Steve Murphy

508.543.5188 - murph@StephenPMurphy.com

 

SKILLS

 

Platforms	Windows Platforms, Unix, Linux, Solaris, HPUX, Mac, VAX/VMS & Older Dec Platforms
Languages	ColdFusion (CFML), XML, Java, ASP, PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, Perl, DOS, Lasso, Visual Basic, C, COBOL, Basic, Fortran, Pascal, Unix Shell Scripting, DCL (Digital Command Language), CDD, PowerHouse, FMS, DECFORMS
Databases	SQL Server, MS Access, Foxpro, Oracle 8/9, DB2, mySql, Paradox,Sybase 11/12, FileMaker5, RMS, Rdb
Other	Follett X2 Aspen, Nordex, Connect-ED, Mass DOE Reporting (SIF, SIMS, EPIMS, SCS, SSDR), MassOne, Socrates, IIS, Apache, Tomcat, Microsoft Office Tools, Active Directory, Symantec Ghost, AntiVirus tools, Anti Spyware tools, Mercury WinRunner, Mercury LoadRunner, Segue SilkPerformer, Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Perforce, ClearCase, VSS, Homesite, Dreamweaver

EXPERIENCE

• Greater Lowell Technical High School – Tyngsboro MA – 2004-Current
  Database Applications Manager
• Came on board in April 2004. – Squared away grading, scheduling, rank, transcripts, ineligibility and other data. Put the schools student and staffing data in good working order.
• Brought district into compliance with Mass Department of Education. Created processes and procedures to ensure all 52 SIMS data elements were appropriately sourced and extracted via the Student Information System. Distributed responsibility for entering data to the appropriate organizational units within the school (career and tech ed, superintendent’s office, business office, curriculum office, food service department, guidance department, etc) and provided training to insure data uniformity and accuracy. Some correctly gathered and reported data translated into more money directed to the district from the state, and also qualified us for 80% federal E-Rate reimbursement.
• Researched replacement systems for legacy student information system. Implemented new open architecture web based product (X2 Aspen). Ensured smooth successful "overnight" conversion to new system. Conducted/oversaw user training.
• Dramatically improve student registration/acceptance process as well as course catalog and master schedule building, and student scheduling and placement processes (utilizing data to better drive placement decisions).
• Chair of Technology Steering Committee to develop District Technology Plan, bringing it up to new school year 2008 standards, and positioning us to take advantage of federal E-Rate program.
• Document and train others in evolving information systems policies and procedures.
• Focus on making pertinent data securely available to teachers and administrators to foster educational decisions, enabling macro and micro management of student needs.
• Develop/Implement assessment based attendance policy, key to increasing student attendance.
• Conceive/Develop/Implement first school-wide intranet, making many forms and reports, that previously only existed on paper, available electronically.
• Conceive/Develop/Implement customized survey software for surveying teachers, staff, and students and collecting and reporting results electronically.
• Conceive/Develop/Implement secure student online voting portal (for homecoming, student council, and class officer elections).
• Conceive/Develop/Implement Secure Portal (dynamic, database driven, secure access, web based application) to bring disparate student data together all on one page, enabling teachers secure/simple access to critical data about their students, including Chapter 74 Career Plans, data driven Individual Student Success Plans as well as (220-240 MCAS threshold) Student Proficiency Plans (including Standardized Test Score tracking, Attendance History over the years, Strategies for improving Academic Performance, Plans, and Remediation offerings), enabling closer management, tracking and reporting of due diligence regarding Student Achievement objectives.
• Conceive/Develop/Implement Data Extensions to internal and external (public) school web sites, enabling pertinent data that is maintained in the student and staff information systems to be displayed in real time within the web site(s). Information such as teacher email addresses, voicemail, and after school help schedules; School calendar information (prominently displaying current schedule day, period, how many minutes remain in period, how many school year days completed and remain, how many school days remain in the term (a-week vs x-week), etc), as well as student honor roll lists, are maintained in one place (the database) and extended securely to the internal (staff and student) intranets and/or the public (external) website.
• Implement community outreach and emergency notification system (Connect-Ed)
• Implement Parent Portal. In beta release to subset of families at this time 11/07.
• Implement VTCTS (Mass DOE Vocational Competency Tracking System). New in school year 2008 (in progress 11/07).
• Implement Career Cruising; student portal access to career information and resources.
• Retrofit high school SIS to accept Post Secondary (LPN Program) serving 80-100 students yearly for attendance and grade tracking and reporting, saving yearly service charge product previously used.
• Part of multi district design team to institute new data model for transmission of Tech Prep Student Information between high schools and public and private institutions of higher education.
• Design/Implement New Freshman Program –  enabling better structure, allowing student exploration of three times the amount of technical programs (shops), as well as selection of and entry into chosen shop in last quarter of Freshman year (instead of starting in Sophomore year as was before)
• To support Freshman Program; design/implement online secure Exploratory Evaluation system, with data bridging into the SIS Transcript data
• Also to support Freshman Program; design/implement online secure Freshman Shop Selection program for students to use to select their shop, with data bridging into SIS Scheduling.
• Ongoing day-to-day management of Personnel as well as organizational functions, goals, schedules, timelines, deliverables.
• Manage ongoing evolution and execution of all State Reporting requirements; SIF, SIMS, EPIMS, SCS, SSDR
• Most Recently: Conceive, Design, Develop, Maintain Web based ONLINE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION and ONLINE STUDENT REGISTRATION FOR ACCEPTED STUDENTS applications. Designed/Implemented Front end user forms as well as Back end Export and Import procedures to bridge the data between it and our SIS (Follett X2 Aspen). This has enabled us to go paperless with admissions and student registration this year. Registration form includes freshman student exploratory program selection. These 2 forms can be viewed here:
  . ONLINE APP: https://www2.gltech.org/survey/AdmissionsApp/AdmissionsApp_form.cfm
  . REGISTRATION FORM LOGIN (Form itself can only be accessed by accepted students once authenticated): https://www2.gltech.org/survey/RegistrationForm/RegistrationForm_Login.cfm
• Design/Implement Data Interchange processes between Greater Lowell Technical High School and our largest community, the City of Lowell. This enabled us to go paperless with the Acceptance Criteria data in February as well as the SASIDs and Assessment Scores later for placement decisions after students had been accepted and registered.

 

• StephenPMurphy.com - Nashua NH - 2002-Present.

o   IT Consultant - Sep 2003-Present - Upgrade 8 member computer network in Kitchen Design Company, Tri State Kitchens (Nashua NH), from mix of Windows 95/98 to Windows XP. This included new computers, some swapping, and some computer repair as well as manual migration of personal settings, documents, email, etc. Installation/configuration of various Kitchen Design software applications. Analysis and resolution of various xp incompatibilities. Provide ongoing support of their network including Security Patches, combating viruses, connectivity issues, etc.

o   Web Application Developer - Oct/Nov 2003 - New Sales Manager at Apem Components in Haverhill MA wanted an Opportunity tracking and analysis system that was like one he had used in the past. Based on his specs, designed system from scratch using ColdFusionMX V6.1 and MS Access. Later Configured ColdFusion on, and ported data and application to MySql database on Cobalt Linux. Developed data import and export routines for easy data transfer between Access and MySql, as well as performing regular Database backups. In Jan 2004, called back to configure ColdFusion MX on new Windows 2003 server and port the application and data back off the Cobalt Qube (which was ailing). Also re-engineered some Perl Scripts that failed to operate correctly under Windows 2003 (ColdFusion rewrite).

o   Web Site Developer - Aug 2003 - Filled in at Strand Marketing (Newburyport MA), for a (ColdFusion, Html, Javascript) Developer that was taking an extended vacation. Spent roughly 8 hours in advance with the developer for orientation with their portfolio, then ran with it for the three weeks he was gone.

o   IT Consultant - Aug 2003 - Upgraded 2 networks of approximately 120 computers at the Pelham NH High and Jr.High schools, from Windows NT to Windows 2000. Used Symantec Ghost for the majority of operating system installs, following up with manual network configuration. Upgraded memory in all, and repaired computers that did not make it through the summer. This position was a contract through Greenwood Computer Services, also of Pelham.

o   IT Consultant/Web Site Developer - Jun-Aug 2003 - Created Website for The Abbott Bennett Group (Bow NH). This involved adhering to strict, continuously evolving, compliance measures leveled by their holding company, Investors Capital Corp. Also configured email accounts (both client and server sides).

o   Web Site Developer - May 2003 - Developed and implemented Website for American Maid Services (Tyngsboro MA). Converted what started as the owners graphic design school project (designing a Website Splash Page, using Adobe Photoshop) into this website

o   Web Site Content Manager - Mar 2003-Present - Provide design, development, and content management for the Web Site of the Greater Nashua Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (http://www.nashabitat.org/).

o   Web Application Consultant - Jan-Feb 2003 - Analyzed existing failure prone web application that handles the online bidding for a local Auction Company. Response was slow and site crashed under mild load. Customers were unable to place bids as the Auction was closing, and company was losing money as a result. Wrote project plan; http://www.StephenPMurphy.com/fix_auction_site_proposal.htm to convert application from Lasso and Filemaker on a Mac Platform to ColdFusion and SQLServer2000 on a Windows 2000 platform. Transferred knowledge to team of two within the company who would be executing the plan.

o   Web Application Developer - Late 2002 / Early 2003 - Designed/Developed Point Of Sale System for restaurants, using ColdFusion, HTML, JavaScript, and MS Access. The product has been completed and implemented in it's ASP incarnation, and the ColdFusion version is still under development (adding much more functionality, utilizing CFGRAPH for extras that will go with the "Supreme" (ColdFusion based) offering). Please go here for more information and link to demo; http://www.StephenPMurphy.com/Mrs.cfm.

 

• Macromedia Inc (Formerly Allaire Corp) - Newton MA - 2000-2002
  Senior QA Engineer
• Developed applications and procedures using CFML, HTML, SQL, JavaScript, and Winrunner to test various ColdFusion Tags, Functions, Database Connectivity, and User Interfaces in support of the last three releases of ColdFusion.
• Designed/Maintained QA web site, using CFML, HTML, SQL, and JavaScript. Provided links to QA Documents & Test Machines, and related websites. As the department grew (from 1 QA Manager & 3 QA Engineers to 3 QA Managers & 24 QA Engineers), consistently updated and made pertinent information available on the site for the other members of the team.
• Installed, Configured & Tested Macromedia Products across various Platform/Webserver/Database configurations.
• Created CFML Test Cases to prove/disprove Customer and internally reported Bugs, and provide development with reproducible case for targeting/verifying fixes, or customer with workarounds to overcome the problem. This often involved executing complex platform/database/webserver/mailserver environmental configurations.
• Trained new members and mentored junior QA Engineers.

 

• Compaq Computer Corp (Formerly Digital Equipment Corp - DEC) - Nashua NH - 1986-2000
  Info Systems Consultant/Business Systems Analyst
• Converted a VMS based application from PowerHouse to an NT platform using Active Server Pages (ASP), HTML, SQL Server, and IIS4.
• Provided development, ongoing support and maintenance of Business & Technical applications on VAX/VMS and Windows NT platforms. These applications supported the company's order processing, manufacturing, and fulfillment processes. This included the tools, shared software, and data that tie them all together (Pricing, Product, Customer data, Callable interfaces, Distribution and Messaging tools, etc). Also, provided general direction & consulting to the business to come up with effective solutions to various issues and problems.
• Created & Executed project to redesign out-of-date messaging tool used in Digital classic Legacy Systems. Rewrote & successfully implemented at 35 sites worldwide without interruption to order or revenue flow, as it is the link between all the business entities that make up order processing and fulfillment as well as revenue. This provided a large cost savings as support was cut from 35 person hours/week to about 1 hour/week and also removed a dependency on a 3rd Party vendor product.
• Developed a support environment so that team of 30 programmers supporting 60 applications could adhere to common standards, allowing ease of support and development transferability.
• Automated function of Digital's primary data distribution tool (Automated Metadata Distribution). End result; what used to require careful planning and worldwide coordination of manual efforts amongst dozens of support personnel over a weekend, followed by a week of cleanup & closure, now happens automatically, over night, via a special transmission from the distribution hub.
• Part of a team of three programmers on site at General Electric Corp converting Turbine Configuration and Design programs (written in Fortran) from a Honeywell Platform to VAX/VMS. This was particularly challenging because the VAX is based on a 32-bit word Honeywell was a 20-bit computer. In addition to conversion responsibilities I also was the primary focal point to the lead engineer on the GE side.

 

• Zayre Corp - Framingham MA - 1985-1986
  Senior Programmer Analyst
• Responsibilities included development, ongoing support, and maintenance of Shipping, Receiving, and Warehouse applications on a VAX/VMS platform.

 

• The Foxboro Company - Foxborough MA
• Programmer Analyst - 1982-1985
• Responsibilities included development, ongoing support, and maintenance of Functional Order Processing and System Design and Configuration applications. All coding was done in Fortran and DBMS on a VAX/VMS platform.
• Data Center Shift Leader - 1980-1982
• Responsibilities included running the Data Center that supported Technical Applications. In the outset, managed the day to day workflow of the first and second shifts of Computer Operators. Later, established a third shift Operations position and hired and trained a computer operator. Also, during this period, was instrumental in bringing the Data Center from the 60s into to the 80s (over a period of 12 months). Responsible for weaning the Programmers and Engineers off of DEC PDP/11 & PDP/8 series computers (running such archaic operating systems as DOS/BATCH, RT11, RSX, and RSTS). Provided training, counseling, and general direction so users could embrace VAX/VMS.
• Computer Operator - 1979-1980
• Performed all Computer Operations duties on the second shift. These included Computer System backups, Engineer submitted/index card based Edits, Fortran and Macro compiles and links, Paper tape object production, really old stuff.

EDUCATION

• Bentley University – Waltham MA – Bachelor of Science – Computer Information Systems
• 112 (of 120) Semester Hours Earned
• Massasoit Community College - Brockton MA - Associate Degree - Business Administration
• Made Deans List every semester. Inducted into the "Alpha Nu Omega" Honor Society.

IN CONCLUSION

Over my 30 years in IT, I have filled a number of roles including;

• IT Management: for many years have worked as Information Systems Applications Manager in a Massachusetts School District where I manage personnel, production, and mission critical software applications and databases.
• Applications Development: Have extensive experience as a developer of Business and Technical Applications; Web Applications, Client/Server, and Mainframe. Converting applications and user communities from old to new technologies. Deep understanding of numerous programming languages, databases, and user and process change manangement.
• Quality Assurance: Has always been part of my responsibilities, more recently concentrating on QA as a Senior QA Engineer in a Software Company. Highly detail orientated. Ability to identify and troubleshoot complex issues.
• Web Administration and Content Management: Highly proficient in Html and Dynamic Web Languages. Extensive Database Knowledge. Know what is involved in utilizing various Database technologies in Web Sites and Applications. Experienced with a variety of Web Servers. Know my way very well around the various internet technologies.
• Systems and Network Configuration/Administration: Have expertise in Installation, Configuration, and Administration of numerous Operating Systems, Software products, Networking protocols, etc. Proficient in Microsoft Registry manipulation.
• Hardware Configuration: Experienced in building computers and networks from the ground up.
• Project Leadership: Have been Project and Technical lead on various database/software development projects over the years.
• Business Systems Analysis: Originally trained in Business Systems Analysis and Design at Bentley College, it has been the primary focus of my lengthy career.
• Change Management/Mediation: Utilized in intra-departmental negotiations to facilitate effective, successful, institutional organizational change. Ability to break down communication barriers and overcome turf issues.
• Training: Have always found training, tutoring, and mentoring to be the most enjoyable aspects of the various positions I've held over the years. Have been converting user communities since 1979.
• Customer Service: Very patient and congenial. Can quickly assess customers technical background and speak in understandable terms without ever speaking "over their heads" nor sounding patronizing.