MERRILL E. PRATT, CDP

1524 Blind Brook Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216
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Hardware/Software Experience

Work Experience

• 2003
  • SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Actek Software, Birmingham, Alabama. Analyst/Programmer/Consultant on Accounts Receivable system on AS/400. Primary duties include software enhancement using COBOL, SQL, JAVA, and VB as well as software support and software conversion using JAVA and VB.
  
  
• 1999 - 2002
  • SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Accenture, Birmingham, Alabama. Consultant on Business Process Management (BPM) engagement for BellSouth Telecommunications,Inc. Primary duties included production support, maintenance and enhancement of various billing applications, and the setup of Connect:Direct processes for outside trading partners.  Software tools used include COBOLII, VSAM, SAS,, JCL, FileAid, Syncsort, Connect:Direct, etc. on an OS/390 mainframe system.
• 1999
  • ANALYST PROGRAMMER, Renaissance Worldwide, Greensboro, North Carolina. Contract with Lowe's Company, Inc. in North Wilkesboro, NC. Worked on conversion project updating COBOL programs to access data in DB2 tables rather than VSAM files.  Software tools used include COBOLII, VSAM, DB2, JCL, QMF, FileAid, etc.
• 1998 - 1999
  • ANALYST PROGRAMMER, Maxim Group, Knoxville, Tennessee. Contract with Nova Information Systems, a credit card processing company, providing mainframe and PC programming support for the merchant accounting application. Software tools used include COBOLII, VSAM, DB2, JCL, Viasoft, Microsoft Access, etc.
• 1997 - 1998
  • ANALYST PROGRAMMER, Contract Solutions, Salem, New Hampshire. Contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina providing production support of claim processing system on an MVS platform. Software tools include MVS, TSO, ISPF, COBOL II, Endeavor, JCL, etc.
• 1997
  • ANALYST PROGRAMMER, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Knoxville, TN. Part of a team providing system support, maintenance, development, and conversion of financial accounting and reporting systems. Primary tasks involve the conversion of a VSE General Ledger system to a MVS platform. Software tools include MVS, VSE, VSAM files, TSO, CA7, COBOL II, PL/I, Endeavor, Infopac, MVS and VSE JCL, and Microsoft Access as well as other Microsoft desktop tools.
• 1996 - 1997
  • SYSTEMS CONSULTANT, Systems and Programming Consultants, Nashville, TN. Contract with KPMG and American General Life Insurance to provide software development and system conversion on a fire/homeowner's insurance system using MVS, VSAM files, TSO, Panvalet, COBOL II, CICS, DB2 and Xpediter. Work included new development of CICS programs as well as enhancement of pre-existing software.
• 1996
  • CONTRACT PROGRAMMER, Contract Solutions, Salem, New Hampshire. Contract with Cambar Software, Charleston, SC for software development on a client-server warehouse management system using Microfocus Cobol, C, C++, DB2, and radio-frequency technology. User interfaces developed using GUIDELINES, a GUI development tool. Work included interfacing software with IBM mainframe and general FTP procedures.
• 1995-1996
  • SYSTEMS ANALYST/PROJECT CONTROL SPECIALIST, CKY Inc. Environmental Services, Oak Ridge TN. Contract with the Lockheed Martin Energy Systems Hazardous Waste Remedial Actions Program (HAZWRAP) to provide systems analysis and program design and development services for the Project Support Data Management and Software Development Section. Duties included providing enhancements to Open Plan routines and reports, designing and developing data management programs, and database systems analysis and design. Additional responsibilities included evaluating hardware and software and participating in procedure development teams. Required interaction with engineers, schedulers, estimators, finance and accounting personnel, and senior management on a routine basis.
• 1994-1995
  • SYSTEMS ANALYST/LEAD PROGRAMMER, Knox County Air Pollution Control Dept., Knoxville, TN. Part of a team developing software (under a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency) to inventory, track, and manage permits dealing with air pollutants under Title V of the Clean Air Act. Duties included systems analysis and design, coding, testing, and implementing the system, as well as training new users as needed. Wrote system interfaces with EPA central IBM mainframe system. Functioned as development team coordinator. Interfaced with regulators, sponsors, and managers on regular basis.
• 1993-1994
  • PROGRAMMER/ANALYST, Science and Technology, Inc. Oak Ridge, TN. Member of team designing, developing, and supporting project management and project control software for Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (LMES) Hazardous Waste Remedial Action Program (HAZWRAP). This software ran on a 200-user Token Ring network and interfaced with several external systems, including the LMES Cost Accounting System (IBM mainframe based) and project schedules prepared using Open Plan. Worked daily with a UNIX-based system for FTP, Telnet, and other routine tasks. Regularly worked with other developers, division management, project managers and assistants, and technical and support personnel.
• 1992-1993
  • INSTRUCTOR, Knoxville Business College, Knoxville, TN. Taught microcomputer applications, database management systems, and programming (BASIC, COBOL, Pascal) courses. Served as assistant network manager for the administrative and student computer network.
• 1992 - 1993
  • RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, University of Tennessee Energy, Environment, and Resources Center (Part-time, short-term contract), Knoxville, TN. Under subcontract to Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (LMES) Data Systems Research and Development Division, functioned as a Programmer/Analyst on a team developing a Management Control System for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Environmental Restoration Program. This system interfaced with Open Plan scheduling, the LMES Cost Accounting System and project estimating systems.
• 1991-1995
  • ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR, Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN (91-95) and Pellissippi State Technical Community College (94-95). Taught microcomputer application and database management/design courses to traditional and nontraditional college students.
• 1989-1991
  • PROGRAMMER/ANALYST, The Rust Engineering Co. (89-90), and M.K. Ferguson (90-91) of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, TN. Was responsible for systems analysis and design, development, implementation, training, and documentation and support of single-user and multi-user microcomputer applications. Functioned as network manager for a telecommunications- based PC network, and as emergency backup manager for two Novell networks. Participated in hardware and software evaluations. Assisted users in extracting needed information from microcomputer data bases.
• 1988-1989
  • MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS COORDINATOR, Management Development Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Served as overall data base administrator for a microcomputer data base system containing 10,000 to 15,000 records. Provided systems analysis, system design, programming, hardware/software support, and consulting services to approximately 25 users. Evaluated hardware and software for possible purchase and use by the Center.
• 1986-1987
  • RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, Computer Resources Group, College of Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Provided computer support (VAX, IBM, and PC) and programming services to the UTK College of Business Administration. Designed and developed programs in dBASEIII+, FoxBASE+, and IBM OS/COBOL. Provided telephone support for dBase/FoxBASE and MS-DOS. Taught seminars in introduction to dBASEIII+ and introduction to MS-DOS.
• 1983-1986
  • INSTRUCTOR, Columbia State Community College, Columbia, TN. Taught data processing, programming (BASIC, COBOL), and systems design/development courses to community college students. Acted as academic advisor to approximately 35 students. Served on various college committees.
• 1981-1983
  • OWNER/FRANCHISEE, General Business Services, Nashville, TN. Provided and marketed record keeping, accounting, and tax and business consulting services to small business owners.

Education and Certification

• 1985: ICCP Certificate in Data Processing
• 1981: MS in Management Information Systems, MTSU
• 1974: MS in Experimental/Behavioral Psychology, Auburn University
• 1972: BA in Psychology, Auburn University