Maya Technology Design November 2001 - present
Consulting business providing freelance and contract graphic and web design services.
As Principal of a one person consulting shop, responsible for the design and production of client web sites, business graphics and marketing materials.
Expertise in graphic design, branding, layout for print, web design and interface design, usability and functionality analysis, Information Architecture, taxonomy, content management and workflow. Production skills include robust hands-on knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, In-Design, Quark, Dreamweaver, Acrobat and various video production and post-production packages.
money.com July 2000 - July 2001
A division of Time Inc. (AOL/Time Warner), the Money magazine personal finance site.
As VP Interactive Development, reported to Personal Finance Group President. Responsible for the overall re-design and functional upgrade of the money.com web site.
Led the I-solutions vendor evaluation and selection process: created the Request For Proposal (RFP) with top-level product and system requirements; reviewed contracts, project budgets, schedules and resource allocations. Approved and participated in all aspects of site design including graphics design and branding, information architecture, navigation, and functional analysis of the sites personal finance toolset. Approved and led specification of Content Management System including Document Type Definitions (DTDs), XML APIs for external content syndication, production workflows and associated status reporting, editorial rights management and site-wide metacode taxonomy. Managed a team of 8 developers, established weekly team meetings and status reporting. Hired Project Manager to liaise between internal and external development teams. Defined key concepts used within the site's Information Architecture and Tool Functionality: Emotive Navigation - presents an editorially defined selection of content based upon self-espoused "this is me" demographics (ex: "Starting Over" - a divorced mother with kids). Knowledge Paths - present tutorial information and tools in a step-by-step "to-do list" layout, allowing access to editorially selected materials, including "more like this." Scenarios - allow a user to take different "what-if" roles while using the same set of tools (ex: a user could use a retirement planning tool as herself, as her parents, or as a friend.) Spearheaded the definition and development of Moneyville, a unique Flash-based savings planning tool. The UI presents the user with a game-like metaphor rather than a forms-oriented web page: the 3-d playing field is used to organize savings goals (icons) in time.
StarMedia Network, Inc. November 1998 - June 2000
A dynamic multi-lingual web portal targeted to Latin America and Hispanic U.S. marketplace.
Hired as VP Technical Production, reporting to COO and serving on pre-IPO phase Executive Council. Promoted to VP Distribution & Access. Initially responsible for three major areas: Technical Production, Quality Assurance (QA) and Project Management.
Streamlined production process used by Tech Producers, Editors, Designers and Product Managers. Responsible for Quality Assurance for all SMN portals and services, established QA function (see below) and implemented "pre-launch" acceptance checklist with sign-off by channel Product Manager. Directed creation of cutting-edge distribution and access services thereby enabling additional revenue streams, which included: co-branded partner portals for access services in the US and Puerto Rico, ACCESSO (a dial-access service for the Latin American market ), XML-based content syndication feeds and product design and prototype implementation of a cable settop box-based web service. Managed a staff of up to 35; created a mentoring process to develop skills of junior staff; established weekly project status meetings. Developed concept of SMN portal-in-a-box which allowed rapid implementation of co-branded portals based upon standardization of partner product requirements. Established a 7x24 QA team to surf the site channels and detect problems, as well as an Incident Tracking system developed for reporting, logging and escalating incidents and recording resolutions thereof. The entire operation was envisioned and implemented in 6 weeks time.
Cogito Learning Media, Inc. November 1997 - November 1998
A multimedia publisher of CDROM educational study aids for Advanced Placement (AP) & college.
As Chief Technology Officer, reported directly to CEO. Hired to transform Cogito products into a browser-centric web-enabled model.
Formulated quick-delivery solutions with minimal development, capital and ongoing operational costs. Established e-commerce function (Cogito Store) within 6 weeks of hire using online store builder host. This was a low-cost solution that minimized risk and maximized profits from online sales. Directed the redesign and functional upgrade of the Cogito corporate and product marketing web site. Coordinated graphics design, information architecture, content integration and order fulfillment processes. Hired freelance graphics designers. Approved all hosting and platform technology decisions. Established guidelines for conversion of existing multimedia assets (including animations and video clips) and for inclusion of complex formulae mark-up in HTML layout. Defined product requirements of a web-based AP subscription service which allowed multimedia quizzes to be dynamically created by keyword query, concept/topic browsing or "more like this."
Time Warner Cable Programming, DMG August 1995 - August 1997
A division of Time Warner which developed online commerce solutions for ITV, Internet, and Cable Modem.
As Director of Technology, reported to VP Operations, Digital Marketing Group (DMG). Directed e-commerce projects for delivery via the Internet and over the Full Service Network (FSN), Time Warner's prototype ITV platform.
Spearheaded the definition of product requirements and technical data design (object model and data schema) for Dreamshop, a multi-merchant, single shopping cart e-commerce mall. This included support for various merchant SKU models as well as divergent payment, shipping, handling and gifting options. Approved product and technical requirements and vendor RFP. Led both the vendor and platform evaluation and selection processes. Coordinated with outside creative team (Clement Mok) in definition of Interface Design and Information Architecture.
Dow Jones & Company, Inc. June 1992 - August 1995
A publisher of financial information including print (Wall Street Journal) & electronic services (Broadtape & News Retrieval).
Hired as Director, Systems Development, Multimedia Division, reporting to the Managing Editor. Promoted to Chief Architect, Business Information Systems (BIS), reporting to VP Systems Development.
Part of a 4 person "seed group" which established the Multimedia Division as a start-up operation. Led the technical evaluation and product design of Dow Jones Investor Network (DJIN), a prototype multimedia newswire and associated systems, which delivered rich content to the end user's PC via NewsDesk, a custom Windows application. Defined editorial UI and timeline-based story authoring workflow. Integrated a non-linear digital video editing subsystem into the editorial story creation process. Adapted teleconferencing technology to provide a live video feed for interviews and emerging events. Established a graphics production area which created multimedia for the daily editorial projects: defined standards for graphics production; created a metadata searchable asset database. Defined the multimedia document architecture for NewsDesk (including the metacoded scene list for indexing video clips) and presented project results at Siggraph conference in 1993.
Telerate Systems, Inc. June 1984 - June 1992
A real-time financial information & trading services network with over 80,000 terminals/systems worldwide.
Consistently advanced through a series of increasingly responsible positions, including Programmer Analyst, Director Network Planning and Chief Architect. Highlights:
Worked with development, business and product management groups in North America, Europe and Asia, in the definition and implementation of proprietary data and transaction services. Ensured that network standards were met and that regional needs were integrated into all product and service requirements and specifications. Developed, reviewed and approved specifications for network communications equipment, servers, terminal applications and protocols (both page-based and item-based). Performed sizing and performance modeling for network topologies and services. Established change control by introducing a standard development waterfall with review and approval sign-off of all requirements, specifications and design documents.
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