Skills Set

COBOL ANSI-74 & ANSI-85

Interactive and batch programming expertise on the iSeries platform since 1987 — I was at a beta-site in 1987 ( years ago) — although IBM released Silver Lake or Duke as the AS/400 only in 1988.
Comfortable in programming applications involving sub-files, data queues and/or API calls.
Accomplished in embedded SQL/400 or SQL/DB2 UDB — expert-level but not quite a DBA.

Intermediate programming skills in RPG III, RPG IV and RPGLE (since 1990 — years).

Able to implement procedures as well as commands.
Can implement contextual help for created commands and each of their components via UIM.
Expertise with not just the library storage structure (QSYS) but with the document storage structure (QDLS) as well as with IFS itself — not just in terms of usage of these but with manipulating their respective components, attributes and contents programmatically.
Able to comprehend, assess and utilize which appropriate API should be used for special tasks and situations.
Keen on using newest features judiciously.

Expert with interactive and embedded SQL on mid-range computers including SQL-400 for DB2/400 or Universal Data Base (UDB) as well as on microcomputer systems.
Expert with Help System's SEQUEL™ product — a user-interface to DB2 UDB incorporating a subset of SQL).

Adept at using and programming microcomputers in Microsoft Windows XP (expert at Borland Pascal and intermediate level at Borland Delphi).
Have academic knowledge of Visual Basic, Visual Basic .NET, C and C++. Very comfortable with using most commercial applications on Windows XP (e.g., the full Microsoft Office™ suite).
I have also taught myself HTML, CSS, VBScript, VBA and Javascript. I constructed this web page myself, including the graphic images.

Since 1983 ( years) I have gained varying levels of experience on several computer platforms (e.g., AS/400 or iSeries, Pr1me, IBM mainframe, microcomputers, DEC VAX) and have found it fairly easy to find analogues each and everytime.

Very comfortable interacting with managers, developers, analysts and users at all levels and able to correctly translate (completely, correctly and accurately) the results of such interaction with users to design specifications and actual implementation.
Have mentored technical staff members at varying skill and organizational levels.
Have had leadership roles over the years in various capacities (project manager, lead programmer/analyst as well as mentoring).

Solid, successful experience at several levels: user support, program debugging, planning, design and enhancement conundrums, optimization (able to make the call whether such an effort is even worthwhile), team-building and general resolutions associated with project leadership.

Constantly schooling myself in modern programming languages and design models. I have found it fascinating that most of the techniques that are in vogue have been ingrained in me by my training in Pascal.