Colin Sheaff

I am the current lead developer for all software initiatives, including the iLab and EcoCasting projects, and I work in conjunction with our partners at National Geographic on the software for the Watershed Dynamics project. I work in the Office of STEM Education Partnerships whose mission is supporting K-12 students and teachers by connecting them with the world-class STEM resources of Northwestern University.

• Support and advise curriculum and content experts on technology decisions within department.
• Implement new iLab client for ICP-OES instrument [Flex / AS3 / .NET / PHP]
• Create series of models to support learning goals in EcoCasting project [NetLogo]

When this start-up lost their CTO, I was brought in to complete the website. I have been balancing the needs of an expedient launch against the functionality, security, and aesthetic requirements of the website and associated server infrastructure.

• Work closely with CEO and board members to guide and implement website.
• Maintain website front end and administrative back end [PHP / MySQL / jQuery].
• Incorporated an e-commerce payment system into the website and performed extensive security tests [PHP].

During my time at Chicago Software Solutions I worked in many different capacities, as outlined below. However, there were common threads throughout the experience. I lead multiple, simultaneous projects through their full life-cycles: from design and architecture to final product delivery. I worked directly with clients to translate their needs into solutions that met their budgetary, technical, and aesthetic constraints.

• Lead implementation team.
• Designed solution which included:
  • Desktop application [Flex – Adobe AIR]
  • Desktop background service [Visual Basic.NET]
  • Web video viewer / chat client / document sharing service [Flex – Adobe Flash]
  • Administrative website [PHP / MySQL]
  • Chat plugin for media server [Java]
• Successfully brought project in on time using three previously unused technologies (Flex framework, Wowza Media Server Pro, and Amazon EC2 architecture).

• Migrated legacy Access application to web application [PHP / MySQL / jQuery].
• Normalized and updated database to enforce data integrity.
• Evaluated performance of new web application at up to 10 times faster than legacy application.

• Designed and implemented multi-platform commercial software package for Windows and Mac OS X to synchronize with applications on both Palm and PocketPC hardware. [Access / Wise / FileMaker Pro / Iceberg / Satellite Forms].
• Implemented custom Palm synchronization conduit for Mac OS X in Objective-C [Xcode].

• Maintained and upgraded website which supported an active user base in the thousands, required a 99% up-time during market hours to post current trade data, and processed hundreds of thousands of unique page requests per day. [C#.NET].
• Created services to process nightly trade reconciliations.
• Championed the usage of encryption and secure transmission protocols for the movement of sensitive financial information, which had previously been moved in plain-text over unsecured FTP.

Needing to maintain a flexible schedule, I started a consulting firm with a colleague. My responsibilities included creating websites, network management, hardware and software installation, as well as support for all the above.

• Started a web design and hosting business which, within two years, had several local, multimillion-dollar businesses as clients.
• Created websites including:
  • http://www.canastamusic.com/ for local Chicago band, Canasta. Functionality includes forum and custom CMS for articles and photos [PHP / XML / XHTML / CSS].
  • http://www.hayes-lango.com/ for law firm [Drupal / PHP].
• Designed and implemented many private and commercial websites using PHP, XHTML, CSS, Adobe Flash, Adobe Photoshop, and FreeHand.
• Installed and repaired hardware and software on personal computers, including but not limited to Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 2003 Server, Microsoft Office.
• Taught computer classes and engaged clients to educate them during on-site visits.

My primary responsibility was the legacy database code [MUMPS] for a private medical practice. I updated and expanded the database functionality and integrated it with new desktop and web clients.

• Worked in a small team using an iterative and incremental development approach.
• Implemented new user interface in Visual Basic.
• Supervised and mentored junior programmers.

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