Bill Syrjala (New York, NY)
  EMail: bills01581@yahoo.com       Cell #: 617-549-4299
 Objective: Rational/Mercury Project Lead/Architect, QA Project  
                   Lead/Architect (Contract or Perm)
    
    * * * * Skills Inventory (NOT A COMPANY)* * * * 

New IBM/Rational Tools: Rational Project Conductor, Rational Quality Manager, Rational Test Lab Manager, Rational Requirements Composer, Rational Team Concert, Jazz Foundation, ALM Strategy, SDLC Strategy

Vertical Experience: Government, Financial Services, 
    Insurance, Internet, Health Care, Software

QA Consulting Experience: Formulating High Level QA Strategy,
    Making case for ROI of QA to CIO and CFO, Presenting 
    business case for QA (as opposed to technical case)

QA Management Experience: Hiring, training, and managing QA 
    personnel in all aspects of QA. Creating a QA 
    department, putting in place QA processes, tools, and 
    methodology.

Internet Testing Experience: VB.Net, IE/Netscape based 
    applications, ActiveX, Java, JavaScript, Plug-ins, 
    HTML, XML, 3 Tier Architecture, stress & load testing

Database Testing Experience: Oracle 8, MS SQL Server 7, 
    Sybase SQL Server

Server/Network Environments Tested: Windows NT, Unix, 
    Banyan, Netware, TCP/IP, Wireless

Client Server Testing Experience: VB3 through VB6, 
    PowerBuilder 5.0, Excel VBA, MS Access

QA Automated Test Tools: SQA Robot, SQA Mgr, SQA Team Test, 
    Rational Robot, Rational TestManager, Rational TeamTest, 
    Segue Silk, WinRunner, MS Test, Rational ClearQuest

QA Techniques & Deliverables: Data-Driven Testing, Defect 
    mgt., Regr. & unit test plans, Stress/Load/Volume 
    testing, Test cases, Black/White Box testing, QA 
    Automation plans, Data models, Business rule models, 
    Func spec creation, Requirements, Code coverage 
    analysis, Source Control, Rational Unified Process,
    RUP, CMM

Project Management / Configuration Management / Design Tools: 
    Rational ClearCase, Rational RequisitePro, Rational Rose, 
    Caliber RM, PVCS Tracker, MS Project, Rational Team Test

Front End Environments Tested: Windows 95/98/2000, Windows 
    NT 4.0, Windows 3.1

Misc Testing Exper: Legacy Data Conversion, Load, Install, 
    Configuration testing

DLL & Module Management Tools Used: DLLagator, DLLExplorer, 
    WPS

Programming Languages Experience: Visual Basic, SQL, Excel 
    VBA, Cobol, SQA Basic, Pascal, Fortran

Desktop Software: MS-Office expert, Neural Network 
    development packages

     * * * * Work Experience * * * *

*** Jan 2007 to present: confidential, details available on request ***
Generally: Rational Project Conductor, Rational Quality Manager, Rational Test Lab Manager, Rational Requirements Composer, Rational Team Concert, Jazz Foundation, ALM Strategy, SDLC Strategy

*** Rational Tools Administrator and Testing / QA Consultant 
As a contract vendor, managed a team and led implementation of the
Rational tool suite for a large third party ERP system implemented in a
government agency. Led implementation of Rational Clear Quest, Rational
 Requisite Pro, Rational Test Manager, and Rational Robot. Assisted with 
Rational Clear Case implementation. Also:
    - wrote functional test plans and cases using Rational Test Manager
      and Excel
    - developed automated test scripts using Rational Robot
    - oversaw requirements tracking process with Rational Req Pro. 
      Rational ReqPro used for use cases also.
    - performed QA knowledge transfer activities to client personnel
    - implemented QA metrics for senior management
    - overcame political and technical challenges presented by 
      implementing Rational toolset in multiple domain, multiple
      organization, multiple Rational version environment
    - implemented Rational Unified Process (RUP)
	
*** Automated Testing Consultant 
As a contractor, led an automated testing team for a large scale ERP
system developed internally at HP. This application was distributed
globally to HP
    - worked with offshore team of testers to coordinate the 
      implementation of automated scripts 
    - worked with Project Management to pick the highest risk areas of
      the application to automate
    - prepared and presented presentations to senior management on the 
      value of automated testing
    - testing tool was Rational Robot
    - investigated NUnit and JUnit white box testing tools
    - performed SQL performance testing via the use of automated scripts

*** QA Consultant 
As a contractor, led implementation of QA department for one of 
Microsoft Consulting Services
assess the feasibility of the VB.NET development platform, and related 
technologies. My task was to create a QA strategy for 5 future projects 
which would use .NET to replace client/server and legacy systems. Also 
performed hands on QA activities. Additionally:
    - wrote component test cases
    - wrote test plans and test cases using Rational Test Manager
    - developed automated test scripts (& strategy) using Rational Robot
    - configured and implemented Rational ClearQuest
    - performed QA knowledge transfer activities to client personnel
    - prepared and performed 
    - conducted ROI analysis for QA

** QA Team Leader - USPowerSolutions.com [2/00 to 3/01] **
As a contractor, led development of automated test scripts to test a 3 
tier Java based application (using WebLogic) developed for the utility 
industry. The application also utilized Javascript and EJBeans. Hired & 
managed team of testers, and trained them in use of automated test tool. 
Also:
    - eliminated the need for "record and playback" of test 
      scripts, by programming API calls and functions to 
      enable "data driven" testing (with SQA Robot 7.5). 
      These functions utilized a "code library", and tested 
      HTML, Java, and other objects in application under 
      test (all in conformance with test plans).
    - programmed scripts to maximize reusability & ease of 
      maintenance
    - programmed "object map" for all objects ("object map" 
      was stored in code library)
    - after finishing data driven test architecture, 
      created Visual Basic app (as an Excel front end) so 
      that creation of test plans in Excel would 
      automatically generate Robot test scripts "behind the 
      scenes" 
    - performed white box tests on Oracle & MS SQL db's 
      (running on Unix) by using SQL in test scripts
    - also performed white box testing of various file 
      processing activities on Unix and NT
    - compared & analyzed WinRunner, Silk, Robot, and QARun 
      before tool purchase. Created "trial scripts" on 
      parts of the application as a method for tool 
      evaluation
    - used Caliber RM and Rational Rose, ClearCase, and 
      ClearQuest to manage use cases & requirements, 
      preventing defects prior to heavy development, and 
      advancing compliance w/ SEI CMM goals
    - performed black box / manual testing on alpha, beta, 
      and release versions of product

**QA Automation Mgr - Mass. Financial Services [7/99-2/00]**
As a contractor, managed the entire QA automation effort, using SQA 
Robot 6.1, for this fixed income trading application. App was coded in 
Power Builder, running on Sybase. MFS is in financial services.
    - programmed test scripts to use test case data files 
      for input, eliminating the need for 'record and 
      playback'
    - programmed "functions", which utilized a code library
    - hired, managed and trained MFS personnel in use of 
      SQA Manager & Robot
    - achieved goal of automating 80% (out of 7,000) test 
      cases

**QA Asst Mgr - Datawatch Corp (NASDAQ: DWCH) [3/99-7/99]**
As a contractor, created test plans to assist in testing of new 
functionality on this intranet based application. Analyzed various 
combinations of user scenarios to insure proper test coverage. 
This "report writer" application was converted from a client server 
platform to web based, and is used in the mfg, gvt, & fin svcs industries.
    - tested the app's behavior in different browsers 
      (Netscape, IE4, IE5)
    - tested the app's behavior on different servers (NT, 
      Unix)
    - tested the app's behavior on different db's (Oracle, 
      Sybase, MS-SQL)
    - tested the app's behavior in different operating 
      systems (95, 98, Mac)
    - created Y2K test plan for product line & ensured 
      proper test coverage

** QA Mgr - Whitman Hart (NASDAQ: WHIT) [10/98 to 3/99] **
As a contractor, owned the testing role, and helped manage QA for Boston 
area customer of this B2B E-commerce consultancy. Tested this 
application, developed in VB6.0 and running on Oracle 8, to run entirely 
in Internet Explorer, and deployed statewide in March 1999. Performed 
manual and automated testing (using SQA Robot), and owned the entire 
process of reporting, tracking, verifying, and closing defects. 500 
defects discovered in 6 months.    
    - testing data conversion from legacy system to Oracle
      8 running on NT
    - managed beta rollout in Jan. 1999, and trained end 
      users
    - created unit test plans for programmers & created 
      QA's regr. test plan
    - trained the internal MIS dept. on how to perform QA 
      on future versions
    - assessed feasibility of using SQA v6 vs. SQA v7 as a 
      web testing tool

**QA Assistant Mgr - ITT Hartford (NYSE: HIG) [1/98-1/99]**
As a contractor, helped manage QA for this insurance co. This firm's 
software automates the insurance claims process, and was developed in PB 
5.0, running on NT Server 4.0.    
    - creation of automated test suites using SQA Robot
    - programmed SQA Manager "Add-On" using Excel VBA, so 
      that 30 testers could update SQA Mgr via Excel, 
      saving the company at least $50,000 (eliminated the 
      need to purchase dozens of SQA licenses)
    - bug database & test plan maintenance
    - trained internal staff on QA procedures

 *** QA Director - Pfizer / PenChart [7/96 to 12/97] ***
As a contractor, led QA for this subsidiary of Pfizer. This company's 
software, which automates the "Electronic Patient Record", was developed 
in Visual Basic 5.0, using MS-SQL 6.5, running on NT Server 4.0. Client 
was Windows 95. Responsibilities:    
    - helped land exclusive partnership with Pfizer, who 
      chose Penchart over 120 other companies, primarily 
      because of high quality level ( for more info, 
      visit "press" section at penchart.com )
    - managed discovery and resolution of 3,500 defects
    - creation of automated test suites using SQA 4, 5, and 
      6.0, enhanced scripts using Visual Basic
    - bug database and enhancement request tracking
    - regression test and unit test plan maintenance
    - continuously coordinating the functional spec, help 
      file, test plan, user manuals, and training materials 
      to insure they are similar
    - communicating with beta testers (doctors) re: bugs / 
      usability issues

** QA Assistant Mgr: Hummingbird(NASDAQ:HUMC) [11/95-7/96]**
As a contractor, (SQA Team Test 5, VB 3.0, QA Partner 3.2, MS Visual 
Test) performed manual testing and assisted in the dev't of automated 
test suites for this company. Their product, developed in Borland Visual 
C++, was multi-platform, running on multiple clients, over different 
networks, with multiple database types. Responsibilities:
    - creation of automated test suites using SQA 4.0 on 
      Win 3.x client
    - manual database testing using iSQL (for Sybase, 
      Oracle, and MS-SQL)
    - regression test plan maintenance
    - assistance with automation standards
    - assisted with creation of test suites with QA Partner
    - ran MS Visual Test scripts on VB 4.0 API (for OLE 
      automation)
    - manually tested Alpha versions of other software to 
      be integrated

** QA Manager: Breakaway (NASDAQ: BWAY) [1994 to 1995] **
As the #6 employee in this pre IPO company, I was the first quality 
assurance manager for this firm. Oversaw the testing of various custom 
applications developed in Visual Basic, Access, Excel VBA, SQL 6, etc. 
Responsibilities included development of test plans to ensure proper 
coverage of application under test, development of automated test scripts 
using SQA Team-Test, enhancement of those scripts using Visual Basic 3.0, 
and regression testing using SQA Robot. Discovered, tracked, and 
classified bugs. Reported bugs to developers, and constantly monitored 
application attributes to ensure conformance to functional specification.

**Consultant 1992-1994 (Excel Modeling/Spreadsheet Dev't)**
As a contractor, developed solutions for companies experiencing 
difficulties with their production, financial, sales, and mkting 
operations. Conducted extensive analysis of client companies using 
techniques ranging from process efficiency rating to financial ratios and 
linear optimization to determine strengths and weaknesses. Designed, 
developed, and implemented new processes and technology to eliminate 
competitive weaknesses, optimize resource use, and improve profitability. 
Also developed Excel VBA apps. Clients included:
    - Integral Inc (Strategic Consulting Firm started by Bain Alumni)
    - Unilever (Personal Products Division)
    - Eli Lilly (IVAC Division)
    - Fidelity Investments (FIRSCO Division)
    - Business Consulting Services, Marlboro, MA
    - Construction Services, Wilbraham, MA
    - Stone & Berg, Worcester, MA

 *** Accenture (f/k/a - Andersen Consulting) 1991 - 1992 ***
As a full time employee, team member of a development group responsible 
for testing and debugging an extensive process manufacturing program used 
by major defense contractors. Designed, developed, and employed a test 
plan to uncover programming errors & repair them using COBOL.  An Excel 
application was also developed which tracked bugs from discovery to 
solution and produced reports for management on the progress of each case.

               *** Educational Background ***
 Bachelor's Degree - Univ of Massachusetts at Amherst 1991
 Major: Finance with Concentration in Operations Research
 Recipient: MA Tuition Scholarship for 800 Math SAT score
                   Major GPA: 3.8