Laura Prowicz
laura@udonet.com
http://www.udonet.com/prowicz/resume/
updated: November 10, 2005

** please read my cover page,which describes
my availability and desired career situation. thank you!

OBJECTIVE

CAREER HISTORY

Career Education, Online Education Group, INC., Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Career Education Corporation is one of the largest providers of private, for-profit postsecondary education and has a presence in both on-campus and online education. The Online Education Group operates American InterContinental University Online and Colorado Technical University Online and offers a variety of degrees in business, education, visual communication and information technology.
March 2005 - November 2005Sr. SQL Server DBA (Lead)

• Responsible for team lead 24 x 7 DBA activities encompassing a diverse inventory of over (40) standard and enterprise Microsoft SQL Servers, including three large Unisys 64-bit, 8-way and 16-way SQL Server clusters. Responsible for directing the project and support activities for one junior SQL Server DBA.

• Responsible for primary DBA support of the OEG internet-accessible virtual campus database servers representing over 10,000 around-the-clock college students.

OfficeMax, Inc., Itasca, Illinois
OfficeMax is a leader in both business-to-business office product solutions and retail office products. The company provides office supplies and paper, technology products and solutions, and furniture to large, medium and small businesses and consumers. The company, with headquarters in Itasca, Illinois and Shaker Heights, Ohio boasts over $8 billion in sales, more than 40,000 associates and almost 1,000 superstores.
October 2002 - March 2005Sr. SQL Server DBA (Lead)

• Responsible for team lead 24 x 7 DBA activities encompassing a diverse inventory of over (40) standard and enterprise Microsoft SQL Servers, representing all modern versions from 6.5 through 2000 and over 300distinct databases (several VLDBs and OLAP systems). Responsible for directing the project and support activities for two junior SQL Server DBAs.

• Responsible for primary DBA support of the OfficeMax retail point-of-sale (POS) system representing over 3,500 interdependent SQL Server 2000 (MSDE) environments.

• Responsible for the creation and maintenance of entity relationship diagrams, meta data repository and comprehensive system documentation including everything from environment configuration information through standards, policies and procedures.

• Proficient in several programming languages including T-SQL, perl, HTML, Windows scripting (WSH) and Cold Fusion in support of DBA activities such as scripting, working with automated processes, creating stored procedures and triggers and integrating front-end web pages with back-end database engines.

MIDAS, Inc., Itasca, Illinois
Midas, Inc., the parent company for Midas International Corporation and other Midas operating units has its corporate headquarters and centralized IT department in Itasca, Illinois. Midas is one of the world's largest providers of automotive service, including exhaust, brakes, steering, suspension, climate control and maintenance services.
April 2001 - October 2002Sr. SQL Server DBA (Lead)

• Responsible for team lead 24 x 7 DBA activities encompassing an integrated point-of-sale (POS) system of over (20) Microsoft SQL Servers, heavily reliant on SQL Server replication technology. This production SQL server system supports the Parts Warehouse, Inc. division of Midas, Inc. and includes (5) data center servers and (15) remote servers.

• Working closely with the user and application support teams, the following initiatives were achieved:

  • Daily support of system wide replication tasks including monitoring, alerting, and problem resolution.
  • Daily support, troubleshooting, monitoring, optimization and tuning of server and SQL server environments across entire system.
  • Development of automated daily, weekly and monthly system maintenance tasks such as database backup, replication verification, database integrity verification and indexing updates.
  • Optimization and automation of data loading procedures for accounting, pricing, and catalog, implementation of test and staging servers, and creation of policies to guide use of same.

BLUEMETEOR, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
BlueMeteor is an Application Service Provider for companies seeking to solve complex business problems via the Internet. BMI provides pre-built, scalable technologies that are delivered quickly and minimize a company's need to support the significant technical, human and capital resources traditionally required for a back-office infrastructure investment (out of business).
July 2000 – April 2001Sr. SQL Server DBA (Lead)

• Responsible for team lead 24 x 7 DBA activities and primary server/application administration for Fourth Floor Elevator (TM), an Active Server Pages/SQL Server application providing web-enabled business planning functionality. The data center production environment includes Compaq Proliant clusters with SQL Server 7.0 and load-balanced Compaq Proliant servers with IIS 4.0 and Active Server Pages. The development/staging environment includes Compaq Proliant 3000 servers with websites and databases under IIS 4.0 and SQL Server 7.0.

  • Development activities included hardware and network specification, installation and configuration, and participation in database design, architecture and SQL scripting.
  • Maintenance activities include 24 x 7 Windows NT administration, database administration, database optimization/tuning, database updates and overall backup/recovery strategy.
  • Creation and maintenance of a comprehensive set of production support and troubleshooting documentation for operations personnel.

• Production Windows NT Server administration team lead from July 2000-November 2000. Responsible for daily 24 x 7 administration of data center Windows NT servers including development of standard policies and procedures for the department going forward.

TRIBUNE COMPANY, Chicago, Illinois
Tribune is a leading media company with operations in television and radio broadcasting, publishing, education and interactive ventures. Technical Operations is a division of Tribune Information Systems and is charged with daily 24x7 operation of the Tribune Company Data Center.
June 1998 - July 2000Windows NT Admin (Team Lead), DBA Specialist
June 1997 – June 1998SQL/Web Developer, Independent Consultant

• Responsible for primary DBA activities for four heavily trafficked Microsoft SQL Servers, including database optimization/tuning and backup/recovery strategy. Responsible for secondary DBA activities for two Oracle 8 datawarehouse servers. Successfully completed both SQL Server Administration and Oracle Enterprise DBA courses during first quarter of 2000.

• Responsible for development of an intranet-based client/server system developed for Allaire Cold Fusion database connectivity server. ‘ServerBase’ manages all information relevant to the Data Center, such as technical data pertaining to over 180 production servers. Includes features such as change management, server monitoring, and backup reporting. Activities:

  • Cold Fusion programming, SQL programming, database design & architecture.
  • Web server configuration and security.
  • Project leadership and management of one apprentice programmer.

• Responsible for comprehensive Windows NT 4.0 Server administration for twenty-five production servers, including web servers (IIS, WebSite Pro), FTP servers, and database servers (Oracle, SQL Server). Typically provide a range of client services from capacity planning and specification through server configuration, installation and testing as well as ongoing server administration and management. Strength areas:

  • Application consulting and server security.
  • Ongoing client consultation, planning and project management.

CHICAGO WEBMASTERS, INC., Chicago, Illinois
Commercial Web Site Developer in Chicago (out of business).
October 1995 - December 1997Webmistress

• Responsible for providing hardware and software assistance, support and security for a network of Microsoft Windows™ desktop computers (Microsoft Windows 3.11 and Windows 95) and servers (Microsoft Windows NT 3.51/4.0) on an hourly, contract basis.

• Responsible for configuration, administration and maintenance of Chicago Webmasters’ web servers and supporting hardware and software.

  • http, https, ftp, database and email servers; also firewalls, proxies and routers.
  • security, access control and server log analysis.

• System/Software Integration

  • Database to web site interaction, dynamic documents and back-end administration.
  • Discussion groups, forums and live chat applications.
  • CGI/PERL and JavaScript scripting.

• Complete Internet programming and development, including web site design, project management, HTML, Cold Fusion programming (SQL/Database integration), Javascript, CGI/PERL, and others

  • Extensive knowledge and experience with all types of tools, HTML editors, WYSIWYG editors, site management software, etc.

SOL’s COMPUTER WORKS, Chicago, Illinois
Computer repair shop on the north side of Chicago (out of business).
August 1994 - October 1995Computer Technician

• Responsible for troubleshooting and repairing IBM-compatible PC’s, printers and peripherals on a timely basis within an hourly budget.

CONTROLLINK, Inc., Algonquin, Illinois
Independent industrial systems integrator providing engineering design, control system assembly, control system programming, and system startup services.
August 1991 - August 1994Sales Engineer

• Primary focus on process control and data acquisition systems sales to the chemical, food and beverage and manufacturing industries. Responsible for acting as a project manager and liaison between clients and Controllink staff engineers, requiring a high level of expertise in the interpretation of client specifications and the application of appropriate products and services to meet client needs.

SQUARE D COMPANY, Chicago Field Office, Lombard, Illinois
World-wide manufacturer of power distribution equipment, industrial controls, and OEM components. (company is now Schneider North America)
August 1990 - November 1990OEM Sales Specialist
February 1988 - August 1990Field Engineer

• Primary focus on industrial component sales to end users and original equipment manufacturers. Responsible for providing technical application support, sales support and marketing assistance to Square D Company's second largest industrial control component distributor in the Chicagoland area.

ACADEMIC HISTORY

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, Carbondale, Illinois
December 1987Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering

• Specialization in Computer Design & Programming; focused on Intel x86 system architecture and programming (i.e. BASIC, Pascal, Assembler, Dbase, Paradox).

PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong aptitude for project development, management and organization (team lead).
• Self-starter with an ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Please see my summary page at http://www.udonet.com/prowicz/resume/index.html

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

Available on request.

resume, Word version || tribune staff photo || skills matrix