Paul Vlasek is an experienced IT professional with expertise in COBOL, mainframe systems, and leading migrations from mainframe to open systems platforms. He has over 20 years of experience consulting for companies on software development, data migration, and modernization projects. His technical skills include COBOL, Unix, Linux, Oracle, SQL Server, and he has led teams in migrating applications from IBM mainframes to distributed platforms like AIX, Windows, and Linux.
IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z Systems (ADFz) is the perfect starting solution for embarking on a DevOps transformation journey. The solution includes the market-leading Integrated Development Environment (IBM Developer for z Systems), as well as a set of essential problem analysis tools. Come and learn about the latest enhancements of ADFz and how customers are benefiting from this solution.
visit http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-application-delivery-foundation-for-z-systems
Slides from the webinar titled "Drinking our own champagne z Systems Development and Test Environment V10" posted here
watch the replay on http://ibm.biz/zDevandTest
Syncsort and Db2 – How to Get More from Your Db2 SystemsPrecisely
In our just released 2018 State of the Mainframe survey report, over 50% of respondents indicated Improving Db2 SLA Performance as their #1 mainframe database priority for the coming year, with migrating from IMS to Db2 as the second highest.
View this on-demand webcast with IDUG to hear key mainframe optimization opportunities and use cases spanning Db2 workload optimization, transparent data migration from IMS to Db2, and capacity management. In this session you’ll learn:
• How to save up to 50% of Db2 CPU time with workload-centric optimization
• The best approach to migrate IMS data to Db2 and standardize application change & enhancement in SQL
• How transaction capacity management ensures resources are right-sized to meet business requirements
IBM Application Delivery Foundation for z Systems (ADFz) is the perfect starting solution for embarking on a DevOps transformation journey. The solution includes the market-leading Integrated Development Environment (IBM Developer for z Systems), as well as a set of essential problem analysis tools. Come and learn about the latest enhancements of ADFz and how customers are benefiting from this solution.
visit http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-application-delivery-foundation-for-z-systems
Slides from the webinar titled "Drinking our own champagne z Systems Development and Test Environment V10" posted here
watch the replay on http://ibm.biz/zDevandTest
Syncsort and Db2 – How to Get More from Your Db2 SystemsPrecisely
In our just released 2018 State of the Mainframe survey report, over 50% of respondents indicated Improving Db2 SLA Performance as their #1 mainframe database priority for the coming year, with migrating from IMS to Db2 as the second highest.
View this on-demand webcast with IDUG to hear key mainframe optimization opportunities and use cases spanning Db2 workload optimization, transparent data migration from IMS to Db2, and capacity management. In this session you’ll learn:
• How to save up to 50% of Db2 CPU time with workload-centric optimization
• The best approach to migrate IMS data to Db2 and standardize application change & enhancement in SQL
• How transaction capacity management ensures resources are right-sized to meet business requirements
Do you feel like the pot of gold at the end of the z Systems Development and Test Environment (zD&T) rainbow is just out of reach because you don’t know how to build the zD&T golden image? If so, please join Troy Bishop, zD&T architect, as he discusses the latest zD&T tools and techniques for image creation. This session outlines how to configure the base zD&T image, and then how to create the z/OS system image to meet your needs.
visit http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-z-systems-development-and-test-environment
RDZ for Cobol Programmers slides 7 14 Debugger deep dive final2Susan Yoskin
Venkat will be joined by IBM Debug Architects John Tzanakakis and Randy Campbell who will demo debugging of applications using RDz. The demo will cover:
- Debugging of a CICS COBOL application
- Debugging of a COBOL application that calls HLASM
IMS to DB2 Migration: How a Fortune 500 Company Made the Move in Record Time ...Precisely
Hear first-hand from Damon Anderson, Manager of Data Services at a leading Fortune 500 global distribution company, about how he researched and solved his IMS-to-DB2 migration challenge.
IMS applications continue to run many of today’s leading financial, manufacturing, and government agencies’ most critical business processes. However, we all know the developers that wrote and supported those applications are fast leaving the work force, creating a major skills gap, unwanted risk, and a pressing need for an efficient DB2 migration path.
While some organizations are having to turn to expensive 3rd party vendors to support these applications, the potential data security breaches and challenges in ensuring consistent quality of application support and maintenance make that a risky, expensive proposition.
Hear how Damon and his team mitigated these challenges by migrating their IMS application databases to DB2 with Syncsort DL/2 and how it helped them:
o avoid a skills gap
o eliminate their MLC costs for IMS DB and the significant costs for 3rd party IMS Support tools
o create a platform for future modernization of their core business applications
Do you feel like the pot of gold at the end of the z Systems Development and Test Environment (zD&T) rainbow is just out of reach because you don’t know how to build the zD&T golden image? If so, please join Troy Bishop, zD&T architect, as he discusses the latest zD&T tools and techniques for image creation. This session outlines how to configure the base zD&T image, and then how to create the z/OS system image to meet your needs.
visit http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-z-systems-development-and-test-environment
RDZ for Cobol Programmers slides 7 14 Debugger deep dive final2Susan Yoskin
Venkat will be joined by IBM Debug Architects John Tzanakakis and Randy Campbell who will demo debugging of applications using RDz. The demo will cover:
- Debugging of a CICS COBOL application
- Debugging of a COBOL application that calls HLASM
IMS to DB2 Migration: How a Fortune 500 Company Made the Move in Record Time ...Precisely
Hear first-hand from Damon Anderson, Manager of Data Services at a leading Fortune 500 global distribution company, about how he researched and solved his IMS-to-DB2 migration challenge.
IMS applications continue to run many of today’s leading financial, manufacturing, and government agencies’ most critical business processes. However, we all know the developers that wrote and supported those applications are fast leaving the work force, creating a major skills gap, unwanted risk, and a pressing need for an efficient DB2 migration path.
While some organizations are having to turn to expensive 3rd party vendors to support these applications, the potential data security breaches and challenges in ensuring consistent quality of application support and maintenance make that a risky, expensive proposition.
Hear how Damon and his team mitigated these challenges by migrating their IMS application databases to DB2 with Syncsort DL/2 and how it helped them:
o avoid a skills gap
o eliminate their MLC costs for IMS DB and the significant costs for 3rd party IMS Support tools
o create a platform for future modernization of their core business applications
PHP Toolkit from Zend and IBM: Open Source on IBM iAlan Seiden
PHP developers on IBM i have a new way to access resources such as RPG and COBOL programs, system commands, data areas, and more, using a new, free, flexible, open source toolkit, supported by Zend. Using IBM's XMLSERVICE toolkit on the back end, it's all open source, enabling a high level of quality and functionality delivered by Zend, IBM, and IBM i community members who take the initiative.
You will learn:
• How your older PHP applications can use the new toolkit with minimal changes, thanks to the Compatibility Wrapper (CW), developed for Zend by Alan
And how to:
• Optimize performance
• Develop PHP on your laptop (Windows, Linux) or in the "cloud" and deploy to the IBM i
With suggestions for:
• Security
• Troubleshooting
• Tips and tricks to work with your IBM i in new ways
Good day:
I’m a recently graduated Civil Engineer and a 100% Disable Veteran. My home of residence is Puerto Rico, but I’m willing to relocate if a job opportunity in my field opens. I have a wife and an 11 years old daughter.
I know that my construction experience is previous to my degree and even having some experience I realize there still many to learn in my field. I bring a positive attitude, determination and willingness to succeed in any corporation.
I would like to find an Entry Level Civil Engineer position. My reason is that to be a leader; one most be a follower first, and such position will allow me to grow within the culture of the corporation.
Hope this email opens an opportunity and I thank you in advance for your time.
Initiative Based Technology Consulting Case Studieschanderdw
Our initiative-based “pay-as-you-go” model empowers you to buy only the services you need without long-term contract obligations, and better optimizes your resources with greater accuracy and efficiency.
An agile, flexible technology partner using this model helps clients secure resources in advance, map them to their initiatives, and enjoy on-demand service availability--which means real-time project control.
You gain improved transparency for your tech spend with predictable cash flow that is consumption-based. The client benefits from utilizing resources only as and when required during the lifecycle of the technology initiative.
1. Paul Vlasek
6880 Hunters Trace Circle NE 404-509-5908
Sandy Springs, GA 30328 pvlasek@mindspring.com
Professional Experience Summary: A self-motivated professional with many years of experience
in information technology. Developer of software (package, custom, corporate). Rehost, migration,
modernization, lift & shift consultant. A team player for all aspects of customer needs from initial
concepts to final implementation. The ultimate focus is to develop satisfied customers who are avid
references.
Technical Experience Summary: Extensive mainframe COBOL and mainframe systems expertise.
Extensive MicroFocus COBOL. Rehosting & Legacy Renewal engineer. COBOL based architecture
& engineering for mainframe, Windows, Unix, Linux. Complete systems life cycle approach to
development with an emphasis on quality, timeliness, and practicality. Extensive MicroFocus client
server architecture & engineering. Database conversions and interoperability for all of the above
including DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, flat and indexed sequential files. Heavy architectual activities to
bring third party software online.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), 1/2016 to present
• Cutover Lead for Mainframe Migration to Dell / DB2 LUW / Redhat Linux.
Provided cutover governance, organization, and controls to go live with the rehosting effort.
Direct interaction with all PMs and the CIO.
PracTrans (Western Union), 5/2015 to 1/2016
• Mainframe Migration consultant for rehost to Oracle Exadata / Linux
platform from Unisys 2200. Responsible for SDLC project documentation content for project
startup through expected completion.
Aurora Health Care , Milwaukee WI, 12/2014 to 5/2015
• Mainframe Migration consultant for rehost to AIX platform. Responsible for
all batch migration to a DB2/AIX environment. This includes all COBOL, PL1, Eztrieve, jobs,
procs; ie all batch components. The project responsibility also includes all data migration. Initial
work was to provide a project assessment report, detailing the inventory and the work needed to
achieve the AIX rehost. A proof of concept was completed.
Department of Family Protective Services, Austin TX, 7/2014 to 12/2014
• Senior Modernization MicroFocus COBOL consultant. Subject matter expert for existing
MicroFocus COBOL programs as they were migrated to Java. Interacted with the Java team and
the testers whenever they needed details on how COBOL was producing results against how
Java was producing results.
1
2. Dell Migration Services, Phoenix AZ, 12/2013 to 7/2014
• Senior Migration Tech Lead. Responsible for client migration activities using Dell's migration
Intellectual property (aka UniKix). This includes Dell Enterprise COBOL, Dell Teleprocessing
Environment (TPE - {CICS}), Dell Batch Processing Environment (BPE), Dell Migration Toolkit
(MTK). Authored source code assessment for client Georgia Department of Labor.
Cothern Computer Systems, Jackson MS, 2/2012 to 11/2013
• Client is Diebold. Responsible for batch migration from IBM mainframe to IBM AIX. Responsible
for data conversions of EBCDIC VSAM, GDG, flat to AIX ASCII primarily using Vancouver
Utilities. Authored many initial proof of concept scripts and programs which the team used as the
project matured. Responsible for migration of JCL to Korn shell scripts. Conducted knowledge
transfer and mentoring to Diebold technical staff. Involved with heavy testing and interaction with
HP Quality Center. Performed many DBA type functions.
Select Computing, Washington DC, 10/2011 to 1/2013
• Unisys mainframe migration to Unix, Data Migration Coordinator. Part of a migration assessment
team to analyze / assess for migration, the Small Business Administration's desire to migrate to
Open Systems. Authored many parts of the overall migration assessment document, especially
any items involving migrating data. Worked in close collaboration with the source code migration
assessment staff. Engagement contract won. Now functioning as Data Migration Coordinator.
Created a toolset generator to automate the migration of Unisys data (36-bit) FieldData to Unix
(32-bit) ASCII.
Mckesson Health Care, Atlanta Georgia, 11/2010 to 9/2011
• MicroFocus re-host IBM mainframe to IBM AIX Unix lead consultant and mentor. Converted
mainframe JCL and COBOL to Unix Korn shell scripts (200) and Microfocus COBOL (150
programs). Leader for a team of 3. Provided Multi-language interaction between MicroFocus
COBOL and "C" APIs. Provided remediation of assembler to Cobol.
Transvive, Toronto Canada, 05/2010 to 11/2010
• Direct contracting with MicroFocus for re-hosting IBM mainframe to Windows, Unix, Linux.
• Customers were Barnes & Noble and Armed Forces Insurance.
• Data conversions were DataCom to MS SQL Server, VSAM, flat files (all with EBCDIC to ASCII
considerations).
Home Depot, Atlanta, GA, 10/2009 to 05/2010
• Aggressively pursued by Home Depot to provide engineering and mentoring services for the
largest project in their history. This involved a complete data remodeling of all systems. Provided
remediation of the new data model into critical supply chain applications. Much of the SQL
needed heavy modification and testing which I did. Provided mentoring and code reviews of
onsite and off shore resources as well.
2
3. ACS, GA, 08/2009 to 09/2009
• Provided design and data warehouse engineering to Tennessee for Medicare PBM in a
MicroFocus environment as part of a migration from IBM Mainframe to Linux.
Barclays Capital, NJ, 06/2009 to 07/2009
• MicroFocus consultant for re-hosting IBM mainframe DB2 to Windows.
• Team Lead for Ezrtieve recode to COBOL (200 programs).
ACS (Xerox now), GA, 09/2008 to 06/2009
• Provided IBM Mainframe to Linux migration engineering for Medicare Prescription Benefits
Management (PBM) to individual state governments via service provider ACS. Each state has
unique requirements in addition to generic Medicare adjudication requirements. First
implementation was Ohio. Other states followed. MicroFocus consultant for re-hosting IBM
mainframe DB2 to Linux / Oracle.
• Provided training & mentoring to mainframe staff in how to use and be productive in MicroFocus
(NetExpress and Server Express).
• Provided scripting for Windows and Linux.
• Part of a team that ran a customer pilot and rolled out to production for the first state customer (1
of 20).
• Provided SQL changes for Oracle (was DB2). Tested SQL upgrades via Toad and Oracle's SQL
Developer tools.
Macy’s, GA, 04/2008 to 08/2008
• Provided ETL services via Oracle and Korn shell scripting to load a local data mart housing
Manugistic’s application data.
• Wrote over 150 Korn shell scripts and 150 Oracle PL/SQL scripts for this project. The work is
now in production.
Home Depot, Atlanta, GA, 12/2006 to 03/2008
• Provided original redesign of the main replenishment application for maximum user flexibility and
performance (DB2) under high volume stress.
• Provided conversion design for the above project to consider the old data model versus the
radically new data model. Provided all of the programming for conversion.
• Guided & mentored a team of 3 senior programmers for this project.
• Deployed 40 new jobs for this project.
• Also did much of the development for this project.
• Lead design & code reviews for the 60 programs of this project.
Carter’s, Atlanta, GA, 08/2006 to 11/2006
• Helped integrate an acquired company (Oskosh) systems. MicroFocus Cobol, Unix, Oracle.
• Modified and created 20 Korn Shell scripts.
3
4. • Formatted EDI data for the newly acquired company to blend in seamlessly with Carter’s.
Home Depot, Atlanta, GA, 11/2005 to 07/2006
• Provided key metrics reporting via Dashboard format. This high visibility analysis is used by top
management and vendors. Trends for Sales Dollars, Fill Rates percents, Inventory levels in
dollars, and In-Stock percents are provided every week. This involved a design for complex and
voluminous DB2 database data structures involving tens of millions of rows to be handled in less
than 2 hours. Also provided ETL design, construction, test, and implementation for Store Order
requisitions as a supplement to Central Replenishment.
CVS Corp, Providence, RI 8/2005 to 10/2005
• SCO Unix / MicroFocus / Cobol contract programmer – Store Pharmacy Prescription Processing
• HP 9000 Unix MicroFocus / Cobol contract programmer (Oracle) – Distribution Center Truck
Loading software.
VFC, Greensboro, NC. 11/2004 to 7/2005
Contract programmer.
• Lead Unix MicroFocus contract programmer – supply chain
• IBM AIX Unix Shell Scripter using Korn shell and Syncsort.
• Mentor
• Model code builder
Cendant, Orlando FL. 1/2004 to 11/2004
Contract programmer.
• Primary Windows MicroFocus programmer for resort frondesk systems
• Technologies included Visual basic, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, FTP.
Thrive Technologies, Atlanta, GA. 4/2001 to 1/2004. (www.thrivetech.com).
Vice President, Software Development
• One of two software engineers in a small supply chain software startup company.
• Daily programming activities include:
• MicroFocus COBOL programming to support batch processing.
• MicroFocus COBOL programming in conjunction with Visual Basic 6.0 to support Windows
client server.
• MicroFocus COBOL programming in conjunction with ASP.NET and VB.NET to support web
components.
• Other activities as needed include:
• Customer Installations, customer support, customer training. Visit www.thrivetech.com to see
some customers.
• Presales support, demos, pilots, prototyping.
• Process and workflow re-engineering.
• Data Warehouse components.
• Development of product support materials like help subsystems, training manuals and
related training databases, multimedia recorded product demos for playback.
4
5. • Performance tuning of MicroFocus COBOL programs for fast results on volume (Native
MicroFocus Indexed files, sequential file, SQL Server database files).
Planning Systems, Atlanta, GA. 6/1995 to 4/2001.
President
Worked directly with the following companies to develop, modify, and implement supply chain
software: Coca Cola, Mead School and Office Supply, Pitney Bowes, Kodak, Square D Company,
Alberta Government Telephone, and Whirlpool.
Many millions of dollars were saved by the software. In 2000 alone, Whirlpool documented savings
of over 20 million dollars.
All base supply chain software is in MicroFocus COBOL. Also provided training and support for the
software to these companies. Product milestones achieved were:
• Provided Planning Systems with Y2K compliance upgrade.
• Provided Planning Systems with mode granularity. Unique to all other DRP products, this allows
the customer to define planning increments (weekly, daily, or any mix of replenishment planning
periods).
• Provided Planning Systems with a Windows product (using Visual Basic and MicroFocus
COBOL). In addition to the Graphical User Interface, the effort also included heavy use of an
imbedded help subsystem. The design called for all printed documentation to be part of the help
system (8 volumes, over 1500 pages). The design also called for the help system to employ
imbedded ScreenCam demos. Over 600 megs of recorded demos with room for expansion was
part of the design.
• Technologies included Visual Basic, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MVS, TSO, JCL, DB2
EDUCATION
Lewis University, Joliet, Illinois, 1966 to 1970
BS Mathematics, Minor in Econometrics
Illinois Institute Of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 1972
Additional Studies in Business and Computer Science
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, 1972 to 1973
Additional Studies in Business, Tax Accounting, and Computer Science
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Ezrtieve, Revolve, Rational, MicroFocus COBOL; COBOL programming for Mainframes; Midrange;
Servers and PC Workstations; IBM/MVS; CICS; VSAM; DB2; TSO; DB2, QMF,SPFUI, ISPF, FileAid;
HP 3000; HP 9000; HP-UX; IBM AIX; Windows (98, NT 4.0, 2000-2003, XP); UNIX; UNIX Shell
scripting; Syncsort; Visual Basic; Web Authoring with FrontPage; HTML; CGI; Crystal Reports; PDF
creation; Access database; Excel; PowerPoint; Visio; MS Project; Project management bootcamp;
Outlook; Lotus Notes; Help Authoring via DOC-TO-HELP and HDK; Automated Windows Install via
5
6. WISE; Oracle; SQP*Plus; SQL/PL; TOAD; SQL Server with Enterprise Manager; T-SQL; stored
procedures; IBM Data Studio; TCP/IP; FTP; Citrix; Data Warehouse; Project management
bootcamp; MicroFocus Studio EE 6.0; MicroFocus Server EE 6.0. Batch scripting (windows
ActivePerl , Perl & Korn shell); Vancouver Software and Utilities; HP Quality Center.
AFFILIATIONS / ACTIVITIES
• Technology Association of Georgia (Tag)
• Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
• MicroFocus User Group
• Visual Basic User Group
• Georgia Racquetball Association
• Atlanta Braves Baseball
• NCAA Division I Tennis
• Providence College Alumni Association
6
7. WISE; Oracle; SQP*Plus; SQL/PL; TOAD; SQL Server with Enterprise Manager; T-SQL; stored
procedures; IBM Data Studio; TCP/IP; FTP; Citrix; Data Warehouse; Project management
bootcamp; MicroFocus Studio EE 6.0; MicroFocus Server EE 6.0. Batch scripting (windows
ActivePerl , Perl & Korn shell); Vancouver Software and Utilities; HP Quality Center.
AFFILIATIONS / ACTIVITIES
• Technology Association of Georgia (Tag)
• Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
• MicroFocus User Group
• Visual Basic User Group
• Georgia Racquetball Association
• Atlanta Braves Baseball
• NCAA Division I Tennis
• Providence College Alumni Association
6