Lynne Whitehorn

Software Developer

119 North Rankin St.
Appleton, WI 54911


2612 San Pablo NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110

(505) 453-9089
wumail@progarts.com

 

Ms. Whitehorn’s programming experience encompasses nearly 30 years of software development including application, operational, and system-level work.  She has worked on dedicated applications, frameworks, and commercially-released software in a variety of industries including retail, financial services, IT services, mobile applications,

Her depth of experience provides her with the maturity to know when to code, when to buy, and when to establish partnerships with vendors. 

As a system architect with more than 20 years of experience helping firms use digital technologies to solve difficult business problems, Ms. Whitehorn has consistently demonstrated the need for digital technology initiatives to be driven by demonstrable business needs.

As a software developer, she has consistently displayed the ability to deliver innovative and reliable systems rapidly and at low cost.  She understands how to integrate existing systems with state-of-the-art technologies in order to preserve existing investments.

Her experiences with a very broad variety of technologies have honed her debugging and code/function remediation skills to a keen edge.

Her current personal projects include a SCADA-based system for managing utility costs on large campuses and a Drupal-based mechanism for supporting geographically-distributed management consulting engagements.

 

Objectives

To work with a collaborative, aggressive team doing software design and development for mobile, web, and smart-client applications

Guide system design in the direction of attractive and highly usable applications for both end-users and developers

Work in an environment with opportunities for innovation (both for new and legacy systems)

 

Summary of Qualifications

 

 

Highly creative but understands how to apply innovation appropriately in a business environment.

20+ years of in all aspects software design and development.  25+ years of programming experience. 15+ years of technical leadership and management experience.

Excellent speaking, writing, and presentation skills.

Especially skilled at cost-effective design of framework-based enterprise architecture.

Extraordinarily rapid learner with the ability to teach others.

Conversant with many types of development methodologies, including (but not limited to): team/pair development, agile, waterfall, spiral, spiral waterfall, outsourced.

Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of experience, and an uncommon desire to share it appropriately.  Really, it’s just scary how much stuff I’ve done over the years.  It’s not like programmers have lives, right?  If you’ve read this far, you probably get that I want to help you get the most for your IT/development dollar.

 

Technologies

 

Operating Systems

·         Windows (all versions beginning with 2.0 and continuing through Server 2008), MS/PC-DOS

·         Windows Mobile (through v6.5)

·         RIM Blackberry OS (through v6)

·         FreeBSD, Linux (general), Ubuntu (Linux), RedHat, SunOS (v3-v4)

·         Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Vax VMS, RSX-11, RSTS, RT-11, TOPS-10, TOPS-20

Languages

·         C#, C++, C (all versions)

·         Visual Basic (all versions, including Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and VB.NET)

·         Java (mobile)

·         SQL (multiple versions including MySQL, Microsoft T-SQL, ANSI SQL)

·         Most Microsoft data access mechanisms including

·         Basic (many versions on many platforms)

·         Scripting languages (bash, wsh, DCL, many proprietary)

·         Historic:  Fortran, Cobol, Lisp, Pascal, various assembly languages

Database and Data Persistence

·         Microsoft SQL Server

·         Microsoft Access

·         Oracle 8, 9

·         MySQL

·         Many forms of file-based data storage (e.g. ISAM, flat, binary)

Tools

·         Microsoft Visual Studio (all versions)

·         Microsoft Team Suite

·         Eclipse

·         Many debuggers (line, source, symbolic) on many platforms

·         Source code mgt: svn, cvs, git, Visual Source Safe (VSS)

·         Microsoft Visio (all versions including Enterprise Architect)

·         Microsoft Project (all versions, including Server)

·         Adobe Photoshop (through CS5e) and Illustrator

·         Blender (3D content creation), various texture creation packages

 

Other

·         Web technologies including, but not limited to:  Apache (webserver), IIS (Microsoft), Tomcat, MediaWiki

·         Microsoft Sharepoint (development)

·         Profiling and coverage tools: Compuware DevPartner

·         Web Services and Service Oriented Architectures (XML-RPC, SOAP)

·         VMWare Workstation and Server

·         Parallax BasicStamp and Propeller

·         Various SCADA products for environmental monitoring

·         There are undoubtedly a ton of things I’ve forgotten about having done, but you’re probably as tired of reading resumes as I am of typing things about myself.  As good as I am here, I’m even better in person.  Thanks for reading this far

·         NMEA 0183 GPS protocol parsing

·         GNU Emacs (eLisp)

 

Employment History

For the sake of brevity, I’ve listed just my employer names prior to 1993.  Note that not all projects for all employers are listed.  For complete details, please visit http://www.progarts.com/LynneComplete.htm

 

2008-2010 CygNet Software, San Luis Obispo CA/Appleton WI

Senior Scientist reporting to CTO providing applied research into next-generation industrial SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems.  This work involved technical and strategic analysis, software design and development (C#, Java), extensive internal publication.

Projects:

Java- and C#-based mobile-based location tracking (GPS) on Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms using SOA back end interfaced to our SCADA product.  This project involved simultaneous development on both platforms, in separate languages, to provide near-realtime (5 second GPS latency) reporting of a user’s location, speed, altitude, and other related information.  This information was transmitted to a set of web-services implemented in C#, running on IIS v7, which used a separate .NET library communicating with the legacy SCADA system.  Display was implemented using a real-time KML export from the SCADA product to both a CygNet control panel application and to Google Earth.

The World’s Cheapest SCADA Device – using Parallax BasicStamp technology and off-the-shelf sensor technology (magnetic, IR, thermo, etc.) to create a device capable of providing data to, and being controlled by our corporate SCADA product suite.  The device cost about $100 and was capable of supporting multiple, simultaneous sensors.

Ubiquitous imaging, high-volume and performance sensor-data storage using off-the-shelf webcams.  This project involved redesigning our BLOB-storage service to support tiered storage services with petabytes of data

IPv6 product readiness evaluation – a two-part project with both technical and strategic analysis section.  Created a fork of the product’s C++ IPv4-specific networking services code base to support IPv4 and IPv6.  This was a challenge, given that the existing code was tightly bound to specific structure lengths in IPv4 data structures. 

 

1992-2007 Programming Arts LLC, Albuquerque NM/Appleton WI

Programming Arts, LLC is the official name of my consulting practice.  Incorporated in 1994, I have worked exclusively for Programming Arts between 2003 and 2007.

Client: Huron Consulting (2006-2007)

Dashboard family of products - A line financial planning and modeling tool for universities of any size. Current in its second version, the Dashboard combines an Excel workbook with a .NET-based user interface. The model, a very complex 400 (yes, four hundred) page workbook is the actual model and data store, while the UI provides dashboard-style interaction.

Implemented in C# and VB.Net

Client: Coldwater Creek (2005)

RIP Application, improvements to the Usability Engineering Lifecycle

Software development environment virtualization

Client:  Merrill Lynch & Dell Services (2004-2005)

Called in by ML to oversee the re-design and implementation of Dell Service’s botched document management and SEC standards compliance system.

Completed and redesigned an existing system comprised of .NET and .NET Enterprise services when the lead architect suddenly retired.

Client: Boston Market (1993)

Designed an integrated set of applications used in managing the chain's stores. The applications provided for inventory control, scheduling and forecasting. The chain's CEO estimated that the sales value of the product in attracting new franchisees exceeded $100 million and was a direct contributor to the firm's historically successful IPO.

This work was nominated for a 1994 Smithsonian Institution/ComputerWorld Technical Excellence Award.

Other: SGML Hypertext browser and server (1987)

Designed a system that combined a multi-threaded, SGML-based hypertext browser with a document/applet server that used a TCP/IP-based communications protocol. This system was intended for use by Internet-capable bulletin board operators and their customers and pre-dated the Web and HTML-based browsers by several years.

1997-2003 – Diamond Management and Technology Consultants/DiamondCluster/Diamond Technology Partners, Chicago IL

Senior Director (Partner-level non-equity position) with DiamondCluster International in Chicago, Illinois. As a member of DiamondCluster’s Technology group, she was responsible for creating technical architectures and exploring and defining the strategies required to allow businesses to use digital technologies to enable new markets. 

Designer of DiamondCluster's security services model. Unlike traditional security practices designed around tools, this model is built on understanding the role of information technology security in the context of business requirements. It is a unique approach that simultaneously leveraged DCI's expertise in technology, business value management, and project/program management.

Designed a system for a European automotive insurer for tracking vehicle use. Provided multiple options for hardware and software using both GPS and local RF technology. The system was designed to minimize cost, allow for backwards compatibility with existing automobiles, and to take advantage of specific local geographic and terrain features. The maximum cost of the system, both vehicular and infrastructure, was less than half its closest competitor in the most expensive model.

 For the leading provider of children's educational materials and serial publications, she was the principal technical architect for a web-based content creation, distribution, management, and presentation system.

Designed new technical and business approaches to exploiting a high-speed satellite data link for moving automobile (or other) traffic. (Note: this is not OnStar, but an as-yet undeployed new technology.) Was able to show that existing product and service propositions (from 19 competing firms) offered no compelling experience to the potential customer and were impractical and expensive to boot. As a side effect, her design eliminates the "last mile problem" for high-speed, high-bandwidth home Internet use.

Designed and managed the implementation of a prototypical proximity tracking system using inexpensive, off-the-shelf active RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. The project was undertaken for an industry seminar and successfully demonstrated both the strengths and weaknesses of current RFID mechanisms.

For a major quick-service delivery restaurant chain, she designed an implemented a web-based standards reference system. This system was used by the firm's developers as a source of standards and examples for use in building intra- and Internet-based systems

Technology evaluation and commercialization planning for a major aerospace manufacturer. Rapid evaluation of both the technical and business merits of technologies such as (but not limited to) network routing algorithms, high-speed networking switching, electro-optical image processing technologies, security monitoring software, object-like and object-oriented databases. Our client contact, an ex-consultant himself, praised the work in writing to DiamondCluster management as being the best he had ever seen.

 Designed, wrote and taught the firm's Technology for Non-technologists class.

1993-1997 – Computer Sciences Corporation, Waltham, MA

Founder of the Applied Research Group, Principal-level consultant for IT development projects

Senior product architect in the M-Lynx (CSC's object-oriented application framework for high-volume transactional systems) group. She was responsible for the design of the user interface and meta-data components of the M-Lynx product (the Microsoft technology-oriented implementation of Lynx), for defining future product features, and creating related proof-of-concept research prototypes. As one of the original members of the M-Lynx team, she was instrumental in the creation of development tools, standards and practices and remains involved in the day-to-day guidance of the development team.

Developed Design Stance Modeling, a procedural tool used in the analysis and design of software. Design stances are abstractions like "security", "high availability", and "functionality" that are often used without a full understanding of the issues involved in selecting one over another. DSM provides a way for various stakeholders to communicate and come to a common understanding about the trade-offs involved in the priority ordering of development tasks.

For a leading US bank, Ms. Whitehorn helped lead a team in the design of a 3-tier client/server architecture. This architecture was developed to support the transition from a mainframe environment to a distributed, PC-based environment.

1991-1992 – American Airlines (SABRE), Ft. Worth TX

1989-1991 – Ontos/Ontologic, Burlington MA

1987-1989 – Sungard (was Systems and Computing Technology), Cambridge MA

1986-1988 – Channel 1, Cambridge MA

1985-1987 – Bachman Information Systems, Cambridge MA

1986 Whittaker LTC, Carlsbad, CA

1985-1986 – Touch Technologies, Escondido CA

1983-1985 – New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas NM

1983-1984 – Digital Equipment Corporation, Albuquerque NM

 

References and Quotes

More references and direct contact information are available on request

§         Despite claims to contrary, the effective application of information technology remains a key path to strategic success. To do that requires two skills, both in short supply; sound instincts about the state of the possible with technology and the ability to lead technical experts in bringing the possible about. Lynne has both those skills in abundant measure.
-- Jim McGee, author of Managing Information Strategically

         Lynne is a highly skilled technical architect with deep knowledge of technology and technology strategy. Lynne has the capability to work at the highest strategic levels, interpreting business implications of technical strategy and architecture decisions, yet is not afraid of rolling up her sleeves and understanding the details of any given technology. This rare ability to work across many levels and communicate effectively with both business and technology executives is extraordinarily valuable in helping clients think clearly about critical technology issues and make better decisions.
-- Tim Andrews, (ex)CTO of CSC Consulting

        Lynne is one of the most creative technology thinkers I have ever met. She also excels in execution. This dynamic combination makes her a truly superior technologist.
-- Ed Simmons, Director Corporate Systems Merrill Lynch

         Lynne Whitehorn is an extremely skilled and articulate Technical Architect with deep experience in the areas of Application and Software Architecture. Recently, she has led the Advanced Technology group of the Center for Technology Innovation. Lynne is one of the best thinkers within the Technical Architecture competency and is often sought for key client meetings for her experience, quick wit and engaging style.
-- Pete Pesce, DiamondCluster Chief People Officer

 

Articles

Some of these articles are available online, but since their URLs change regularly, please contact me for information regarding their current locations.

§         You’re the Doctor – how the Web fundamentally changes the physician-patient relationship – Context, 2002

§         TheFun Hybrid Fix – Telephony, May 2002

§         Hackers, hot rods, and the information drag strip – IEEE Spectrum, October 2001

§         How to Succeed in Software Development BrassRing Campus, 2001