Mel Sher

Senior IT Consultant and Technical Architect

 

44 Holm cres.

Thornhill Ontario L3T 5J3

Phone: (416) 731-0713

sher@interlog.com

 

Summary

 

          Over 20 years of information technology experience, performing in senior technical and business consulting roles and working in areas of technical architecture, system analysis, design, database development, performance tuning, technical audit reviews, capacity planning/sizing, networks, systems administration, and technical support.

          Team leadership proven throughout successful on-time and on-budget completion of multiple client projects.

          Goal driven execution with focus on customer satisfaction and deliverable excellence.

 

Expertise

 

          Languages and Technologies: Java, J2EE, UML, XML, HTML, IBM Mainframe Assembler and REXX, Payment Systems, RFID, GRID, and more

          Tools: Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD), Rational Rose, RUP, Development Environments: JBuilder, WebSphere, Eclipse, Together, and others

          Operating Systems: Windows, UNIX, IBM Mainframe

          Web/Application Server: Apache, IBM WebSphere, BEA WebLogic

          Industries: Financial, Transportation & Logistics, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical

          Project Roles: Lead Technical Architect, Product Manager, Corporate Strategist, Business/Systems Analyst, User Interface Designer, Developer, System Administrator, Systems Programmer, and Technical Lead.

 

Work Experience

 

Independent Consulting                                                                                                      Since 2004

 

      SunTrust Banks Inc., Risk Management - Atlanta, Georgia

           Senior Technical Architect, SunTrust Enterprise Risk Program (SERP) and BASEL II

         Create conceptual architecture for Collateral and Risk Mitigation project, evaluate 3rd party collateral management solutions to conclude on a buy vs. build decision for project implementation, develop technical product evaluation workbook, contribute to stakeholders requirements specifications and analysis, develop tools for project delivery estimation, and produce project delivery estimates.

         Technologies: Collateral Management Solution (SAM) by SAP, SunTrust CMMI 3 Development Methodology, COLLINE Collateral Management by Lombard Risk, SAM (Securities/ Collateral Activity Management) by Rockall Technologies, XML, UML, Web Services.

      Royal Bank of Canada, Capital Markets

           Senior Technical Consultant, System Integration for Capital Market Applications

         Analyse business requirements, develop technical solutions for application integration, facilitate implementation delivery, write requirements and design documentation, and evaluate technologies for solution implementation.
Analyze and develop system integration and interface automation solutions for ADP Name and Address system and BTS application.
Evaluate design implementation performance and capacity.

         Technologies: J2EE, UML, Web Services, WebLogic Server, MySQL, Sybase, Workflow, Eclipse, MS Office applications, ADP Name and Address System, Adobe LifeCycle Server products, IBM Host Integration solutions, IBM PCOMM API, Apache Ant, JUnit.


 

Allstream Inc, IT Services – Enterprise Systems Integration                                   2000-2004

Senior Technical Architect

 

      External client projects and consulting engagements:

          Dexit Inc.
Dexit cashless payment solution (www.dexit.com)

          Lead technical architect in a multi-million dollar project to design and build Host System to support a new cashless payment system utilizing RFID tags.

          Lead requirements gathering and use case documentation processes, develop Host System architecture, including security architecture, select implementation technologies, tools, and technologies for project configuration management.

          Design Host System components and their integration with multiple external third party services, such as Address Verification, Alerts and Notifications, Electronic Funds Transfer, Manufacturing and Consumer Fulfilment, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services.

          Technologies: IBM WebSphere Application Developer v5.0, IBM WebSphere Application Server v5.0, IBM MQSeries, Oracle Database Server 9i, Borland JBuilder, Apache Web Server, Jakarta Ant, JUnit, HttpUnit, CVS, Java, J2EE, JMS, JSP, XML, and HTML;

          International Standards: ISO 8583, ISO 7811, ISO 7812, ISO 7813

          Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
Wealth Management, Investment Transfers System

          Two-month assignment to prepare a systems abstract for an Enterprise Application Integration project

          Participate in client meeting, summarize requirements, and develop a systems abstract for the client

          Technologies: BEA WebLogic Integration, IBM MQSeries, Cardiff Teleform, Adobe Acrobat, Java, J2EE, JMS, and JTA

          Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Intranet Financial Application

          Initial two-week client engagement to prepare a work plan and project proposal for Intranet application development

          Participate in initial client meetings, gather user requirements, assess potential solutions, and prepare technical architecture draft for the proposal.

          Technologies: Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise v12, Sybase Enterprise Application Server v3.6, iPlanet Web Server, WebLogic Application Server, Microsoft Office, Java, and J2EE

          Purolator Courier Ltd.
Technical Architecture for J2EE environment

          Two-month assignment to prepare technical architecture proposal for J2EE application development environment.  This provided for application migration from Microsoft platform into Open Java environment. 
Major deliverables: Technical architecture document for J2EE development, testing and production environments.

          Technologies: BEA WebLogic Application Server, BEA Tuxedo, BEA Jolt, iPlanet Directory Server, iPlanet Application Server, iPlanet Web Server, Java, and J2EE

 

      Corporate projects:

          Propose and lead corporate RFID technology initiative

          Perform as technology and systems integration expert with various Allstream teams, such as  “Speech Vision” RFP response and Hosted Contact Centre

          Develop business case and consult to senior executives on corporate GRID initiative

          Multiple project engagements in preparing functional requirements, system architecture, responding to external RFP requests, technology evaluations and assessments

          Technologies: RFID, GRID, IVR, Java, and J2EE

 

Portex Publishing Inc.                                                                                                         1995-2000

Independent Consultant

 

The client list included Toronto Stock Exchange, Mercedes Benz Canada, and Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce

 

Responsibilities:

          Work with clients as a consultant, business process analyst, application architect and developer for Windows 3x/95/NT and IBM mainframe platforms.

          Work with clients as business and technology consultant, project manager, and Internet and client/server Developer:

          Perform market research and prepare business proposals for e-commerce projects.

          Design and implement Software Configuration Management system for Corporate Information Systems applications.

          Create and implement process, develop integration software for digital database publishing workflow: client, service bureau and printing house.

          Design and code a proprietary Software Configuration Management System.

          Develop functional specifications, design and code Windows application for 3D data analysis using Delphi and COM.

          Develop custom membership and donations application.  Migrated existing data to new database and developed custom reports.

          Manage client projects for software testing and web development.

          Environment: Java, JavaScript, HTML, ASSEMBLER, REXX, C, Client/Server, N-tier, CORBA, TCP/IP, XML, Delphi, JBuilder, WebSphere, Cold Fusion, Apache, Oracle, Access, Paradox, Adobe FrameMaker, PageMaker, Photoshop, Acrobat, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office and Exchange, Apple QuickTime, Kodak Portfolio, PhotoCD, Oracle VM, Sterling Software VM Manager and CAI Top Secret.

 

IBM Canada Ltd.

Software Development Laboratory                                                                                           1991-1995

Advisory Development Architect / Team Lead

 

Responsibilities:

          Consult to worldwide IBM’s development organizations in software internationalisation.

          Manage and provide technical guidance to contract employees.

          Manage IBM Corporate Standard project – Registry of Coded Character Sets.

          Develop functional specifications for IBM multi-platform toolkit for Unicode.  The specifications pioneered Unicode support in IBM products and architectures, and were used to develop Unicode support for IBM AIX and future versions of OS/2.

          Design and develop a Database Publishing Systems.

          Environment: ASSEMBLER, REXX, C, SQL/DS, Windows, OS/2, VM, HTML, GML, SGML, AFT Publishing, BookMaster, Unicode and TCP/IP.

 

National Support Centre                                                                                                            1988-1991

Advisory Systems Engineer

 

Responsibilities:

          Specialize in performance tuning and capacity planning for IBM mainframe systems using VM/ESA, Canadian liaison to IBM developments labs.

          Participate in IBM International Technical Systems Centre (ITSC) project to co-author an IBM “Redbook” on VM/XA Performance Tuning and Capacity Planning.

          Consult for IBM large systems accounts, such as Imperial Oil, Royal Bank and Sears.

          Resolve critical situation cases for IBM customers in Canada.

          Perform large systems installation and upgraded assurance reviews.

          Install and evaluate new IBM products prior to their introduction into Canadian market.

          Prepare and deliver technical education to IBM employees and customers.

          Environment:  ASSEMBLER, REXX, VM, MVS, ISPF, GML, AFP Publishing, BookMaster, Unicode, TCP/IP, Windows and OS/2.

 

IBM Israel Ltd.

Financial and Industries sector Marketing Branch                                                                   1982-1988

Systems Engineer

 

Responsibilities:

          Perform as Branch Expert for IBM VM operating system and related products.

          Perform as account Systems Engineer for key industrial clients: evaluate client requirements, develop, market and implement proposals including system upgrade projects.

          Design and develop custom solutions (write code), and prepare specifications in areas related to national language support in IBM products.

          Present specifications to development labs and negotiate implementation development.

          Prepare IBM bids in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

 

Education

 

          Masters in Physics, Majoring in Quantum Electronics, State University, Vilnius, Lithuania

 

Training

 

 

          Application Vulnerability Assessment Workshop

          Unix Workshop

          WebLogic Application Development

          Microsoft Development Platform

          Borland Delphi

          Project Management

          Unicode Standard

          Systems Performance and Capacity Planning

          IBM Systems Centre – Large Systems Technical Education

          IBM ITSC Residency

          VM Performance and Tuning

          Artificial Intelligence, technology and products

          IBM Systems Engineering School

          IBM International VM Workshop

 

 

Awards and Recognition

 

          Professional Recognition (Toronto Stock Exchange), 1999

          Management Appreciation Award (IBM Canada Ltd.), 1994

          Management Appreciation Award (IBM Canada Ltd.), 1992

          Marketing Excellence Award, IBM 100% Club (IBM World Trade – Europe/Middle East/Africa Corporation, 1986

          Marketing Excellence Award, IBM 100% Club (IBM World Trade – Europe/Middle East/Africa Corporation, 1982