Objective
To manage or support the implementation of information technology.
About Me
University seems like a lifetime ago but it bears mention. I studied business at UW-Wisconsin Madison. I planned to complete a real estate program. Meanwhile, I worked for First Rockford Group, a nearby, quite diversified, real estate development group.
Soon thereafter I decided I wanted to spend more time on my profession, less on my studies. I learned I could graduate early with a BA in history, and proceeded to do so. During my short tenure as a historian I managed to publish this research, which I enjoyed compiling very much.
But as it turned out I did not time my entry into the industry well. I graduated winter 2007; the market collapsed by 2009. I decided such a cyclical industry wasn't for me.
Soon thereafter, I began working at Epic. It felt similar to First Rockford Group in some ways - many, many projects to keep track of; many, many "hats to wear"; fast pace; in a word, "dynamic."
I thrive in, and quite enjoy, dynamic work environments.
Recent Experience at Epic
Quality Assurance/Customer Technical Support at Epic (2011 - Present)
For the last 5+ years I've worked at Epic, an enterprise healthcare IT vendor in the capacities of quality assurance and technical support representatives. I have a knack for, and quite enjoy, finding creative solutions to problems and pushing the limits of Epic's technology. Helping Epic customers achieve strategic goals through creative use of Epic software is my greatest pleasure.
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As a Quality Assurance representative my core responsibility is testing Epic's enterprise healthcare software - and automating that testing. Specifically, I work with MyChart, Epic's patient portal application, which is implemented as a web application and mobile app. I am engagged in every aspect of the development cycle. My knowldege of the data models we use, or need, and the configurations we support, inform the designs we ultimately implement. Furthermore, I consult with implementing customers.
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As a Technical Service representative I focus aforementioned skill-sets toward helping specific healthcare organizations meet business or regulatory needs, and achieve strategic goals (e.g. Omaha Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Providence Health and Services). Among other things, that entails:
- Helping customer analysts handle support tickets (e.g. end user questions, troubleshooting, code investigation).
- Encouraging - and assisting with - the implementation and rollout of new features, often highly personalized to suit customers needs and tastes.
- Helping with enterprise upgrades.
- Advocating on the behalf of customers for the development of new features.
Education
BA, History, UW-Wisconsin Madison (2004-2007)
Skills
- "Web fundamentals": HTML/CSS, JS.
- Programming languages: Cache Objectscript, Java, C++, SQL.
- General IT skills: web server management, DOS and Powershell shell scripting.
Interests
- Favorite authors, writers, books include Stephen Jay Gould (author, contributor to Natural History magazine), Douglas Hofstadter (Godel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, Surfaces and Essences); Guy Murchie (Music of the Spheres, The Seven Mysteries of Life), Frank Herbert (Dune series), John Updike and Philip Roth (nearly everything).
- NBA basketball (can't believe Dwyane Wade is a Bull!).
- Programming (web projects, efficiency utilities to make work easier).
- Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), although my interest and enjoyment far exceed my talent.