Richard Blaze's HTML Resume Page

Richard D. Blaze
8421 E. Clarendon Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Home (480) 963-2111
rickblaze@blazerweb.com

Professional Experience

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Sanction Solutions
-Tempe, AZ
2009 to Present

Litigation support software company and Microsoft partner whose document management and digital presentation system facilitates civil litigation involving billions of dollars, used by the U.S. Department of Justice, federal and local agencies, and thousands of law firms nationwide. Sanction Solutions is owned by Esquire Solutions, an Alexander Gallo Holdings Company, the leading privately-owned court reporting, litigation support services and staffing company in the United States.

Senior Quality Assurance Testing Engineer (Tempe office)
Wrote test cases and product test plans providing testing statistics and test/fail ratios and provided test metrics using Team Foundation Server and Sharepoint; Conducted extensive testing for a leading litigation support solution based on a C#, WPF, and .NET platform that includes database synchronization; Promoted Scrum, Test-Driven Design, and quality process methodologies; Wrote all product release notes; Used VMware to design and test in virtual environments with multiple operation system platforms.

• Created automated case movement validation scripts for product database synchronization technology that shortened testing verification time from fourteen minutes per case down to 30 seconds per test case.
• Implemented a centralized library for examples of all possible media import materials to promote expedited development, thorough validation for product releases, and shortened support recreations.
• Promoted usage of virtual testing environments in VMware Server to enhance development thoroughness and cut equipment expenses while ensuring that all possible Microsoft operating systems are tested for every release and allow creation of virtual.
• Drove a Test-Driven Design (TDD) approach through presentations, gathering and centralizing material, and recruiting a TDD expert to provide on onsite lecture to the development team and promoted test-driving unit-testing that saved hundreds of hours in defect corrections.

March Networks, Inc.
-Ottawa, CN
2007 to 2008

ISO 9001 certified company serving the video and retail data-mining needs of leading financial, retail, transportation, and government/homeland security agencies in approximately 50 countries.

Quality Assurance Testing Engineer (Scottsdale office)
Wrote test cases and providing test metrics, maintained the testing server/database environment while conducting extensive testing for a leading retail loss-prevention data-mining web portal solution based on .NET serving the largest supermarket chains, such as: Albertsons, SuperValu, United, Pick’n Save, Scolaris, Buschs, Giant, A&P and many others.

• Designed and implemented an extensive test bed database 4GB in size with over 400,000 customer retail transactions that improved testing and support productivity by 40%.
• Designed all testing processes, wrote test cases, and created test metrics reports in Seapine's TestTrack and created/delivered training to the entire test team which enhanced development cycle performance.
• Implemented open-source automated test tools such as WET, WatiN, Ruby, and researched Agile and SCRUM development methodologies to increase productivity of development and testing cycles.

DHL Express
- Scottsdale Data Center, Arizona
2004 to 2007

The largest worldwide shipping and logistics solutions provider serving 120,000 locations in more than 225 countries and territories.

Senior Testing Engineer (2006-2007)
Senior Instructional Designer (2004-2006)
Supervised three contract testing engineers, wrote test cases and providing test metrics, conducted testing assurance for DHL’s two accounting MVS mainframe systems. Earlier designed and delivered internal training to incorporate CMMi and PRINCE2 principles for all available project management, configuration management, productivity tools, and also technical standards to an IT staff of over 350.

• Performed lead Quality Assurance testing with mainframe technical expertise in JCL, PROCs, TSO/ISPF, COBOL, FileAid, Abend-aid, PanValet, CICS and batch applications.
• Designing and delivering training in fundamental Mainframe technology concepts, off-shore staffing research and industry standard testing methodologies to the entire 26-member testing team.
• Performed testing project estimations with an accuracy rate of 95% and negotiating testing schedules with project managers in a variety of business domains.
• Responded to a knowledge gap by becoming the sole SME and classroom instructor for 90% of the available productivity tools, including HP Service Desk, TeamTrack, ClearCase, FileNet and PlanView.
• Designed and produced six instructor training guides to successfully address trainer dependencies and created dozens of quick step-by-step web pages to address technical and procedural knowledge deficiencies.

Pegasus Solutions
- Scottsdale, Arizona
2004 to 2004

Pegasus Solutions provides worldwide reservation, distribution, financial, and representation services and is the largest third-party marketing and reservation provider in the world.

Quality Assurance Tester (Contract)
Wrote all software product test plan, design, case, and summary documents for DHL’s complex sales-pricing application based on Excel with Visual Basic, processed all test cases into Mercury TestDirector, tracked defects with Serena TeamTrack and TechExcel DevTrack, and provided document version control with Rational ClearCase.

• Designed and implemented new testing documentation standards to improve communication and validity which reduced defect resolution time by 35%.
• Implemented Pegasus Solutions' first online Holidex technical manual for internal research via Intranet access.

DHL Express
- Scottsdale Data Center, Arizona
2004 to 2004

The largest worldwide shipping and logistics solutions provider serving 120,000 locations in more than 225 countries and territories.

Quality Assurance Tester (Contract)
Wrote all software product test plan, design, case, and summary documents for DHL’s complex sales-pricing application based on Excel with Visual Basic, processed all test cases into Mercury TestDirector, tracked defects with Serena TeamTrack and TechExcel DevTrack, and provided document version control with Rational ClearCase.

• Proactively reviewed and rewrote all existing 240 regression test cases to correct and validate for accuracy and readability thereby validating all regression testing.
• Analyzing and improving scripts for Mercury WinRunner's automated testing tool that increased performance for regression testing by 30%.

Sybase, Inc.
- Dublin, California
1992 to 2003

Sybase, an ISO 9001 certified company and the inventor of MS SQL Server, is the industry leader in business intelligence (BI) software including expert systems for database management, data warehousing and data mining.

Staff Course Developer (2000–2003) – Dublin, California
Quality Assurance Engineer ((1995–1997) – Boulder, Colorado
Technical Support Engineer ((1992–1995) – Boulder, Colorado
Created customer training classware, designed and implemented Intranet eLearning solutions, drove ISO guidelines for the development tesm, wrote all software product test plan, design, case, and summary documents for Sybase's mainframe data-replication products, provided high-quality customer technical support for Sybase's mainframe access products.

• Redesigned the curriculum and updated the courseware for Sybase Education’s second-best selling customer course series resulting in a 20% increase to $1.2MM total annually in classroom revenue.
• Performed cross-departmental project-management for company-wide internal technical knowledge transfers for eight major product releases.
• Designed and maintained specialized CICS and batch COBOL II programs while using database and mainframe skills to conduct installation, performance, capacity, stress, data translation, and negative testing for intensive data transfers from large mainframe databases (DB2 and IMS) to LAN servers.
• Resolved by phone: mainframe installation of MDI software, mainframe configuration, CICS abend, DB2, CICS system tables, VSAM, DB2 DRDA, and other issues plus currently holding highest recorded number of successfully closed customer issues in MDI Tech Support (1600+).

Viaserv, Inc. & Polarsoft, Ltd.
- Boulder, Colorado
1997 to 2000

Viaserv and Polarsoft are middleware solutions and consulting service providers.

Senior Systems Consultant
Performed on-site customer system analysis, installations, configurations, and performance tunings on a variety of Sybase middleware products for the MVS, VSE, AIX, and NT platforms against a variety of databases such as MS SQL Server, DB2, SQL/DS, Ideal, DataCom, and Adabase.

• Designed and implemented an internal web-hit reporting webpage using HTML, Forms, and Perl-CGI to query statistics from the company's web-server logs and implemented an inexpensive web-based technical knowledgebase using MS Index Server which enabled direct customer problem resolution and decreased customer calls by 60%.
• Designed, coded, and implemented CICS COBOL II programs (RSPs/CSAs) for customers to verify VSAM, SQL/DS (DB2), Ideal, DataCom, and Adabase access solutions via Viaserv products.
• Designed, coded, and implemented Visual Basic in an Excel spreadsheet system to automate retrieval of mainframe VSAM data for complex financial calculations on the desktop.

Formal Job Training

IBM Series: MQ Series Technical Introduction, MQ Series Technical Lab, and IMS Physical Organization

Sybase Series: Fast Track to Replication Server, Replication Server 11.0, Advanced Replication Server Administration: Recovery and Performance, Disaster and Recovery for Replication Server, Warm Standby with Replication Server, Logical Database Design, Using and Implementing Process Server, Data Modeling with PowerDesigner, Object-Oriented Modeling using PowerDesigner, Business Process Modeling With PowerDesigner, Migrating to SQL Server 10, SQL Server Administration, Advanced Quality Assurance, Repetitive Stress and VDT Testing, Advanced C++, Building Object-Oriented Learning Objects using KMStudio, Designing Instruction for the Web

University of Colorado: Unix, C Programming, Intermittent C Programming

MicroSoft Tech Ed: Client Server, SNA on Windows-NT, MS SQL Server Performance Issues

AT&T Series: Sun Solaris v2.5 Administration

Business Organization: Team Building, Resolving Personality Conflicts, Advanced Customer Service, Project Management, Effective Communicating: Presentations & Beyond, Control Your Work Flow

DELTAK Series: Modular Programming, Structured Techniques, Structured Analysis and Design, CMS, CICS Command Language, On-line Screen Design, IDMS.

Prudential Series: Advanced JCL, Xerox 8700/9700 Forms Creation, RAMIS, Advanced CMS, Business Writing, Project Management.

Formal Education

Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems
DeVry Institute of Technology - Phoenix, Arizona
GPA 3.89 -- Presidential & Epsilon Delta Pi Honor Societies

Skill sets

Hardware IBM MVS/ESA VM, 3080x & 3090x Series, PC Pentiums, Sun Sparc (Sun Solaris), RSC/6000 (AIX), IBM VSE/ESA p/390

Software Products TSO/ISPF, CICS, ROSCOE, CMS, ICCF, RACF, Panvalet, FileAid, Abend-Aid, UNIX, VSAM, RAMIS, SQL Server 2005/2008 Management Studio, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), ASP.net, DNN (Dot Net Nuke) portal technology, Team Foundation Server, Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, Sharepoint, VMware Server, Mercury WinRunner, Mercury TestDirector, PlanView, FileAid, Rational ClearCase, Serena TeamTrack, Techexcel DevTrack, Remedy Action Request System, Microsoft Visual Source Safe, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, Sybase Replication Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase and Viaserv Middleware, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Lotus Notes
Languages COBOL II, JCL, SQL, Javascript, Perl/CGI, REXX, CLIST
Databases Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005/2008, DB2, Sybase ASE, Personal Oracle
Media/Training
Software Knowledge Mechanics Learning Objects Designer, PlaceWare and Centra Web-conferencing, RealMedia Products, Adobe (Acrobat, PhotoShop, Framemaker, Premiere, Illustrator), Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, Goldwave, MiroVideo, Snagit, Dubit, PaintShop Pro, HyperCam, Camtasia, HomeSite, Dialogic Telephony

Certifications Sybase Certified Replication Server Administrator version 12.5 - March 24, 2003

•	Created automated case movement validation scripts for product database synchronization technology that shortened testing verification time from fourteen minutes per case down to 30 seconds per test case.
•	Implemented a centralized library for examples of all possible media import materials to promote expedited development, thorough validation for product releases, and shortened support recreations.
•	Promoted usage of virtual testing environments in VMware Server to enhance development thoroughness and cut equipment expenses while ensuring that all possible Microsoft operating systems are tested for every release and allow creation of virtual.
•	Drove a Test-Driven Design (TDD) approach through presentations, gathering and centralizing material, and recruiting a TDD expert to provide on onsite lecture to the development team and promoted test-driving unit-testing that saved hundreds of hours in defect corrections.

•	Designed and implemented an extensive test bed database 4GB in size with over 400,000 customer retail transactions that improved testing and support productivity by 40%.
•	Designed all testing processes, wrote test cases, and created test metrics reports in Seapine's TestTrack and created/delivered training to the entire test team which enhanced development cycle performance.
•	Implemented open-source automated test tools such as WET, WatiN, Ruby, and researched Agile and SCRUM development methodologies to increase productivity of development and testing cycles.

•	Performed lead Quality Assurance testing with mainframe technical expertise in JCL, PROCs, TSO/ISPF, COBOL, FileAid, Abend-aid, PanValet, CICS and batch applications.
•	Designing and delivering training in fundamental Mainframe technology concepts, off-shore staffing research and industry standard testing methodologies to the entire 26-member testing team.
•	Performed testing project estimations with an accuracy rate of 95% and negotiating testing schedules with project managers in a variety of business domains.
•	Responded to a knowledge gap by becoming the sole SME and classroom instructor for 90% of the available productivity tools, including HP Service Desk, TeamTrack, ClearCase, FileNet and PlanView.
•	Designed and produced six instructor training guides to successfully address trainer dependencies and created dozens of quick step-by-step web pages to address technical and procedural knowledge deficiencies.

•	Designed and implemented new testing documentation standards to improve communication and validity which reduced defect resolution time by 35%.
•	Implemented Pegasus Solutions' first online Holidex technical manual for internal research via Intranet access.

•	Proactively reviewed and rewrote all existing 240 regression test cases to correct and validate for accuracy and readability thereby validating all regression testing.
•	Analyzing and improving scripts for Mercury WinRunner's automated testing tool that increased performance for regression testing by 30%.

•	Redesigned the curriculum and updated the courseware for Sybase Education’s second-best selling customer course series resulting in a 20% increase to $1.2MM total annually in classroom revenue.
•	Performed cross-departmental project-management for company-wide internal technical knowledge transfers for eight major product releases.
•	Designed and maintained specialized CICS and batch COBOL II programs while using database and mainframe skills to conduct installation, performance, capacity, stress, data translation, and negative testing for intensive data transfers from large mainframe databases (DB2 and IMS) to LAN servers.
•	Resolved by phone: mainframe installation of MDI software, mainframe configuration, CICS abend, DB2, CICS system tables, VSAM, DB2 DRDA, and other issues plus currently holding highest recorded number of successfully closed customer issues in MDI Tech Support (1600+).

•	Designed and implemented an internal web-hit reporting webpage using HTML, Forms, and Perl-CGI to query statistics from the company's web-server logs and implemented an inexpensive web-based technical knowledgebase using MS Index Server which enabled direct customer problem resolution and decreased customer calls by 60%.
•	Designed, coded, and implemented CICS COBOL II programs (RSPs/CSAs) for customers to verify VSAM, SQL/DS (DB2), Ideal, DataCom, and Adabase access solutions via Viaserv products.
•	Designed, coded, and implemented Visual Basic in an Excel spreadsheet system to automate retrieval of mainframe VSAM data for complex financial calculations on the desktop.

IBM Series:	MQ Series Technical Introduction, MQ Series Technical Lab, and IMS Physical Organization
Sybase Series:	Fast Track to Replication Server, Replication Server 11.0, Advanced Replication Server Administration: Recovery and Performance, Disaster and Recovery for Replication Server, Warm Standby with Replication Server, Logical Database Design, Using and Implementing Process Server, Data Modeling with PowerDesigner, Object-Oriented Modeling using PowerDesigner, Business Process Modeling With PowerDesigner, Migrating to SQL Server 10, SQL Server Administration, Advanced Quality Assurance, Repetitive Stress and VDT Testing, Advanced C++, Building Object-Oriented Learning Objects using KMStudio, Designing Instruction for the Web
University of Colorado:	Unix, C Programming, Intermittent C Programming
MicroSoft Tech Ed:	Client Server, SNA on Windows-NT, MS SQL Server Performance Issues
AT&T Series:	Sun Solaris v2.5 Administration
Business Organization:	Team Building, Resolving Personality Conflicts, Advanced Customer Service, Project Management, Effective Communicating: Presentations & Beyond, Control Your Work Flow
DELTAK Series:	Modular Programming, Structured Techniques, Structured Analysis and Design, CMS, CICS Command Language, On-line Screen Design, IDMS.
Prudential Series:	Advanced JCL, Xerox 8700/9700 Forms Creation, RAMIS, Advanced CMS, Business Writing, Project Management.


Hardware	IBM MVS/ESA VM, 3080x & 3090x Series, PC Pentiums, Sun Sparc (Sun Solaris), RSC/6000 (AIX), IBM VSE/ESA p/390
Software Products	TSO/ISPF, CICS, ROSCOE, CMS, ICCF, RACF, Panvalet, FileAid, Abend-Aid, UNIX, VSAM, RAMIS, SQL Server 2005/2008 Management Studio, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), ASP.net, DNN (Dot Net Nuke) portal technology, Team Foundation Server, Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, Sharepoint, VMware Server, Mercury WinRunner, Mercury TestDirector, PlanView, FileAid, Rational ClearCase, Serena TeamTrack, Techexcel DevTrack, Remedy Action Request System, Microsoft Visual Source Safe, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, Sybase Replication Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase and Viaserv Middleware, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Lotus Notes
Languages	COBOL II, JCL, SQL, Javascript, Perl/CGI, REXX, CLIST
Databases	Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005/2008, DB2, Sybase ASE, Personal Oracle
Media/Training Software	Knowledge Mechanics Learning Objects Designer, PlaceWare and Centra Web-conferencing, RealMedia Products, Adobe (Acrobat, PhotoShop, Framemaker, Premiere, Illustrator), Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, Goldwave, MiroVideo, Snagit, Dubit, PaintShop Pro, HyperCam, Camtasia, HomeSite, Dialogic Telephony

Certifications	Sybase Certified Replication Server Administrator version 12.5 - March 24, 2003