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Detailed overview of Work History and Responsibilities
James S Sparenberg

Position: Contractor
Duties and Accomplishments:
  • Reactivation of an approximately 150 node mixed Windows and Linux environment.
  • Migrated all infrastructure Linux systems running outdated and unsupported Versions to newer versions with updated hardware and configurations.
  • Migrated companies single computer development environment into a 6 system environment without data loss.
  • Built out over 40 tower style Desktop Linux systems.
  • Performed hardware analysis of various laptops and provided a written report as to their viability in the customers environment.
  • Setup wireless networks.
  • Created firewalls.
  • Rebuilt, migrated data, and deployed new mail systems.
  • Installed, Configured and Used Nagios service monitoring.
  • Reconfigured and re-activated PXE/Ghost remote imaging system for 60 unit Windows 2003 development environment.
  • Handled the sale of 8K in excess inventory to salvage firm for a remote seller
  • Provided a written evaluation of several technologies hardware and software for customers.
  • Setup Sugar CRM for customers
  • Installed, Configured and deployed TWiki style Wiki's for customers internal usage.
  • Provided Web site testing for customers for w3c compliance.
  • Installed, configured internal jabber network for customer.

Position: Director New Product Development and Founder Open Country Inc.
Duties and accomplishments:

  • Testing of product(s) on each new version of Linux as released. (Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake, Turbo Linux where primary targets. PCLinuxOS, Debian, Slackware, Caldera, and others tested as well.)
  • Troubleshooting of installation and performance problems with each OS to determine if the problem was related to our product(s) or in the distribution.
  • Setup, design and creation of rpm build process for the rpm(s) our company produced.
  • Named as a principle in all patents filed to date by Open Country.
  • Created a process whereby user land applications can be packaged in a cross distro, cross version manor.
  • Developed a "10 minute install single disc" Home firewall distribution. (This product was unfortunately never marketed.)
  • Responsible for the company network (on and off as systems people came and went.)
  • Managed 5 domains for the company.
  • Setup and deployed 3 networks (Demonstration Network, QA Network, and Main Network.)
  • Did Research into new Open Source projects that might be useful in enhancing Open Country's product line. To include but not limited to, development tools, Class Libraries, White Papers, and Products that could be included with our product line.
  • Worked on documentation as needed, mostly in the form of QA of the documents as written by others.
  • Responsible for keeping an eye of future trends and changes in the OSS community and reporting (verbally or written) how they would affect the company.
  • Research into, and feasibility studies on possible changes or enhancements to the OC product line.
  • Writing installation scripts, RPM spec files then testing same.
  • Setup and deployed Bug reporting System
  • Setup and deployed Internet based file exchanges.
  • Provide Linux assistance where and when needed.
  • Worked in a mixed Linux and Windows Environment.
  • Setup DNS (internal and external) for the company sites and network.
  • Assisted developers in creating a PXE based product for automated system installation.
  • Worked on team involved in hardware acquisition.
  • Deployed Samba based file server for in house file sharing.

Position: Logistics and Networking DVBS of California.
Duties and accomplishments:

  • Located, and negotiated contract for R&D office space.
  • Assisted in the design and deployment of a mixed BSD, Linux Windows development network.
  • Setup Demonstration system
  • Handled Logistics for equipment purchases (Office supplies, desks, etc)
  • Negotiated deals with parts suppliers for company products.
  • Because of research into available products coming onto the market. I was able to decrease the manufacturing cost of a single video server by over 500 dollars a box.
  • Assisted in the creation of, then deployed a system for cloning hard drives containing the OS and our software.
  • Built video server product. (production management)
  • Handled all aspects of the logistics of product shipment to customer.
  • Maintained local books. (Simple accounting) that were then turned over to company accountant for review.
  • Handled all bills and billing. (Accounts receivable and accounts payable)
    Worked in both the US and in Korea.
  • Managed the development of a Windows based viewer and recorder for the video product.
  • Worked as the Liaison between the US offices and the Korean partner of DVBS.
  • Primarily worked in FreeBSD

Position: Self Employed:
Duties and Accomplishments:

  • Developed Board games for teaching Children's English.
  • Taught English as a second Language to Children.
  • Did small contracting jobs installing Computer networks and systems
  • Did small contracting jobs repairing Computers.
  • Began learning Unix and Linux Operating Systems

Position: Sergeant United States Army
Duties and Accomplishments:

  • Managed 3 teams of High level Emergency response personnel, for communication and data transmission problems.
  • Deployed teams through out the northern half of the Republic of Korea.
  • Worked with Military, DOD Civilian and ROK Civilian personnel.
  • Did personnel evaluations (written and oral) of all personnel assigned to me.
  • Prepared and delivered written, detailed reports on all activity of my teams.
  • Setup designed tests scenarios for the evaluation of equipment and networks as requested by the Dept of Defense or local Command.
  • Coordinated with local teams for housing, food and downtime of my teams at remote communication centers.
  • Worked on installation and testing of a an integrated, mobile communications center for a multinational military endeavor.
  • Assisted in moving the inventory control system for 1.4 million dollars in Audio Visual equipment from paper (3x5 cards) to a DOS database system.
  • Worked in Computer repair and installation.
  • Worked on Data input to a mainframe of maintenance records.
  • Worked with possibly the worlds first CD reader/writer for data archiving (100mbs of storage per disc.)
  • Developed with one other Individual the proposal which eventually became the system for maintaining all forms used by the military and the DOD as electronically distributed forms able to be filled out on a computer screen and then printed. Saving the Gov millions in the cost of distribution of forms in pre-printed paper form. This process started with the local creation of all maintenance and report forms used by our company in electronic form using FormTool.
  • Primary OS's used DOS Windows 3.1 and Amiga. I also used in limited amounts ATT Unix.

Current Personal Projects:

I'm working with a group of users at Mandrake to improve documentation within Linux as it specifically applies to Mandrake and Mandrake products. I'm also involved with the Mandrake Experts Group, answering user questions and assisting others in problem solving and trouble shooting. I'm also an active member of a local Linux Users Group (SVLug, Silicon Valley Linux Users Group)

Personal projects include:

  • Maintaining an RPM for a Linux product called Kompose'
  • Working on developing a product that will allow for semi-automatic disaster recover of Linux systems.
  • Learning DocBook and XML
  • Learning Postfix
  • Learning Python