Eric Link

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Experience Overview

With a combination of business experience and deep technology expertise, Mr. Link brings a unique perspective on making your project successful. He is a team leader with a strong understanding of business, based on over fifteen years of experience across the chemical, retail, services, music/entertainment, immigration, telecommunications, financial services and computer manufacturing industries. As a technologist, he specializes in matching the right solution to the problem, considering both the business and technical issues. His areas of expertise include distributed Internet application architectures, state-of-the-art tools and development methodologies, and custom application integration and development.

For five years, Mr. Link served as Managing Partner with DIGITAL( chemists ), a high-end consulting firm he co-founded. DIGITAL( chemists ) specialized in project based consulting for clients using Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE), Microsoft .NET and the Rational Unified Process.

Previously, Mr. Link was Director of Technology at ServiceLane.com, a services referral website, and Co-Director of Web and Product Development at iSong.com, a music destination site.

For several years prior to iSong.com, Mr. Link was a consultant with Digital Architects and Viant, leading professional services firms providing consulting services to Fortune 500 clients.

Prior to the .com boom, Eric led Internet development for a commercial legacy-to-Internet integration software company and developed applications for a major telecom carrier.

Mr. Link began his career with EDS, holding a security clearance and developing systems for the U.S. Government for several years.

Technology Summary

Experience Detail

Sandlion, INC. - Founder & Chief Technologist (January '05 - Present)

Software Consulting and Application Development Services

Sandlion, INC offers project based technology consulting services. Typical projects involve a vision/assessment phase, followed by either mentoring or implementation work. Work is done on or off site, depending on your needs. I am able to combine my experience with state of the art tools and techniques, to provide high value development services, including code generation and 3^rd party component integration.

DIGITAL( chemists ), LLC – Co-Founder/Managing Partner (September ’00 - January '05)

Clients and projects for DIGITAL( chemists )

Skywire Software - SABRE Integration Lead / J2EE Architect (2003 - 2004)

Mr. Link was responsible for the project integrating SABRE Direct Connect Availability and Direct Connect Sell with the Trycos Integration Server product.  This included coordinating Sabre, EDS and Skywire activities.  In addition, he was asked to be a member of the J2EE architecture group at Skywire and provided input on the product roadmap for the Trycos Integration Server.  

Specific responsibilities included delivering RUP and UML artifacts (Use Cases, Activity Diagrams, Sequence Diagrams and Object Models), architecture reviews and product roadmap recommendations.  Software development activities included complex XML conversions using XSL and developing a high performance non-blocking socket interface using java.nio.

Technologies used for Skywire Software

XML, XSL, Java, J2EE, JBoss, XML Spy, NetBeans IDE, Visual Source Safe, Visio (UML Modeling)

World Wide Chemical Conglomerate – Technical Architect / Database Architect (2002 - 2003)

Mr. Link acts as the technical architect on the team that has successfully delivered over twenty intranet portal applications to the EVP of procurement. The applications are used to manage commodities, track business metrics, track key business relationships and manage projects.  Mr. Link is responsible for application architecture, developing and implementing project methodology and standards for the team, design reviews and code reviews.  In addition, Mr. Link was responsible for assessing the existing architecture, developing a .NET migration strategy for the portal, and implementing applications.

Specific responsibilities included delivering RUP and UML artifacts (Use Cases, Business Rules, Activity Diagrams, Sequence Diagrams, Object Models), implementing graphing tools, integrating COM components into .NET, integrating Microsoft Application Blocks, developing XML and XSL based applications, database design, data mart design and implementation (star and snowflake schema), implementing the metrics application, implementing content management, designing and implementing common code modules, designing and implementing a caching strategy for heavily used portal pages (included fragment caching) and assisting with the conversion from Visual Source Safe to Concurrent Versioning System

Technologies used for World Wide Chemical Conglomerate

.NET, C#, XML, XSL, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, grapl.NET Graphing Tools, CVS, HTML, JavaScript, ASP, Visio (UML Modeling), Visual Studio, Rational XDE

Demand Chain Management Solutions (DCM Solutions) – Technical Architect / Database Architect (2001 - 2002)

DCM Solutions eDemand product provides business intelligence for large supermarkets by predicting demand for retail items based on POS transaction history, current conditions such as weather and local events and proprietary analysis algorithms.

Mr. Link's technical responsibilities included developing the system architecture and design for backend/batch processing, designing the POS transaction data integration, designing the performance analysis module and designing and implementing the database schema to support retail data and analytical processing and designing and implementing the unit of measure conversion module. In addition, he was responsible for designing, developing and documenting the automated J2EE and database automated build process, debugging JSP and Servlets and database administration.   He worked with client SMEs to develop requirements and get signoff, worked with the client technical team for approvals, managed scope for backend team, managed project timeline for backend and managed issue resolution for backend.  Mr. Link led efforts to develop standardized requirements documentation, design documentation and coding guidelines. 

Technologies used for DCM Solutions

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (Extensive T-SQL for Batch Analytics Processes),  Java Servlets, JSP, Visio (UML Modeling), Weblogic 6.0

Microsoft Great Plains White Paper – Technical Architect (2001)

Mr. Link was co-Author of a white paper comparing J2EE and .NET Business Solutions Framework (Internal white paper offering analysis of platforms).   Responsible for providing in depth understanding of J2EE architecture and the Java Community Process.  This white paper was presented to Bill Gates by the client and was subsequently circulated throughout Microsoft.

XO Communications – Technical Architect (2000 - 2001)

Mr. Link acted as technical architect for the MAUI Batch Pre-qualification system. This system used J2EE and JMS to implement a workflow used to process batches of addresses through the GIS system.  The system was required to process multiple batches concurrently and allow restarts mid-batch.  JMS was chosen to meet these requirements and implement the pre-qualification workflow.  The steps included processing and upload file and passing the data through the GIS system.  The system was integrated with a web application that uploaded the batch data and the GIS system for pre-qualifying addresses.  The application was implemented across three teams.  Mr. Link led was responsible for coordinating three application teams' design and integration efforts.  Mr. Link provided UML documentation including use cases, state diagrams, object models and workflow design. 

Specifically, Mr. Link was responsible for application architecture, systems integration, J2EE implementation, data modeling and designed, developed and documented the automated build process. Mr. Link provided knowledge transfer at the end of the project, and J2EE education for the XO team covering architecture and the pet store example application.  Subsequently, the XO team successfully implemented J2EE solutions based on these guidelines.

Technologies used for XO Communications

J2EE, Weblogic, JMS, XML,  JDBC, JSP, HTML, JavaScript, Ant, Visio (UML), GIS (MapInfo),  Java Servlets, ClearCase

Attenza (formerly Service911.com)   –Technical Architect (2000)

Mr. Link acted as technical architect on the CAARS business intelligence application (developed for the President and CTO).  The system integrated email, chat and web systems, and featured a web based sorting system that allowed multiple users to work through a queue of data and sort it into meaningful and consistent categories.  The system used this information to produce client reports showing the types of support sought via chat, email and the web site.  Mr. Link was responsible for the application architecture, systems integration design, data modeling, concurrent user testing and sorting application implementation. 

Provided a documented and tested design for adding new content sources in future releases.  In addition, Mr. Link provided requirements and design documentation used for the approval process as well as knowledge transfer to allow the system to be brought back 'in-house'.

Technologies used for CAARS

Microsoft SQL Server, Vignette StoryServer, Kana Response (inbound eMail management), LivePerson Chat, Accrue Web Statistic Reporting

ServiceLane.com – Director Technology (February’00 - September ’00)

Mr. Link was responsible for technology infrastructure and web site architecture at ServiceLane.com. Specific responsibilities included selecting technology solutions for various projects, managing vendors, assisting with technology budget, web site capacity planning, integrating packaged applications and leading project teams. In addition, Mr. Link contributed to processes for requirements definition and feature implementation and built an infrastructure team. Projects included a provider billing system, selecting a credit card processing engine and merchant bank, integrating Kana Connect and Kana Response, developing one year road maps for technology infrastructure, integrating a voice response system, web site load testing, and affiliate program integration design.

Technologies used for ServiceLane.com

Vignette StoryServer 5.0, Kana Response 5.0, Kana Connect 1.0, Interactive Voice Response, ClearCommerce, Oracle 8i, SUN/Solaris, Netscape Enterprise Server, CISCO Routers, VeriSign, Linkshare, Keynote Systems, WebTrends, XML, HTML, PVCS and sendmail.

Vendors used by ServiceLane.com

Digital Island, Stonebridge Technologies, Linkshare, TRUSTe, VeriSign, Keynote Systems, WebTrends, ClearCommerce, Vignette, InteleMedia, JP Systems, Kana, Oracle, Mercury Interactive ActiveTest

iSong.com – Co-Director Web and Product Development (June ’99 - February '00)

Mr. Link was one of two technology directors at iSong.com responsible for launching iSong.com. Mr. Link and his co-director were responsible for all aspects of web technology at iSong.com. Specific responsibilities included selecting and managing vendors, technology budget, technology selection, site architecture, managing the requirements gathering process, developing project plans, managing to project plans, application architecture, prioritizing, implementing and deploying site features, IT infrastructure, and hiring and mentoring technology staff.

Technologies used for iSong.com

Vignette StoryServer 4, Oracle, SUN/Solaris, Netscape Enterprise Server, CISCO Routers, VeriSign, Linkshare, Keynote Systems, WebTrends, HTML, C, Microsoft SourceSafe, Microsoft Exchange, and sendmail.

Vendors used by iSong.com

Exodus, TUSC Remote*DBA, Stonebridge Technologies, Allegiance Telecom, Linkshare, TRUSTe, VeriSign, Keynote Systems, WebTrends, ClearCommerce, Vignette, Rare Medium, t3 Media, iPath Solutions

Digital Architects – Technical Architect (March ’99 - May ’99)

Mr. Link was responsible for architecture and development of enterprise Java applications. Mr. Link made
extensive use of design patterns and OO techniques creating applications with Digital Architect’s Common Objects and Patterns libraries (COP). Specific Java technologies used included JDK 1.1, Swing, JDBC, Java Beans, Servlets and IBM WebSphere application server. In addition, Mr. Link worked with clients at a large financial institution integrating Java applications with legacy systems.

Viant – Technologist, Business Builder (Jan ‘98 – Feb ‘99)

As one of the founders of the Dallas Viant office, Mr. Link participated in business development, was responsible for internal IT infrastructure, taught at Viant Quick Start, and was responsible for managing recruiting for all positions in the Dallas office. While at Viant, Mr. Link performed Internet technology consulting for a large consumer electronics company, a large computer manufacturing company and a major Wall Street bank. Mr. Link led a team that created an Intranet application deployed to 7000 stores nationally. This project focused on enterprise integration and component architecture. Mr. Link led an assessment of a manufacturing company’s existing Internet-based product registration application. This technical assessment covered architecture, performance, enterprise integration, change management, internationalization, flow analysis, authentication, and encryption. Mr. Link was a technologist on the design and implementation team in the creation of an extranet research publishing system for a major Wall Street bank

Open Connect Systems – Manager Internet and Product Development (Aug ‘96 – Jan ‘98)

Before joining Viant, Mr. Link was the leader of Internet products engineering at OpenConnect Systems, a company developing products integrating mainframe and midrange SNA systems with the Internet. As head of Internet research and development, Mr. Link oversaw several research projects focusing on integrating CORBA, JavaBean and XML technologies into OpenConnect Internet products. In addition, he helped set the architecture for the OpenConnect Internet product line, and led the Java development teams that created the award winning WebConnect and OpenVista software packages. WebConnect supports thirteen languages, including Kanji, and was one of the first 25 100% Pure Java applications, and was the first application certified as 100% Pure International. His teams were instrumental in making the Internet products first to market and feature-complete, allowing OpenConnect to become the leading legacy-to-Internet system solutions provider with a 38% market share.

Productive Data Systems – Technologist (Feb ‘96 – Aug ‘96)

Prior to OpenConnect, Mr. Link was a consultant with Productive Data Systems, a technology services provider. For a large telecommunications company in the Midwest, Mr. Link was a member of an architecture design team that developed Java middleware. In addition, he led a team that developed a workflow system used to develop new business and product ideas using Oracle technologies.

Electronic Data Systems – Systems Engineer (June ‘93 – Feb ‘96)

Before Productive Data Systems, Mr. Link was a Systems Engineer with Electronic Data Systems. For the Department of Justice -- Immigration and Naturalization Services division, Mr. Link performed business process analysis resulting in recommendations that allowed the INS to operate more efficiently with fewer personnel, and implemented a related three-tier decision support system. He was also technical lead for a team that successfully integrated mainframe, midrange and card production systems with a three-tier imaging and workflow system, resulting in improved card quality and shortening the immigration application process. While at Electronic Data Systems, Mr. Link served on the University of North Texas advisory board, advising the university on various industry trends.

Education

Mr. Link graduated Cum Laude receiving a BBA in Computer Information Systems at the University of North Texas. His degree included coursework in Artificial Intelligence, Object Oriented Methodology, Operating Systems, Business Strategy, Statistical Analysis and Financial Management.