Last Updated 2009-11-18

NAME

Steve Berry
unideal.net
4702 Fieldstone Drive, Austin, TX 78735
512 914 9994

SYNOPSIS

I’m a product person with a strong technical leadership and development background. I’m currently most interested in the topics of  information architecture, usability, mobile product strategies and competitive intelligence. I’m a good communicator and consensus builder with a proven 12 year record of making difficult decisions and executing on complicated initiatives. I want to solve hard problems and make usable things.

DESCRIPTION

Main areas of expertise:

• Design and management of large internet development efforts.
• Creation of products, information architecture and user experience
• Product management, strategy and analysis
• Configuration Management, Change control.
• Project/Resource Management, Agile.
• Social Media, Commerce, integration, reporting, trend analysis
• Syndication strategies (RSS, NewsML, messaging systems)
• Content taxonomy, categorization, concept/entity extraction tools
• Large scale email automation, CANSPAM compliance, customer acquisition
• Data product development, subscription management

Languages/Skills:

• Perl / mod_perl
• Php /  Assorted MVC frameworks
• SQL, Database Management/Performance
• Strong Object-oriented development methodology
• User interface design
• Network and security, clustered environments, high availability
• Unix scripting/automation, administration
• JQuery, EXT_JS, XML, AJAX, SOAP, REST, HTML/DHTML, CSS – all that stuff
• Working knowledge of most other web frameworks. Dangerous knowledge of Java and several other languages

Tools/Applications:

• Apache Web-Server
• Mod_perl
• Amazon Web Services (EC2, S3), Service Oriented Architectures
• MySQL – development, tuning, administration
• Redhat Enterprise, Fedora, Debian, Astaro security linux
• Qmail & associated daemon packages, heavily automated mail management
• lingerd, memcached, custom daemons
• CVS, Subversion
• SOAP, custom interfaces using XML over http
• XML parsing/generation tools
• CGI::Application, Rose::DB, HTML::Mason, HTML::Template, Apache::ASP
• SOLR, Plucene, DB full text search, DBIx::TextIndex
• Integrating vendor tools into applications. Akamai, LimeWire (CDN), Hitbox, Payflowpro, DoubleClick AdServer 5, NStein Nserver.

Personal Interests:

• Automotive: Writing, Racing, Engine Management systems, Product Development: More
• Gliding: More
• Smart Grid architecture and business planning

HISTORY

ACBJ New Media – Enterprise Architect

http://www.acbj.com – Emerging Technologies Division of ACBJ New Media
7/2007 – Present

Software Architect – This small division is tasked with evaluating and prototyping business opportunities without the overhead of software development cycles of larger functional divisions. Additionally we have a directive to explore new technologies for later integration into existing internal businesses.

Responsibilities:

• Work with senior business resources to conceive and build business plans. Then lay out data and application frameworks that prototype those businesses.
• Create longterm technology plans for viable businesses which will move beyond ‘incubation’ and staff those businesses with resources that can make the business successful.
• Assist in ramping up new groups and then transition technical responsibilities to that group.
• Rinse / Repeat

LoopOne – Senior Software Developer

http://www.loopone.com
1/2007 – 6/2007

Senior Developer for logistics software company. Worked in agile environment with overseas customers to create package shipping software for European markets. Left after a short length of time because of a compelling opportunity with a former employer.

Responsibilities:

• Senior Developer, Create and maintain shipping interfaces for European customers

Bizjournals.com – Director of Engineering

http://www.bizjournals.com
http://www.hemmings.com
http://www.bizwomen.com
http://www.bizspace.com
http://www.scenedaily.com
2/2000 – 1/2007

Local News website for nationwide newspaper publishing company, 40 newspapers and multiple magazine publications.
Geographically redundant web architecture supporting more than 22 million monthly page views and millions in online transactions.
As director of engineering I am directly responsible for the smooth 24hour operation of multiple websites as well as lead architect of core systems and development efforts.

Responsibilities:

• Senior Architect, development and maintenance, responsible for multiple massive online properties.
• Resource Hiring/Management/Training.
• Data Product Development/Management
• Custom Scalable Commerce System (High traffic) with legacy integration
• Custom Event Management system and User registration system
• Dynamic push email campaigns using perl and qmail. 10 million+ customized content emails per month – no vendors!
• Linking legacy circulation management systems to web
• Search Engine optimization strategies
• Building out syndication channel for business using XML, Newsml, RSS
• Communicating with business, articulating needs
• Researching, evaluating, implementing 3rd party tools
• Integration with business and data partners.

Davis Farrell – Owner

http://tech.davisfarrell.com 06/2005 – present
Skinnable real estate search. Ground up development of hosted search application. Proximity searching and googlemaps integration. Quickly growing, scalable ASP business model serving NC, TX and Washington DC.

American City Business Leads – Developer

http://www.bizjournals.com/leads/ 08/1996 – 02/2000
Public Records Research Company. Small startup purchased by American City Business Journals in 1999. I managed IT initiatives. Began as a Foxpro 2.6 system, migrated into mod_perl/mysql based data collection system and data warehouse still in production.

Unideal.net

http://unideal.net – Owner  1997 – present

Catchall for independent contracting or equity work. Work spanning development, organizational strategy, business intelligence, market research. Working domains include insurance, sports recruiting, real estate, automotive engine management, healthcare, nonprofits and SmartGrid startups.

EDUCATION

University of Texas School of Information, Austin, TX
Masters, Information Architecture 2007- (in progress)

Queens University, Charlotte, North Carolina
BA- Information Systems 2003-2006

Rollins College, Winter Park, FL
Incomplete BA- Anthropology / Studio Art. 1993-1995

SEE ALSO

- Extensive references available upon request -