CHARLES R. (RAY) PARRISH, CDP

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2834 Adams Street, Helena, Alabama 35080                  (205) 419-8765                crayp@charter.net

OBJECTIVE:

To obtain permanent or contractual employment with a progressive firm as a IT Manager, EDI Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Systems Programmer, or other position with similar responsibility.

CONSULTANT SUMMARY:

Over thirty-five years experience in Information Technology management, systems, programming, and operations. Experienced on IBM, UNIVAC, BURROUGHS, NCR, HONEYWELL, and TANDEM computer systems. Expertise in several industries: Retail, Manufacturing, Medical, Insurance & Telecommunications. Heavily experienced in Data communications, System Design and applications development. Highly competent with Micro Computers and their languages and facilities. Programming experience in excess of twenty-five mainframe and personal computer languages, Database facilities, graphical development packages, and applications. Approximately 25 years management experience. Some experience as Trainer & Instructor.

WORK HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

·         1/92-Present: Independent Consultant / Analyst / Programmer. During this period I have contracted with several diverse and unique clients converting, designing, constructing, testing, and implementing their projects. My clients have ranged from small businesses to large Fortune 500 firms. The majority of these projects were short-term; some relationships have lasted for several years. And, depending on the client, the environment has been either large mainframe or client/server. A detailed listing of these projects is available upon request. As a contractor, I have provided quality work, proven myself adaptable to each situation, and maintained a good relationship with my peers and clients. In terms of marketing my skills, I have either contracted directly with the client or subcontracted through agencies. During this time, I have been employed on a continual basis without any significant bench time. Additionally, I have engaged in projects on a volunteer or entrepreneurial basis. Environment: Large IBM or compatible mainframes, Unisys mainframes,  client/server (HP, Sun Solaris), IBM 9221, RS6000, VSE/ESA, OS390 MVS/ESA, VM/ESA, TSO, COBOL-II, Assembler, CICS w/ FEPI, IMS DB/DC, IMS/90, DB2, UNIX, TASKMATE, PERL, JAVA, Visual C++, DOS, Windows 95/98/2000/XP, Visual Basic 6, ADO, Microsoft Office suite (Access / Word / Power Point / Excel / Project / FrontPage), SQL Server, Oracle, Pick Basic, HTML, XML, Xceed, T.O.A.D., MF COBOL, Powerbuilder, ECC CALLFLOW, MDA, Roscoe, CA-7, REXX, and several other software packages and applications.

·         8/88-1/92: Director of Manufacturing Systems (Technical Support Manager)  in the employment of a major supplier of CIM services and a business partner with IBM. My responsibilities included installing, maintaining, and upgrading COPICS products for several major manufacturing clients on a variety of IBM mainframe platforms. As further explanation, COPICS software involves all the non-financial processes (Job Orders, Inventory, Purchasing, Time & Attendance, etc) required for running a factory. The total package had over 1000 modules for twenty-two different applications plus telecommunications monitors (IMS & CICS) and database software (IMS & Keyed VSAM). As a systems programmer, I installed and maintained the software on MVS, VM, & DOS-based platforms. This also included establishment of all the JCL to support the batch processing segments as well as system backup/recovery and security.  As a manager, I was responsible for coordinating the efforts of several consultants located at various locations around the USA. These efforts involved developing enhancements and customer-specific customization projects. While there were many accomplishments that I could cite, one that I am particularly proud of involved an idea that I had for the creation of a software Job Aid solution to automate the maintenance function. Basically this job aid package would capture and retrieve the APARs from the IBM APAR database, parse, and then wrap the customer-specific JCl around the APAR code fix, and make the result available for upload and execution on the host system. This served to make my job easier by providing reliable and error-free modules which resulted in faster implementation of the application ‘fix’ and, subsequently allowed me to serve multiple clients concurrently via telecommunications facilities. Additionally, I have received some intensive training in the programming of logic controllers for robotic type devices - but never had an opportunity to use it productively.   Environment: IBM 30xx, 4381, 9370, 9773, PS/2, MVS/XA, VM/VSE, JCL, COBOL, Assembler, SMP/E, CICS, IMS DB, DL/I, DB2, VSAM, Utilities, OS/2, C, DAE, Plantworks, Paperless Manufacturing, ARTIC Programming.

·         1/87-8/88: Independent / Consultant / Analyst / Programmer.  As a principal in a software company, I was under contract with a large paper producing company designing, constructing, testing, and implementing software (PIM, Sheet Costing, EDI, Payroll, etc.) projects in support of their nationwide mills. One accomplishment that I developed in conjunction with the retired company comptroller involved the design and development of a software process to capture and cost a sheet mill. Another project involved the enhancement and support of an EDI package for purchasing and shipping of wood and paper products. Environment: IBM 3081, 3033, S/36, S/34, PC XT/AT Micro Equipment, MVS/XA, MVS/SP, CICS, TSO/SPF, PANVALET, SSP, POP, COBOL, JES2, C, C++, etc.

·         9/86-1/88 (Time/Job overlap): Independent / Consultant / Analyst / Programmer.  As a principal in a software company, I was also in partnership with another software company. In addition to being an AT&T value added reseller, we custom-configured and private labeled microcomputers for sale to the general business community. Additionally, I developed a software application for a strip mining company that interfaced with digital scales and bar coding devices to calculate royalties to the land owners. In addition, this package was used to track usage and report preventative maintenance schedules for their trucks and other equipment.  Environment: PC XT/AT Micro Equipment, MicroFocus COBOL, Ryan/McFarland COBOL, CLIPPER, Dbase, C, QBasic, Southware Business Applications.

·         4/86-1/87: Manager of Technical Support. As an employee was responsible for maintaining system software and related application packages for a group of hospitals and ancillary corporations. As a manager, I had responsibility for the  systems programmers, managed the daily system performance, and coordinated the software effort to migrate from a VM to a MVS system environment.  Environment: IBM 4381-P2, IBM 4381-12, MVS/XA, VM/CMS, DOS/VSE, TSO/SPF, ROSCOE, CICS, COBOL, BAL, Omegamon, and other related system software products.

·         1/82-4/86: Senior Consultant/Analyst/Programmer. In the employment of a major Consulting company provided consulting and contract programming services to the general business community. Responsible for or assisted in projects for several large manufacturing & retail accounts. As a Senior Associate, I was a member of the company governing board and had direct responsibility for company marketing efforts in Alabama. One major accomplishment involved the development of a telecommunications protocol to link a major credit reporting business with General Motors via some leading edge equipment available at the time. Another major accomplishment involved the development, implementation, and training of support personnel for a Maintenance Information System to support the maintenance of equipment at the nation-wide mills of the world’s largest paper producing company. Environments: IBM 3081, 3083, 3033, 4331, 370/165, 370/148, 370/145, S/36, PC, Amdahl. MVS/XA, MVS/SP, VM/CMS, TSO/ISPF, CICS, SHADOW II, QUOTA, SSP, POP, COBOL, BAL, IMS, QuickJob, etc.

·         9/80-1/82: Independent Consultant / Analyst / Programmer. As a principal in a software development company, I supplied consultation, programming, and management services to the general business community. Heavily involved in Retail Point of Sale and other communication system development. Also developed several hospital, insurance, & Telecommunications Industry applications. Responsible for managing and coordinating all business efforts. An accomplishment for which I had prime responsibility involved developing the software to support insurance claims processing between a major hospital located in Birmingham and Blue Cross of Alabama. The significance of this effort being this was the first hospital to implement this type capability in Alabama.  Environments: IBM/370, Univac 90xx Series, Series 80, Tandem, NCR 82xx, IBM Series 1, and several different Microprocessors. OS/3, MOS, Guardian, COBOL, BAL, TAL, IMS/90, DMS/90, ENVOY, etc.

·         4/77-9/80: Systems Engineer. For a major Computer Vendor company, provided systems engineering services and technical assistance. Heavily involved in Data Communications projects. Had project responsibility for several major accounts. Basically responsible for installing, maintaining, trouble-shooting, and ensuring the operating system and other software components worked as specified. Of the many accomplishments that I could cite, one involved the installation of the mainframe and data communications in support of point-of-sales effort at all the Alabama Co-Op stores in Alabama. The software which I developed was used to support other nation-wide customers.   Environments: Univac 1100/60, 1110, 90xx Series, Series 80, 9480, BC/7, UTS400. OS/1100, OS/3, TIP-1100, IMS/90, DMS/90, System Internals, JCL, ECL, COBOL, BAL, Utilities, etc.

·         3/74-4/77: Manager of Data Processing.  For a major Fortune 1000 company, where I was primarily responsible for all data processing activities. Completely established a medium size center from “ground up”. Responsibility included all phases of negotiation, evaluation, environmental and facilities, implementation, hiring of staff, design of online applications, daily management, and planning activities. Developed network between Data Center, corporate office, remote foundries and coal mines. Environment: Univac 9030, Burroughs ADP Equipment, OS/3, IMS 90, COBOL, BAL, FORTRAN, etc.

·         6/71-3/74: Manager of Software and Technical Support. For a large mining & manufacturing company. Primarily responsible for operating system software and communications systems. Supervised project managers and other employees. Managed a conversion from a Univac 418-II system to Burroughs systems. Developed a computer-to-computer network between corporate and remote foundries. Wrote communication drivers for both ends. Supervised conversion of all accounting systems to a profit center concept.  Environment: Burroughs 4700, 3500, 2771, Univac 418-II, 9300, 9200. MCP, S5, COBOL, ART, BAL, NDL, DISK FORTE, MOS, POL, etc.

·         11/69-6/71: Supervisor of Programming. For a major computer services corporation was responsible for the development of several business, medical, and accounting systems. Environment: UNIVAC 1106, Univac 418-II, Honeywell 120 Systems, Mohawk Equipment. Exec-8, S5, TOS, COBOL, ART, EASYCODER, etc.

·         5/68-11/69: Lead Programmer/Analyst. For a major aerospace engine remanufacturing corporation as lead programmer/analyst, developed business and engineering applications. One project that was significant involved the design and construction of a software package to calculate the mortality of tank parts that were being refurbished during the Vietnam conflict. Environment: IBM 360/30, COBOL, BAL.

·         1/66-5/68: Lead Programmer. For a major Provider of Health Insurance services was responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of existing systems and for the development of the first Medicare System for the State of Alabama. Environment: IBM 360/30,IBM 1401 Tape System, Electronic Accounting machines. BAL, Autocoder, PL/I, COBOL.

·         3/65-1/66: Programmer/Operator: For a Data Processing Service bureau, started as a computer operator and progressed within two months to the level of programmer. Environment: IBM 1401G, Honeywell 120, Univac 1110, EDP Equipment.

·        10/60-3/65: United States Air Force. AC&W Operator – Manual Inputs Technician in SAGE, which was the most sophisticated computerized air defense system of that time period. Had job responsibility for entry of all non-radar inputs into system. Held a Secret Clearance.

EDUCATION

·         Many Professional & Management courses and seminars.

·         Certificate in Data Processing from Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals.

·         University of Alabama at Birmingham. Completed 3.1 years - Business Administration. While it has always been my desire to complete my degree, job & family responsibilities have prevented it. To compensate, I have engaged in a program of continuous self-study to maintain a high degree of intellectual competitiveness.

·         Dora High School, Dora Alabama. Beta Club member.

 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

Competent - Reliable - Quiet Natured - Team Player - Good Work Ethics - Self Starter - Highly Motivated -Thrives on Challenging Opportunities

 


Member number:2120
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