Christopher Robison

Solution Architect / Internet Developer / Web Technologist

cdr@cdr2.com
(415) 300-0180

I have a passion for technology

When I say I have a passion for programming and technology, I mean it. I have been writing software since I was 13 years old when I worked odd jobs and mowed enough lawns to buy myself a Commodore Vic-20. I bought a few computer books and magazines and taught myself how to program in BASIC and was writing games within a few months. By age 15 I had mastered a number of programming languages and had my first paying software contract for an inventory system on a TRS-80. I have been learning everything I can get my hands on ever since.

I am a highly skilled web software engineer / architect with a specialty in Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud, and web applications using the latest client side technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and advanced client-side Javascript. I have managed both large and small teams at Mediaplex, NetOasis, Genetic Savings & Clone and Interactivate. In addition to my full-time day job, I have spent the last few years working part-time on my software startup: Simple Software, Inc. which has started to gain market traction. We recently signed on and deployed a fairly high profile customer, Sanrio (of "Hello, Kitty" fame), onto the Simple Software Platform and making Simple Software cashflow positive! We are now looking at funding to expand our marketing and sales efforts

I understand that a business has needs and pains. I build software systems and technology that support those needs and alleviate the pains. My experience with nearly every aspect of running a business has enabled me to build systems and software that look at the big picture, work the way people do, and increase the bottom line.

I have been coding using web techgnologies for over 14 years. Technologies such as Javascript, CSS, HTML and, more recently, HTML5, CSS3, AJAX/XHR/JSON and frameworks such as ExtJS, jQuery, dojo, and YUI to architect, engineer and develop web-based, "cloud" or "SaaS", software applications. (I hope I didn't leave out any buzz-words there!)

Let's not forget about the server side skillset. For backend programming I am well versed in object oriented coding and design patterns. Expert with most common web programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Javascript, JSP, C# and others. I'm also a pretty good Unix systems administrator. I am looking for a company where my diverse skillset and background will be utilized and provides a comfortable, fun working environment (preferably in San Francisco).

Education

California State University, Chico 1988 - 1991
Computer Science

Butte Community College 1988 - 1991
Math, Electronics, General Education

Skills

Server

  • Apache
  • mod_perl
  • Bind/DNS
  • Tomcat
  • Exim/Sendmail
  • Jabber/XMPP
  • SSH
  • FTP/SMB/WebDAV/NFS
  • IMAP/POP3
  • Red5/FMS

Languages

  • Expert PHP
  • Expert Javascript
  • Expert jQuery / Dojo / Other JS Frameworks
  • Expert HTML 5 /CSS 3
  • Expert Perl
  • Java
  • JSP
  • XML
  • XSLT
  • Classic HTML/CSS

Development

  • Eclipse
  • Visual Studio
  • Version Control: svn,cvs,git,vss
  • Ant
  • Maven
  • REST
  • SOAP
  • AJAX
  • jQuery
  • Dojo
  • Many others...

Experience

July, 2010
~ Present

Mediaplex

Rich Media Architect

www.mediaplex.com

Since 1999, Mediaplex has been quite successful in traditional online advertising but the recent surge in popularity of new "rich media" ads offered by competing ad vendors had been slowly taking its toll on Mediaplex's bottom line. I was brought on board to lead their rich media effort. I stabilized the existing codebase and managed engineering resources working with the product services team to ensure the successful deployment of all rich media advertising campaigns.

Responsible for architecting, designing and managing a flexible software framework that drives the next generation of online rich media advertisements. This framework is implemented entirely in the client using Javascript and utilizes the latest in web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and AJAX while still maintaining compatibility with older browser software. The Mediaplex Rich Media solution has been designed to be modular, extensible and thoroughly customizable. This new system builds on existing infrastructure, is browser independent, client agnostic (flash/html5/email), has a small footprint and loads quickly and politely (read: unobtrusive and fast loading).

Sept, 2007
~ July, 2010

Mindjet

Web Architect

www.mindjet.com

Initially brought in for a 3 month contract to architect and migrate the Mindjet website from PHP to an ASP.Net solution. My role quickly grew into heading up Mindjet's foray into the Software as a Service (SaaS) arena-- Mindjet Catalyst. Mindjet Catalyst is web-based mindmapping software that allows real-time multi-person sharing, collaboration and editing of mindmaps without leaving your browser. The Catalyst client canvas is written in Flash and written to via Javascript frameworks and API's which handle communication with the server. The system has been designed such that it is poised to utilize only open standards with HTML5, CSS3, canvas/VML and SVG. Server-side built with Java/JSP however a large portion of the account handling still resides on the .Net platform requiring the definition and build-out of RESTful services to bridge the two systems.

April, 2006
~ Sept, 2007

NetOasis Software Consulting

President / Founder / Architect

Contracted software development and consulting. Most contracts were support for previous positions (such as with Interactivate), custom content management systems and business process management applications. The following is a small sampling of some of the work completed (Login using 'cdr@netoasis.net' for the email address and 'icoancisad!' as the password):

August, 2004
- April, 2006

Genetic Savings & Clone

Technical Director

GS&C afforded me the opportunity to apply my systems integration and programming skills to the new genetic sciences industry. I was responsible for managing and integrating diverse genetic equipment into our server network and providing the data to both internal and web-based interfaces:
  • Clonesoft - Architected and implemented client/server based web-based application using XML as the data transport mechanism to automate and manage the animal gene-banking and feline cloning business processes utilizing the latest in AJAX technologies.
  • CatBank - http://www.catbank.org/ Designed and developed framework to quickly implement the front-end and back-end for this database driven feline DNA identification website. Back-end requirements included integration with various genetic analysis hardware including the Applied Biosystem Genetic Analyser 3130
  • Retro vs. Metro - http://www.retrovsmetro.org/ Implemented all backend code for this online companion website to the New York Time's bestseller: Retro vs. Metro - The Great Political Divide in America. Required access and aggregation of various data items scattered across the Internet (such as the Iraq war dead count and real-time government deficit counter)

December, 2001
~ June, 2004

Inter@ctivate, Inc.

Technical Director

As Technical Director for Interactivate, Inc., my responsibilities were extensive and included, but were not limited to:
  • Designed and architected network infrastructure using both Windows servers and various legacy Unix boxes. Built out server clusters and managed a farm of over 60 machines including a SAN.
  • Designed and implemented web-based network management, monitoring & systems analysis tools
  • Developed web-based tools for creation and maintenance of customer websites, DNS, and email services.
  • Designed and developed email marketing application using 3 tier architecture and XML and XSLT for transporting and rendering email messages and associated web pages. As of December, 2003, the Activatemail system sends and tracks over 1,000,000 requested messages per day between 89 clients including Sunkist Growers, The California Avocado Commission, San Diego Zoo and many more.
  • Setup automated development environment which allows Interactivate developers to create their own dedicated web sandboxes via a web interface. Automated CVS checkouts and local network mounts to development sandboxes rounded out this implementation.
  • Installation & administration of Solaris, FreeBSD & Windows NT in a heterogeneous environment
  • Design, implementation, migration and maintenance for Interactivate's internal and external network infrastructure.
  • Working with vendors, developers & 3rd party integrators.
  • Maintain and monitor over 50 hosted client web sites and dozens of web applications
  • Identifying & resolving network related problems
  • Responsible for backup implementation and recovery strategy & procedures
  • Required to support high volume access & availability characteristics as well as identifying & resolving system hardware & software problems
  • Responsible for the full availability of DNS, SMTP, HTTP, POP & IMAP servers
  • Maintaining security for all Interactivate networks

May, 2000
~ November, 2001

TheFinancialCafe.Com

Software Architect / Technical Director

TheFinancialCafe.Com is an Online Financial Broker/Dealer which provides free online market orders. Initially brought in to build a custom CRM application for their support staff, the application quickly grew to encompass every aspect of the company from CRM to billing to email handling and website layout and integration with 3rd party services. My responsibilities included, but were not limited to:
  • Designed and implemented web-based network management & systems analysis tools
  • Required to support high volume access & availability characteristics as well as identifying & resolving system hardware & software problems
  • Working with vendors, developers & 3rd party integrators.
  • Installation & administration of Solaris, FreeBSD & Windows NT in a heterogeneous environment
  • Installation & maintaining network equipment
  • Responsible for the full availability of DNS, SMTP, HTTP, POP & IMAP servers
  • Design, implementation, and maintenance for the companies internal and external network infrastructure.
  • Extensive automation of administrative functions via shell scripting & Perl
  • Responsible for backup implementation and recovery strategy & procedures
  • DBA to a number of Mysql databases (one master, multiple slaves)
  • Responsible for the seamless integration of multiple third-party application services into the company's website.
In addition to the engineering and administration duties listed above, I was also responsible for the architecture of their network infrastructure in addition to developing the software and business processes to manage and maintain the companies website, stock trading web application, customer service web application and the corporate intranet. Lead team of developers and engineers to build out a customized NetOASIS web-based CRM application, a trouble-ticketing systems (for automated work flow and business process automation), a web based site administration tool and a number of other web-based applications which empowered the end-user to perform much of their own administration (such as changing passwords, mailing list memberships, etc).

April, 1998
~ May, 2000

Food.Com

Senior Web Developer / Administrator

Food.Com is an nationwide online food ordering and delivery service. Initially hired as a 'Senior Web Developer' to redesign the Food.Com web application engine. My job description was quickly expanded to include administration of the engineering and development processes, hardware and environment due to in-house IT problems. Responsibilities included:
  • Developed 'FUDGE', the 'Food.Com Ubiquitous Dining Guide Engine' which was used by thousands of restaurant reviewers to enter and maintain Food.Com's dining guide database.
  • Setup of automated development environment using web-based tools
  • Development of tools and utilities (both web based and command line) to automate development efforts
  • Migration of code-base from Objective-C/WebObjects to Java
  • Wrote and maintained various web-based backend tools for maintaining accounts and order information
  • And much, much more.

June, 1996
~ March, 1998

Slip.Net

Web Engineer

Slip.Net was one of the earliest Internet Service Providers in the San Francisco Bay Area with a client base well over 30,000 users. My roles and responsibilities were divided between system administration and web development. As the Web Administrator I was responsible for shared administration of server farm of 30+ machines including Sun servers and Intel PCs, all using Solaris. I was also responsible for all web-based software, E-commerce, network accessible databases, secure server certificates, web server maintenance, and more. In addition to these administration duties, I was also given a myriad of development projects, including the renovation of the existing system of disassociated and unwieldy collection of flat text db files and dbm's that constituted their 'client database'. I developed an easy to use and coherent system of procedures, tools, scripts, and interfaces built on top of a relational SQL database. The scope of this project is beyond this resume, however, if you'd like to see a small sampling of the web applications I developed, just feed the following URL's into your browser (Username: demo, Password:demo):
 Slip.Net Account Control Center: OFFLINE
Slip.Net Signup Wizard: OFFLINE
Find POP Modem Dialup Number: OFFLINE

May, 1995
~ May, 1996

The NetOASIS Software Co.

Founder / Chief Developer

As founder and President of the NetOASIS Software Co. I was responsible for every aspect of running the business from graphic design to programming to market research and client solicitation. The primary focus of the company was development of web based applications and the integration of a clients systems into a computer based environment. We also offered freelance programming services, web hosting, web site design and maintenance, and setup and installation of intranet hardware and software components. Specialized in online commerce systems and I have installed, upgraded and maintained online payment servers by Cybercash, First Virtual, and Verisign. Clients included: Symantec, King Media, The Exploratorium, The Astronomical Society of the Pacific and more.

December, 1994
~ July, 1995

True World Access

Senior Developer / Systems Administrator

Senior System Administrator/Programmer for a network of mixed SunOS/Solaris/NT servers. Also head of programming staff. Responsible for maintenance of all network hosts, virtually hosted web, email, ftp, and gopher services. Maintained server statistics, CGI scripts and eventually developed online retail software that is used for dozens of web catalogs. Other job functions included working directly with clients during development of their software and site, designing of graphics and layout of web sites, implementing new and emerging technologies on clients sites, and handling some customer technical support issues.