BRIAN R. OLSEN

brian.olsen@earthlink.net

(612) 382-4833

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A highly-motivated information technology professional with broad experience and success in Data Architecture, Project Management, and Systems Engineering.  Well-versed in logical and physical data modeling, systems integration, and application development technologies.  Outstanding project management skills including, people skills, communication skills, and leadership ability.  Twenty-five years of excellence leading and performing information technology implementations in large corporate environments. 

 

 

DATA WAREHOUSING EXPERIENCE

Over seventeen years experience as Data Architect and as Project Manager for Data Warehouse, Operational Data Store, and Business Intelligence implementations within Fortune 500 organizations.  In addition to project management, specific project responsibilities have included: conducting user interviews, authoring requirements documents and application specifications, performing data modeling and database design, conducting data quality analysis, documenting data transformation and cleansing requirements, developing data analysis applications, installing associated hardware and software, developing and delivering user education, and providing ongoing application support and maintenance.  Have also conducted software and hardware evaluations, and authored software and hardware selection recommendations. 

 

 

CONSULTING HIGHLIGHTS

Project Manager                             RBC Dain Rauscher                           Jan 2006 - Present

·         Responsible for managing three projects within the retained systems portfolio of the overall conversion effort from the Beta system environment for brokerage processing to ADP.  The first project encompasses the conversion of the applications used to perform reconciliations in securities positions.  The second project encompasses the conversion of the applications used to perform reconciliations in cash positions.  The third project encompasses the conversion of the production reporting environment, and an application used to produce reports on demand.  The project lifecycle methodology employed for all of the conversion projects, as enforced by the RBC Project Management Office, requires the creation and sign-off of several governance documents defining all facets of each project, as well as detailed project plans created and maintained within Microsoft Project.  Updated project plans and status reports are posted to a portal application on a weekly basis for management review. 

 

Data Architect                                            Medica                                Aug 2005 - Dec 2005

·         Responsible for the design and implementation of significant enhancements to the Operational Data Store (ODS) environment.  Due to a large increase in the number of data sources necessary for membership and claims processing, as well as, a heightened demand for additional detail in provider data, this project significantly increased the scope of the ODS environment in both size and complexity.  I designed and documented the data structures and flows required for the enhanced system using ERwin for data modeling and database design, Microsoft Visio for creating process and data flow diagrams, and Microsoft Access and Oracle SQL Plus for data analysis.  The ODS was utilized by several portal applications and voice response systems, and was implemented in an Oracle 9i environment. 

 

Data Architect                              Wells Fargo & Company                   Jun 2004 - Aug 2005

·         Responsible for functional specifications, process and data flows, data models and database designs for multiple data mart project implementations within the Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Data Management organization.  Projects delivered included implementations providing analysis and reporting for Cross-Sell Effectiveness, Promotion History and Response, and Mortgage Retention applications.  Software tools utilized included ERwin for data modeling and database design, and Microsoft Visio for creating process and data flow diagrams.  This multi-terabyte data warehouse was implemented in IBM DB2 UDB environment, using the Business Objects tool suite as the primary user access tool.

 

Data Architect                                       Best Buy, Inc.                             Jan 2002 - Apr 2004

·         Responsible for defining requirements, analyzing data sources, performing logical data modeling, architecting data structures and flow, and documenting source-to-target mapping and transformation definitions for Data Warehouse projects across multiple Best Buy business areas, including retail stores, corporate marketing, logistics, and business planning.  Lead Data Architect on the ME National Scorecard project, a high-visibility project providing key performance metrics and rankings for more than 600 retail locations. Managed four other architects in various phases of implementing this project.  Also, was selected to design a prototype system for integrating and analyzing sales data from Best Buy's four major businesses: Best Buy; FutureShop; MusicLand; and, Magnolia.  Co-developed the methodology and standards for utilizing the Visible Advantage CASE tool for data modeling and database design within the Best Buy Data Warehouse environment. 

 

Data Architect                                   Eaton Corporation                         Jul 2000 - Dec 2001

·         Responsible for defining project scope and technical feasibility, identifying appropriate platforms and tools, analyzing data sources, architecting data structures and flow, performing logical data modeling, documenting source-to-target mapping definitions, and developing multiple Cognos PowerPlay cubes for analysis and reporting.  Successfully defined, designed, and implemented the Invoice Subject Area, consolidating data from Oracle, MFG/PRO, and Tolas based systems around the world, and providing this sales data to the Fluid Power Group organization for analysis.  Also defined and designed the Sales Order Subject Area, and Material Subject Area. The Fluid Power Group Data Warehouse Center of Excellence was implemented under Oracle 8i, using Erwin for data modeling and database design, Informatica PowerMart for ETL functionality, and the Cognos PowerPlay and Impromptu tools for user access and analysis capabilities.

 

Data Architect                                       Best Buy, Inc.                             Mar 1999 - Jul 2000

·         Responsible for defining requirements, analyzing data sources, performing logical data modeling, architecting data structures and flow, and documenting source-to-target mapping and transformation definitions for Store Scorecard applications.  The Store Scorecard projects implemented store sales rankings based on revenue criteria, store operations rankings based on operating and merchandising criteria, and store management rankings based on management performance criteria.  Specific software tools utilized include System Architect for data modeling and database design, Visio for documenting data flows, Oracle SQL-Plus, and Microsoft Access.  This multi-terabyte data warehouse environment was implemented under Oracle 8i, using the MicroStategy tool suite as the primary user access tool.

 

Project Manager                        Allina Health Systems, Inc.                Sept 1998 - Mar 1999

·         Responsible for managing the project implementing the Plan Membership Activity data warehouse. Responsibilities included identifying project tasks and required resources, developing project timelines, managing the project team and ensuring timely task completion, and communicating project status to business executives and IS management. Additional tasks included defining source system extract criteria, and defining/documenting source-to-target mapping and transformation requirements. The PMA data warehouse was implemented in an Oracle 8 environment. The primary user tools for accessing the PMA data warehouse were the SAS System, Cognos Impromptu, and Oracle SQL-Plus.

 

OLAP Database Developer           U.S. Bank Corporation                    Jan 1997 - Sept 1998

·         Planned and implemented a financial analysis system based on the Hyperion Solutions, Essbase Version 5 multidimensional database platform.  Given the success of this initial project, was subsequently asked to design, develop, and implement a payroll database for financial analysis, also based on the Essbase database platform.  Primary responsibilities for these projects were to: define the requirements for analysis; design and implement the Essbase database capable of supporting the business requirements; design and develop the data extract and transformation programs to capture and produce the desired data for Essbase dimension builds and data loads; and, perform Essbase database performance tuning.  Additional tasks included: installing and configuring Windows NT Server 4.0; configuring TCP/IP support; installing and configuring IBM Client Application Enabler access to an RS/6000 DDCS Gateway; and, installing and configuring the Essbase database.

 

Data Warehouse Consultant                  Cargill, Inc.                             Aug 1996 - Dec 1996           

·         Performed a decision support software evaluation for the Food Sector Credit area.  Primary responsibilities for the project were to evaluate the decision support capabilities of a custom developed vendor software package for establishing corporate credit limits based on accounts receivable and collections data. Using the criteria of product functionality, ease of use, and performance characteristics, and based on a detailed analysis of the database design and user interface, made the recommendation to significantly alter the project implementation. As a follow-up to this evaluation and recommendation, was asked to perform a Data Warehouse Feasibility Study, and develop a Data Warehouse Project Charter for the Food Sector Credit area.  The scope of these additional efforts included: gathering and documenting user requirements; developing a logical database design capable of supporting these requirements; calculating database sizing and providing capacity planning estimates; determining appropriate hardware and software configurations; creating an initial project plan defining required resources and timelines; and, providing detailed project cost estimates.  Developed a sample database and application prototype as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate tangible benefits to business owners.

 

Systems Migration Consultant         Land ‘O’ Lakes, Inc.                        Jan 1996 - Jul 1996

·        Planned and executed a system migration from IBM DIS V1.3.6 to IBM DIS V2.1.  This project entailed: performing system and network capacity planning; recommending appropriate server hardware and software platforms; installing and configuring OS/2 Warp Connect and TCP/IP on all client and server platforms; installing and configuring DIS File Services, Mail Services, Directory Services, Capsule Services, and Print Services on OS/2 Warp Connect; installing and configuring DIS Gateway Services for the Redbrick database environment on an IBM RS/6000 AIX platform; converting the Redbrick data dictionary; and, restoring and converting all user files, desktops, and file drawers to the DIS V2.1 environment.

 

Data Warehouse Consultant American Express Financial Advisors        Feb 1995 - Dec 1995

·         Designed, developed, and implemented a Marketing data warehouse providing for the access and analysis of client and prospect financial and demographic information within the marketing organization.  Conducted a data warehouse tool evaluation, and, based on identified requirements, selected and installed the DSS Agent, DSS Architect, DSS Server, and DSS Executive suite of products from MicroStrategy, Inc.  Proceeded to develop an application prototype, and conducted multiple proof-of-concept demonstrations for client marketing executives.  Given project approval, developed a suite of applications for market segmentation and sales force analysis, including an executive information system front-end application. Throughout the development cycle, conducted ongoing database performance benchmarking and tuning. Developed user training materials, and trained initial users.

 

Project Manager                   Meredith Publishing Corporation              Oct 1992 - Oct 1994

·         Responsible for the design, development, and implementation of a suite of applications for the book club marketing organization.  These applications analyzed fulfillment data to perform market segmentation, and plan market cycle product offerings.  This two-year project included conducting user interviews, authoring requirements definitions and application specifications, performing logical database design of the warehouse, developing user applications, and providing user training and ongoing application support.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Systems Engineer

BEA Systems, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA

Responsible for sales-support and pre-sales consulting for the BEA Systems product line within the mid-western U.S.  BEA was the largest independent vendor of middleware software, providing solutions for building, deploying, and managing mission-critical, enterprise-wide distributed applications.  The BEA flagship product, BEA Tuxedo, owned a 46% market-share within the transaction processing monitor market-space.  Performed numerous sales presentations for prospective BEA clients, and provided ongoing customer support for installed BEA clients, such as Northwest Airlines.

 

Software Development Representative

IBM, Inc., Application Solutions Division, White Plains, NY

Responsible for the sales, consulting services, and support offerings associated with IBM Decision Support Software products throughout the central United States.  Served as liaison between Product Development, customers, and the IBM field sales force.  Performed product technology briefings for strategic customers.

 

Systems Engineer

IBM, Inc., US Marketing and Services, Minneapolis, MN

Systems Engineer assigned to Fortune 500 accounts, such as 3M and Pillsbury, over a several year period. Responsibilities were to manage and perform project implementation and support services associated with the entire breadth of the IBM product line. 

 

 

EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY

OpenInsights Group, LLC.                     Consultant                                              04/99 - Present

Arden Park Technologies, Inc.               Consultant                                                 11/94 - 03/99

BEA Systems, Inc.                                Systems Engineer                                       05/97 - 12/97

Metaphor, Inc.                                      Consultant                                                 09/92 - 10/94

IBM, Inc.                                              Systems Engineer                                       01/81 - 08/92

Honeywell, Inc.                                     FORTRAN Programmer                            12/79 - 12/80

 

 

EDUCATION

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN                                                                               1975 - 1979

·         Bachelor of Arts in Economics

·         Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy