John Kurt von Finck II
2593 Rue Delisle
Montreal, QC
H3J 1K8
Canada
mneptok at mneptok dot com
plain text version of this document
January 2005-Present
Systems Administrator
GNOME Foundation
Served as part of an all-volunteer team managing the server resources for the GNOME open-source Unix GUI environment. Principal maintainer of the GNOME mailing list software, with other responsibilities on an ad hoc basis. Servers run various flavors of Unix, mostly RHEL and Ubuntu. This is a high-profile project with time sensitive needs and an understandably demanding userbase.
May 2004-Present
Systems Administrator
Birdhouse Hosting
Served as backup system administrator for a web hosting business. Monitored, maintained and managed a colocated server running Linux, Apache httpd2, CommuniGate, sshd, named and various other server daemons. Acted as support liaison for customers resolving their issues and problems. Ensured mail services and customer sites (many of them high profile) were accessible and functioned within acceptable parameters.
November 2003-Present
Systems Administrator - Desktop/Network Engineer
Self-Employed
Provided pre-sales recommendations, installation and support of desktop and network hardware and software. Installed numerous ethernet networks with shared file and printing services and Internet connectivity. Routers, switches and hubs running ADSL, cable modem, Frame Relay and fiber to 10/100/1000-Base-T clients. Windows2K/XP, MacOS X, *BSD and various Linux distributions with both hardware and software installation and support.
November 2002-November 2003
Site Manager
TechTracker
Portland, OR
Responsible for the day-to-day non-content operations of three high-profile websites (VersionTracker.com, MacFixIt.com and MacFixItForums.com). Maintained relations between the company, their users and developers. Worked to stabilize sites and userbase. Evangelized and implemented new services (e.g. RSS feeds). Managed the schedules, writing, and editing functions of the sites. Coordinated with the in-house production team on the layout of the sites. Ensured sites were active and available. Ensured the content teams were able to perform their work. Monitored the sites' performance, content and feedback to ensure maximum uptime, availability and quality. Managed the company build list. Developed and oversaw the efforts of beta testers.
July 2000-April 2002
Desktop and IT Support
Gobe Software
Portland, OR
Responsible for all the end-user support of the Be Operating System and the Gobe Productive office productivity suite for users in the Americas, Australia and selected portions of Asia. Handled all support requests via e-mail, phone and various online fora. Developed methods for automated support request resolution, tracking of support requests and interaction with Be, Incorporated to ensure they provide coherent and correct information to end-users. In these capacities I worked alone, with no supervision or other support personnel. Worked with the Gobe developers to identify known issues/bugs with the Productive package, and worked to resolve said issues via patches or fixes to future code. Also oversaw the support of all desktop and network devices within the Gobe Software offices, and worked to improve performance and usability of same.
March 1999-July 2000
Desktop/Network Engineer
Self-Employed
Provided pre-sales recommendations, installation and support of desktop and network hardware and software for clients in such divergent fields as medicine, construction and the fine arts. Installed numerous 10+ user ethernet networks with shared file and printing services and Internet connectivity. Routers, switches and hubs running ADSL, cable modem, ISDN and Frame Relay to 10/100-Base-T clients. Dial-up solutions for "bandwidth-challenged." Windows, Macintosh, *BSD, Linux and Be OS hardware and software installation and support. Recommendation, installation and support of office productivity, communications/groupware and segment-specific software packages.
August 1997-March 1999
Project Manager - WindowsNT Administrator
Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals
Wallingford, CT
One of lead contracted staff to roll out WindowsNT Workstation v4.0 to current Windows 3.x and Macintosh network clients. Analyzed and identified hardware and software prior to rollout. Tested existing non-standard applications for NT compliance. Coordinated with departments for rollout scheduling. Rolled out new PCs and upgraded hardware when applicable. Converted IBM Type 1 Token Ring LAN circuits to 10-Base-T Ethernet. Worked to engineer site-wide standard NT build. Loaded NT from CD or network and configured for NetWare v4.11 and IP connectivity. Customized user settings. Loaded corporate standard applications via Novell Application Launcher; non-standard applications loaded locally. Worked with BMS permanent Client Liaisons to provide post-rollout support. Contract staff also provided overall desktop and network support on an ad hoc basis.
November 1996-July 1997
Network Administrator
Southern New England Telecommunications
New Haven, CT
Worked as part of third-party network support solution for local telecom provider. Oversaw daily operations of corporate data network at four locations with two other administrators. Total client base exceeded 5,000. Duties included: server installation, upgrade and maintenance (NetWare 3.x/4.x and Windows NT 3.x/4.x); workstation (PC) installation, upgrade and maintenance; network printer support; support of all local and LAN/WAN based software; provide connectivity to host systems. MS-Office/Office95/Office97, Lotus Notes, IBM mainframe connectivity, Web browsers, POP mail clients, SQL databases. IPX/SPX, TCP/IP, DLC, SNMP over 802.2 Token-Ring. Solved simple break-fix issues and planned and coordinated long term projects and rollouts. Served as Windows95 and WindowsNT specialist for group. Consistently among top-rated employees in customer feedback.
October 1995-November 1996
Computer and Information Systems Support Specialist
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
Responsible for meeting the support needs of over 3,000 networked, Internetworked and non-networked computer clients within the Yale Medical School. Duties included recommending computer hardware and software purchases, installing computer hardware (both PC and Macintosh) on the campus network (Novell 4.1, AppleShare and WindowsNT based) and providing IP connectivity for Internetworking. Provide and maintain connectivity to campus host systems (AS400, IBM RISC, HP and Unix) for dedicated administrative and financial systems. Support network printing solutions. Serve as first (phone) and second (field) level support for all desktop computing, printing and networking problems. Worked both as a general support resource for the entire Medical School as well as a dedicated support specialist for specific departments. Served as the departmental Macintosh expert, providing support to colleagues with less knowledge of the Mac and MacOS issues. Worked with little or no supervision, completely responsible for my own time management and reporting.
September 1992-January 1995
MIS Assistant
Vitreous State Laboratory - Catholic University
Washington, DC
Oversaw the computer operations of a 100 employee research laboratory. During this time, the VSL had no MIS Manager, so I was completely responsible for the selection, procurement, maintenance, upgrade and repair of over 200 desktop computers while working (during the regular academic year) on a part-time basis. Replaced 80286 PCs with 80486DX-based machines, began implementation of a Novell NetWare v3.1.2 laboratory-wide private LAN, recommendation and procurement of network hardware (servers, hubs/concentrators, Ethernet cabling, fiber optic cabling etc.) and software (NetWare, NetWare NLMs, Windows NT 3.51, metering software, backup software etc.). Maintained relations with University's Computer Center and implemented a fiber optic connection to the campus data network and VAXcluster for the VSL and Hannan Hall. Supervised graduate/undergraduate student employees. Maintained vendor relations with computer manufacturers, suppliers, software developers and resellers and various other system, hardware and software manufacturers. Ensured educational/GSA pricing for all university and individual purchases. Worked with few financial resources, limited time and no technical supervision (N.B. There was no MIS Manager).
February 1993-January 1995
Apple Student Representative
Apple Computer
Reston, VA
Brought Apple Computer's Collegiate Partnership Program to Catholic University. Disseminated pre-sales information, recommended systems to individuals and provided technical expertise and support to users on an ad hoc (and pro bono) basis. Developed a thorough knowledge of Apple systems and software, attended technology and technical briefings sponsored by Apple and third-party developers and was one of the few resources available to Apple users on campus.
September 1990-December 1994
University Study
BA (cum laude) The Catholic University Of America
September 1988-May 1990
IT/Accounting Consultant
Accounting Futures Inc.
Hartford, CT
Worked as a consultant on a temporary basis for a number of Hartford area corporate clients. Usually worked in accounting/financial positions, but worked for over one year at Advo Systems, a Windsor, CT based direct mail advertiser, developing an automated system using Lotus 1-2-3 v2.2 PC to track client purchases of advertising space in bulk mailings. Developed the automated spreadsheet/database as well as a simplified end-user front-end. Also supported the Network Administrator supporting a 50+ user Novell NetWare v3.1.1-based LAN. Also worked for CIGNA, Travelers Insurance, Sheraton/ITT and other clients.
January 1987-August 1988
Bookkeeper
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Hartford, CT
Oversaw the daily financial transactions (bank deposits, checks, receipts and payroll) as well as monthly bank reconciliations for a 100+ employee non-profit political action group. Reported directly to the Financial Manager, but worked independently. Selected, procured, customized and trained others on the use of a PC-based financial and member-record system.
September 1986-November 1986
IT Consultant
CIGNA Corporation
Bloomfield, CT
Helped the GISD Actuarial Unit to migrate from a mainframe-hosted rate development system in APL to a desktop solution in Lotus 1-2-3 for field office use. This included developing Lotus worksheets for existing actuarial rate tables, as well as automated macro-driven rate analysis worksheets.
April 1986-November 1986
Systems Consultant
Schwartz Parking Inc.
Hartford, CT
Worked with a team of consultants to integrate an automated gating and metering computer system with a proprietary facility-wide environment/security/plant engineering computer system. Worked with little or no supervision, developed cabling plans from architectural elevations and worked with contractor to implement the cabling plant.
May 1984-October 1985
Assistant Store Manager
Shulman Record Company
Cinnaminson, NJ
Oversaw day-to-day operations of a retail music store under the supervision of the manager.
June 1983-April 1984
Contract Fulfillment Advisor
Rough Trade Records
Philadelphia, PA
Worked with music artists in the Philadelphia area to ensure their compliance with pre-negotiated contracts.
If you would like references, I shall be happy to provide them at your request. I have some scanned documents I can e-mail, as well as some live contacts. Let me know what you need.