache, Google API, Yodlee

  OS: Linux, Free BSD, Windows Server, Mac OSX, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry

• Pro Shop Marketing 2008-2009

  Product and Development

  Grand Rapids, MI - Invented and implemented a turnkey marketing and advertising service to help pro shops attract more golfers to their courses. Golfers download a mobile application which uses their GPS location to provide golf course recommendations, maps, and one-touch access to the pro shop to book tee times.

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  Beyond the consumer application, pro shops gained the ability to manage their own websites and marketing efforts from any web enabled device. By managing their own site, pro shops reduced operating costs and turn around time for website changes. Other features included live statistics tracking, quantification of marketing/advertising efforts, customer loyalty rewards, and targeted email marketing campaigns.

  Key Achievements:

  • Made golf history by introducing the first GPS Location Aware Score Cards on a mobile device.
  • Live statistics to quantify marketing and advertising efforts both on and offline.
  • Mobile eCommerce enabled golfers to purchase tee times and other pro shop merchandise directly from their mobile device.
  • Created a Web Service API to connect golfer registrations and other details to 3rd party CRM services.
  • Cross Platform Mobile Application Development.
  • Google Analytics, AdWords, and Webmaster Tools marketing and advertising campaign experience.

  TECH: .NET, Apache, Web Services, SOAP, PHP, RSS, CSS, XML, HTML, XHTML, JSON, jQuery, Ajax, MySQL, MSSql, Paypal, Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite, OOP, dotProject, Javascript, Google API

  OS: Linux, Free BSD, Windows Server, Mac OSX, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry

• Venux 2007 - 2008

  Senior Software Architect & Business Analyst

  Grand Rapids, MI - Business analyst and software architect for Venux and their clients. Performed dual role in providing and implementing best practices both internally and for clients. This included analysis and understanding of client needs and the various business models driving them.

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  Provided key insights and helped identify problems in addition to proposing and implementing solutions. Standardized business processes and implemented best practices which resulted in significantly increased productivity. Practices included extensive documentation of business processes, work flow analysis, along with technical and functional specifications. Projects managed ranged from ERP to Online Report Generation Tools.

  Key Achievements:

  • Helped transform an under performing development organization creating its first profits in nearly 4 years within the first 6 months of business analyst and project management consulting.
  • Architected solutions for their largest clients which included extensive design documentation, analysis, and industry research and providing complete solutions that guaranteed maximum return on investment.
  • Worked with Venux.net for clients such as Kraft, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Amway, Quixtar, Target Scope, Safety Matters, Crystal Flash, Eastbrook Homes, Luxury Fabrics and Silver Leaf Resorts.

  TECH: ASP.net, C#, VB.net, PHP, RSS, CSS, HTML, XHTML XML, XSL, XSLT , PayPal, MSSql Server, Postgres, MySQL, Web Services, SOAP, OOP, JavaScript, Prototype, JSON, Scriptaculous, Ajax, Visio, UML, dotProject, MS Project 2007, Eclipse, Flash, ASP Classic, VB Script, Sugar CRM, Salesforce CRM

  OS: Linux, Free BSD, Windows Server, Mac OSX

• CQL Corp - Karl Associates2007 - 2007

  Application Analyst and Usability Developer

  Grand Rapids, MI - Worked with Karl Associates and their clients to provide both internal support and external technology consulting. The main clients were CQL Corp a high-end Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in .NET, application developmen services, and systems integration.

  Key Achievements:

  • Met with clients to discuss overall project direction, gather requirements, draft project time lines, and to coordinate overall team efforts to meet business objectives.
  • Created visual story-boards, work-flow diagrams, along with actual screen layouts and designs for .net enterprise level application.
  • Project included eCommerce usability analysis and implement for high volume global distribution network and included handicap accessibility for screen readers.

  TECH: .NET, MSSql, HTML, XHTML, Javascript, C#, CSS, Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite

  OS: Windows Server

• Robert Half International 2005 - 2007

  Senior Software Architect & Project Manager

  Grand Rapids, MI - Served as senior software architect interfacing directly with key clients to create and direct complex IT application projects. Directed all aspects of technical development as primary point of contact, analyzing technical requirements and defining application design specifications. Provided critical technical interface to client management team, training personnel and delivering results-oriented technical expertise in refining and automating various business processes.

  Key Achievements:

  • Spearheaded development and deployment of online systems, streamlining a leading public school district's business operations from paper based system to a digital document and workflow process.
  • Initiated new electronic workflow process saving an estimated 1850 hours in operational and administrative efforts; successfully migrated over 100 paper-based forms and documents into an interactive PDF platform.
  • Provided project management for the Operational Technology department in addition to defining and documenting: Services Areas, Service Level Agreements, Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies, Software Development Life Cycle, Configuration Management, Project Planning, Standard Operating Procedures, Disaster Recovery, and implementing an online Change Control Request System which significantly enhanced critical core service reliability.

  TECH: PHP, MySQL, Apache, IIS, PDF, VB Script, .NET, MS Sql Server 2005, HTML, Progress, VMWare, LDAP, Novell, RSS, CSS, XML, XSL, Soap, Ajax, WebServices, PhotoShop, OOP, JavaScript, Flash

  OS: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, NetWare

• MorePhotos 2004 - 2005

  Senior Software Architect

  Traverse City, MI - Provided technical leadership in designing and producing cross platform software applications which integrated with existing online web based client systems. Delivered critical expertise in coding standards, best practices and procedures including: documentation generation, gathering of requirements, testing procedures, source code management and reuse, naming conventions and object oriented approaches to existing methodologies. Aggressively monitored project status, managing workflow processes, ensuring timely completion of benchmarks.

  Key Achievements:

  • Led initiative to port existing applications to run on multiple platforms (Mac, Linux, and Windows) from a single code base, reducing development and maintenance effort by approx 74 man-hours per week.
  • Proactively designed and implemented XML data layer bridge, providing vendors’ third party integration via SDK, API, and providing Plug-In capabilities.

  TECH: VisualBasic, RealBasic, .NET, ASP, Soap WebServices, PhotoShop, RSS, CSS, XML, XSL, OOP, Sockets, FTP, JavaScript

  OS: Windows, Linux, Mac OSX

• Northern Solutions 2002 - 2004

  President and CEO

  Ann Arbor, MI - Served as President and CEO of full service innovative software development and IT management consulting firm. Provided expertise for clients in such areas as developing IT vision, deploying eCommerce solutions, and International Customer Service and support. Coordinated software production and releases, content management, external systems integration, web architecture, and infrastructure development.

  Key Achievements:

  • Honored as State Chairman of the NRCC's Business Advisory Council and nominated as NRCC's Business Man of the Year, being honored with a write up in the Wall Street Journal.
  • Championed development of an online agent based quote system used by agents nationwide to quickly and easily generate insurance quotes via the web.

  TECH: C++, COM, Sockets, SSI, PHP, PERL, ASP, ASP.NET, JAVA, JSP, ColdFusion, PhotoShop, RSS, CSS, XML, XSL, ISAPI, UML, OOP, JavaScript, Flash

  OS: Windows, Linux

• Software Architect Consultant & Project Manager 1999 - 2002

  Sr. Software Architect / Consultant

  Keane, McClean VA - Interfaced with diverse range of clients to complete sophisticated software and web development projects within budget and on schedule. Coordinated projects with clients such as: Verizon, American Medical Laboratories, North Atlantic Components, NRTC, and LabPortal.com. Provided technical, pre- and post-development support to client organization, as well as OEM technical/engineering support.

  Key Projects:

  • eStara: Developed and implemented web based B2B - B2C e-commerce solution, leveraging existing system components and tools using a solid object-oriented architecture that allowed for continuous updating of the system and easy access to global voice over IP technologies.

    TECH: Java, JSP, OOP, JavaScript, ColdFusion, Photoshop, HTML, Javascript OS: Windows, Linux, UNIX

  • LabPortal.com: Led a multi-national team of more than 25 developers and 8 business analysts in creating a web-enabled software solution deployed to collect and distribute medical laboratory results via the web.

    TECH: Java, EJB, JSP, JavaScript, Tomcat, WebLogic, StarTeam, PhotoShop, OOP OS: Windows, Linux

  • Verizon: Reengineered the Software Deployment Methodology process working closely with CEE-DOS organization to streamline and deploy a critical billing distribution solution across large network spanning multiple locations in several states. Completely automating process eliminating end user interaction.

    TECH: InstallShield, C++, VB Script, COM, OOP OS: Windows

• Additional Experience 1999 - Present

  Making it happen.™

  Additional experience as Director of Research and Development / OEM Product Manager for Deerfield.com. Served in the United States Marine Corps as Demonstrations & Communications Instructor at Quantico, VA..

  Key Projects:
  Technical Proficiencies Platforms: Mac OS X, Linux, Windows, Novell, UNIX, iPhone, Blackberry, Android Tools: Eclipse, Visual Studio, Zend Studio, Macromedia Studio Adobe InDesign/Photoshop/Flash, SQL Server, MySQL, IIS, Apache, Tomcat, dotProject, MS Project, SharePoint, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, WebLogic, VMWare, InstallShield, and Visio. Languages: PHP, C#, RealBasic, Cold Fusion (CFML), SQL, ISAPI, C++, COM, Objective C, ASP, VBScript, Visual Basic, UML, OOP, HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, RSS, CSS, XML, XSL, FTP, XSLT, Java, JSP, Java Beans, .NET, LDAP, SOAP, Web Services, JSON, jQuery, and AJAX.

• Robert Half International 2005-2007

  Sr. Software Architect / Consultant

  Grand Rapids, MI - Solutions Architect: Designed and deployed a corporate level intranet, which transformed the way a leading public school district collaborated and conducted business. This online system leveraged open source technologies to serve the community and well over 1000 staff members in multiple locations. It provided a solid foundation from which to build, automate, and support reliable, efficient business processes. Improved workflow: The new electronic workflow resulted in substantial annual savings in administrative and operating costs. For example, the online conference registration saved the district an estimated 1,850 hours of administrative and clerical duties. Innovative solutions and savings such as these are critical when operating on a limited State-funded budget. Digital Documents: Migrated over 100 paper-based forms and documents into interactive digital PDFs able to be completed and routed electronically. These forms integrated seamlessly with existing CRM systems saving valuable time in filling out forms while reducing errors associated with traditional paper-based methods. This enables the district to effectively process more information faster, ultimately improving the over all level of service and satisfaction for staff members and the community they served. Project Management: Provided project management for the Operational Technology department, defining and documenting services areas, Service Level Agreements, Acceptable Use Policies, Developmental Life Cycle, Use Case Diagrams, Configuration Management, Standard Operating Procedures, Disaster Recovery, and implementing an online Change Control Request System which significantly enhanced critical service reliability.

• Northern Solutions2002-2004

  President and CEO (Software Development Consulting Firm)

  Ann Arbor, MI - Strong management career: Fusing together the leadership, vision, entrepreneurial drive, and technical know-how necessary to standardize, fully automate, and implement information systems used in saving a great deal of the time and money typically associated with business operating costs. Areas of management include: vision, ecommerce systems, International customer service and support, streamlining software production and releases, content management, external systems integration, brand recognition, operations, web architecture, and infrastructure. Business honors included: Honorary State Chairman of the NRCC's Business Advisory Council, in addition to being nominated as NRCC's Business Man of the Year. This is a distinguished recognition, as less than one percent of those council members awarded nationally ever receive a nomination. Recognition was published in the Wall Street Journal.

• Independent Software Consultant1998-2002

  Software and Development Consultant (Independent)

  Washington, DC - Custom Software Development: Completed a variety of software and web development projects for numerous different companies. These projects ranged from simple HTML template designs, Desktop Publishing, to advanced web-based e-commerce systems to custom C++ Windows applications. Projects completed for companies include: Compaq, Verizon, NRTC, LabPortal.com, MooseJaw, Deerfield.Com, Michigan Snowshoe Center, Native Hope Treatment Center, and Tuque. Developed an online agent based quote system for a major insurance carrier. This was a system used by agents nationwide to quickly and easily generate insurance quotes via the web. The system uses complex formulas to generate variable quotes in real time, based on customer criterion entered. Other features included abilities to save generated quotes, purchasing of quotes, profile system, and contact manager.

• eStara2001-2002

  Software Consultant (Keane Inc. - Consulting)

  Reston, VA - Internal consultative capacity: Assisted application developers and customer support staff, to allow for the creation of quality, easy to maintain, efficient, and robust web based B2B - B2C commerce systems. Identified ways to stream line the application development process: leveraging existing systems components, development environments, and tools using a solid object-oriented architecture that allowed for the continuous changing of the system. Database Administration: Planned and coordinated the Administration of databases, including relational databases, to ensure accurate, appropriate, and effective use of data, to include database definition, structure, documentation, and operational guidelines. Provided easy access to global voice over internet protocol (VOIP) network: Created web based user interface allowing customers to easily provision web links that provided instant access to estara's global VOIP network.

• LabPortal.com - American Medical Laboratories (AML)2000-2001

  Project Management / Technical Lead / Web Development (Keane Inc. - Consulting)

  Chantilly, VA - While leading a multi-national team of 25+ developers, developed a web-enabled software updating system for LabPortal's web application product line. This system allows clients to upgrade their LabPortal software installation via the web with a single click. Web Application Interface Design: Designed the web interface for the LabPortal product. Also, provided mentoring for developers in web application concept, design, theories, and implementation.

• Verizon1995-1997

  Software Consultant (Keane Inc. - Consulting)

  Reengineered Software Deployment Methodology: Working with the CEE-DOS organization I reengineered the deployment methodology using InstallShield and Microsoft Visual C++. This methodology streamlined a multi-script process into a single script, dramatically minimizing the number of user errors that occurred during the packaging process, while increasing successful deployments and reducing turnaround time in man-hours. This automation served a 5000+ machine network spanning multiple states. Web-Enabled Application Installation System: This system was designed and implemented for Verizon's key billing software, providing the end user with the ability to install the application with a single click of a button placed on a web page. This system enabled corporate worldwide application installation while eliminating the need for LAN/WAN personnel from needing to be physically present to install the software and grant PC access rights.

• Verizon1995-1997

  Software Consultant (Keane Inc. - Consulting)

  Reengineered Software Deployment Methodology: Working with the CEE-DOS organization I reengineered the deployment methodology using InstallShield and Microsoft Visual C++. This methodology streamlined a multi-script process into a single script, dramatically minimizing the number of user errors that occurred during the packaging process, while increasing successful deployments and reducing turnaround time in man-hours. This automation served a 5000+ machine network spanning multiple states.

  Web-Enabled Application Installation System: This system was designed and implemented for Verizon's key billing software, providing the end user with the ability to install the application with a single click of a button placed on a web page. This system enabled corporate worldwide application installation while eliminating the need for LAN/WAN personnel from needing to be physically present to install the software and grant PC access rights.

• Deerfield.com1997-1999

  Director of Research and Development / OEM Product Management

  Gaylord, MI - Developed Multimedia Product CDs: These intuitive, user-friendly, CDs served as a critical departure from the company's then current business model (electronic distribution). This served as the first physical media on which their products were distributed to retail stores, distribution channels, press, end users, and OEM partners. Examples of this work are the WinGate Home CD (which can be found on the shelves of CompUSA) and the WorldClient CD (which was advertised in the October 1999 issue of Windows NT magazine on page 111).

  Served as Deerfield.com technical liaison for such industry Leaders as: Compaq, AOL, AMD, Diamond Multimedia, IBM, 3Com, BestData, Lucent, Intellogis, and Rockwell, respectively. This included the collaboration and technical advising in majority of conference calls and meetings with these organizations.

  Technical Writer and Lead Software Testing Engineer: Created technical specifications documents for OEM partners and assisted in all phases of the development cycle from software architecture to testing to production releases.

• United States Marine Corps1995-1997

  Demonstrations and Communications Instructor

  Quantico, VA - Served as primary technical advisor for all platoon computer related issues. Provided medical support and key radio communications for troops that were injured while training. Provided award winning tactical demonstrations for Officer Candidates School and the FBI academy as well as many foreign dignitaries. Awarded Meritorious Recognition for providing flawless tactical and physical training demonstrations and being the go-to person of our unit.

Education

• Northwestern Michigan College2005

  Traverse City, MI

  Pursued career studies toward a doctorate of psychology.

• Northern Michigan University1995

  Marquette, MI

  Pursued career studies for computer programming and aeronautical engineering Restructured, designed, and compiled the accurate graphical environment for the early MS Flight Simulator.

• Atlanta Jr./Sr. High School1994

  Atlanta, MI

  Graduated with honors. Vice President of National Honor Society, and Senior Representative of Student Council. Received numerous awards for academic, artistic, sports, and musical excellence.