The Active Network, Inc. (August 1999-March 2001)

Summary

Managed a team of application developers while concurrently generating application architecture and architectural standards and serving as lead engineer for the Active- Leagues application environment. Managed a variety of concurrent software and systems engineering efforts based on an iterative, component-based development process. Projects included design and implementation of sophisticated multi-tier application services and MySQL to Oracle integration and migration. Developed and maintained web applications and scheduling algorithms.

CORE SKILLS:   Software Engineering and Architecture, Project Management, Product Development, Linux, MySQL, Oracle, Perl, Java

A Little History

During the heady, go-go days of the dot-com boom, I took time away from my Ph.D. program to join a small high-tech startup called LeagueLink, Inc.. After several mergers, LeagueLink had morphed into what is now known as The Active Network, Inc.. It was the first of three high-tech startups I have been a part of.

Achievements

• The introduction of rigorous engineering standards that enabled the team to grow from a "seat-of-the-pants" operation to meet the needs of a more mature business. These included
  • Quality assurance standards and processes
  • Code revisioning
  • Release controls and "push" processes
  • Code reviews and a peer review processes
• Managed growth from pre-launch product development through systems capable of handling up to hundreds of millions of page hits per month.
• For the first time, I managed a large engineering team engaged in an extremely complex engineering effort and honed my technical project management skills.
• In addition to software engineering, I became well versed in core systems administration and database administration skills.
• As a manager who is not afraid to get his hands dirty, I continued to both architect and write code throughout my tenure at Active.

During the dot-com bust, when The Active Network consolidated operations in California and a round of deep cuts in staff was underway, I was one of the few employees offered an incentive package to stay with the company.

I knew that I would not be able to complete my Ph.D. at the University of Colorado if I relocated to California and tendered my resignation to focus on completing my dissertation.

It was a thrilling experience to ride the wave of a sea change in the U.S. economy, an experience that went on to form the basis of my dissertation. To this day, I am proud of the work the team at Active accomplished in my time there.