Costas Kotzabassis, Ph.D.

 

summary

 

 

Professional having over twenty years of experience in computer software and hardware, managing IT, Project Management, specifying, designing, implementing, deploying, documenting and supporting client/server and stand-alone computer solutions, including seven years of experience with the software and hardware of real-time data acquisition embedded systems. Management experience on IT Departments and large scale projects. Project Management consulting experience. Technical experience includes GIS solutions and implementations, web-based and e-commerce applications, scientific applications, enterprise workload scheduling, engineering design and simulation, enterprise database applications, rule-based Expert Systems, object-oriented programming, embedded systems for data acquisition and control, device drivers, software/hardware interfaces, and resource management. Expertise in various programming languages, protocols and client/server architectures. As IT manager and leading technical expert have spearheaded new product development and taken several major hardware and software projects into a full life cycle. I have served in the capacity of Research Associate, Lecturer, Adjunct Faculty, Extension Associate, Senior Applications Engineer, Team Leader, Manager of R&D for Open Systems, Senior Consultant, Technology Architect, Project Manager, Director of Development and Sole Proprietor/Consultant. Member of PMI, Professional Associations and Member or Officer of Technical Committees (ASABE, PODS).

 

operating systems

 

 

MS-Windows (9x, NT {3.51, 4.0, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista}), UNIX (SVR4 compliant, AIX, HP-UNIX, SCO, Unisys, SunOS, Linux/Red Hat), VMS (5.x).

 

technologies/protocols

 

 

ESRI Servers (ArcSDE, ArcGIS, ArcIMS, ArcImage), ArcObjects/ADF/MapObjects, .Net Framework, DCOM (ActiveX, OLE, COM+), Web Services, NT Services, XML, Data Access (ADO.Net, ADO, OLE DB, SQLDMO), TCP/IP and Sockets, Collaboration (MAPI, NetMeeting, ADSI), TAPI (2.2, 3.0, NEC), SSRS (SQLServer 2005)

 

programming languages

 

 

.Net Visual Studio 2005 (Visual Basic, C#, ASP), Visual Studio 6 (Visual Basic, Visual C/C++ {ATL & MFC}, Visual InterDev, Visual J++), VBA, Java 2 {SDK, J2EE, J2ME}, ANSI C, Perl 5, SQL, ASP, HTML, VBScript, JavaScript, XML/XSL, Assembly (Intel 80x86; Motorola 680x/680x0; Zilog Z80), Artificial Intelligence (LISP; Prolog; OPS-5), Expert System Shells (KnowledgeCraft, Personal Consultant),  Simulation, Other.

 

applications

 

 

ArcGIS ArcView/ArcInfo 8.x/9.x, CAD (AutoCAD; Microstation), Microsoft Office 2003/2007 Professional/Project/Visio Enterprise Architect, Rational Rose, Databases (SQL Server; Oracle; etc.), RoboHelp Office 9, InstallShield, Other.

 

miscellaneous

 

 

References, Theses, Professional Affiliations and Achievements, Licenses and Certificates, International Conferences, Technical Papers and other Publications, extracurricular activities and community leadership positions,  are available upon request..

 

Languages

 

 

English, Hellenic, Portuguese.

 

Education

 

 

1991                  Texas A&M University                      College Station, TX, USA

·         Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering Department

·         Minor: Computer Science.

 

 

1986                 University of Alberta                               Edmonton, AB, CND

·         M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering Department

·         Minor: Electrical & Computer Engineering.

 

 

1982                 Agricultural University of Athens                             Athens, GR

·         B.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering and Soil Reclamation Dept.

 

Experience summary

 

 

2008-

Mahindra Satyam

Houston, TX

Project Manager

·         Associate assigned to Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL) IT department to support the business operations as Project Manager in GIS and PODS projects.

·         Managed seven GIS projects and participated as SME in two more, worth in excess of $2.7M using the Chevron CPDEP methodology. Identified solutions, developed Architecture, defined work processes and managed the development teams. Used ArcIMS, ArcGIS Server 9.3.1, Chevron GIS custom tools, SQL Server 2005 and SSRS, Oracle databases, and other technologies.

·         Member of the CPL PODS Technical Planning Committee. CPL Steering committee for PODS and GIS initiatives, changes, project design and implementation reviews, etc.

 

 

2002-

Lone Star College System

Houston, TX

Adjunct Faculty

·         Teaching Computer Science and Information Technology classes at Cy-Fair and Fairbanks campuses (Introduction to Computers, VB and VB.Net Programming, Introduction to Computer Programming, Operating Systems, etc.)

 

 

1994-

Business Industrial & Technical Software

Houston, TX

Owner & Technology Architect

·         Expert technology Architect with partner consulting corporations on joint projects.

·         Supporting ATOFINA in the LIMS/PHD project for reactor/extruder data processing.

·         Consulting United Recovery Systems, Inc. in a large scale project developing an Intelligent Collections System. N-tier application development, including UI, business, database and MTS components, TAPI and DCOM implementation of telephone clients and switches using Microsoft Visual Studio 6. Organized specification and documentation intranet.

·         Morris Environmental project Phase I to convert their emergency response reporting forms into the NOAA ICS standard format (FileMaker). Joint project with R7 Solutions.

·         Consulting Enron OCC project Phase I to develop a DCOM client/server telephony component for the emergency management system. Joint project with R7 Solutions.

·         Ergonomic Transportation Solutions, Inc. web site development and deployment project.

·         Phase II of a Food Intake Analysis System for the Health Science Center of the University of Texas at Houston using Access XP. Development of new integrated search on new database structure, field data integration utility and new installation script.

 

2006-2008

Idea Integration

Houston, TX

GIS Technology Architect

·         Provided Technology Architecture and Design in Geographic Information Systems related projects. Contributing in Proposal generation, SOW development, and Sales support on various projects worth over $2M.

·         GIS Team Lead. Managing a team of six on-site and off-site GIS developers. Responsible for mentoring and Performance Reviews. Liaison to client Application Developers

·         Managed Architecture and Development in seven GIS projects with private companies and local government, involving ArcGIS Server 9.2, Virtual Earth, Web Services, AJAX, MOSS 2007, SQL Server 2005 and SSRS, C#, JavaScript and other technologies.

·         Contributed in SOW development, GIS Requirements gathering, Architecture and  Technical Documentation, Process Workflow analysis, project planning, team selection, Communication standards, Technical Reviews and basic research.

·         Managed development process to resolve technical obstacles, meet deliverables and schedules.

 

 

2002-2006

Blue Sky Development, Inc.

Houston, TX

Director of Development

·         Lead the design, specification and implementation of the core Object Model for .the integration with ArcGIS 9.x Desktop applications and Servers; as part of the second generation of the core products for ArcGIS, AutoCAD and Microstation using COM architecture, while maintaining the legacy systems throughout their full life cycle.

·         In charge of software development, documentation, testing, licensing, technical support and product architecture, maintaining development standards. Performed data modeling and architecture duties on the BSDI database and integration with pipeline data models (PODS, ISAT, APDM) and geospatial data (SDE, Personal Geodatabases) according to published standards. Defined and enforced internal processes for building and distributing software, maintaining code and tracking customer issues.

·         In charge of strategic planning for new products and new technologies for integrating processes with enterprise pipeline data management in Oil & Gas industry. Responsible for developing new data connectivity products and enhancements to existing products.

·         Interfaced with Engineering and Owner/Operator companies to help them define their work processes for properly utilizing the BSDI tools in their daily operations. Supported new business development in cooperation with the Sales and Marketing Director. Delivered presentations/papers in professional conferences and trade shows.

·         Represented BSDI in the Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) Technical Committee and the Spatial Integration Workgroup.

Technology Architect

·         In charge of ArcGIS development. Developed pilot processes in ArcGIS AlignDB that were implemented in the corresponding CAD products.

·         Provide ArcGIS expert support to sales. ArcGIS AlignDB demonstration to existing and prospective clients, consultation to provide work-process solutions, and integration planning of AlignDB with work-processes.

·         Developed the BSDI component object model architecture, ISAT/AlignDB and PODS/AlignDB integration wizards, ArcIMS solution for displaying alignment data.

·         Developed and maintained installation procedures for all three products. Established automated daily component build procedures.

 

 

1999-2001

Idea Integration, Inc.

Houston, TX

Technology Architect

·         Teachnical leader in several projects for local government, health sector and private companies worth over $2M. Area of expertise included GIS technologies, 3-tier application development, workflow and data modeling, requirements gathering, system design and integration, office productivity software, and data transformation.

·         Leading development teams and acting as the Project Manager responsible for RFP, schedule and budget for smaller projects.

·         Enforcing development standards and Source Control methodologies. Member of the Technology Architect Council and the Internal Process panel.

·         Supporting other GIS projects as technical expert. Supporting other Technology Architects with white papers developed during previous research.

Senior Consultant

·         Technical expert on architecture, databases, COM technologies, e-commerce and engineering applications. Performed requirements gathering, developed specifications and documentation, architected, implemented, tested and deployed solutions for the Oil & Gas industry and other sectors.

·         Code and database application development for stand-alone and web-enabled solutions.

Consultant

·         Initially the Team lead for a small pilot documentation project with Landmark Graphics Corp. evolved to extended engagement for development, testing, requirements gathering, licensing solutions, alternate technology evaluation and presentation to client, and other strategic tasks.

·         Hands-on experience in developing a variety of supporting applications from wizards and servers, to testing tools and supporting applications.

·         Developed and presented to a peer panel a proposed model for an ActiveX specification of an Open Interface for Lattix World and Lattix Work, for the Lattix system redesign.

·         Developed recommendation, examples, and documentation, on launching a Windows application from a browser, using Java applets, ActiveX controls, and direct file access.

·         Functioned as the liaison between the development, build and QA groups. Evaluated the basic acceptance criteria of the build to approve an Alpha version and corrected installation issues. Reviewed compliance with usability guidelines.

·         Teaching Intermediate and Advanced Visual Basic concepts to other Consultants.

 

 

1994–1999

Software & Management Associates

Houston, TX

Manager R&D, Open Systems

·         In charge of the Research & Development Department for the Open Systems, leading the development and enhancement of a large scale project, including client/server suit of applications on Windows, UNIX, VMS/OpenVMS, AS/400 and A-Series, and other technologies for third-party interfaces. Full product life cycle experience

·         Responsible for project schedule and budget, requirements, scalable 3-tier architectures, deliverables, source control and performance reviews. Lead the team for development of internal Windows Compliance Standards, coding specifications and guidelines, QA/QC standards, and the intranet technical library for the Customer Support Group

·         Lead small development teams to create third-party solutions and attain Premier Partner certification.

·         Responded to RFP in support of the Marketing Director and his team.

Senior Applications Engineer

·         Modeled and developed the new scheduling engine for the OpCon/XPS flagship application. In charge of the development for the User Interface and Utilities components of the job scheduling product.

·         Primarily responsible for the implementation of the ODBC data connectivity architecture through a series of versions and technologies.

·         Provided pre-sales and post-sales technical support on Operating System, networking, ODBC, configuration and applications issues.

 

addendum

 

 

Addendum with previous professional experience, achievements, affiliations, extracurricular activities, etc. is available upon request.