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Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

  • 1.  Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 07-01-2020 14:03
    Welcome Rocket Forum members!

    I'd like to formally introduce myself, and give members an opportunity to make their introductions. I'm Charles Dane, the Community Manager and Admin for the Rocket Forum. I've been involved in or managed online communities going back to the late 90s, in both the video games and technology fields. I'm looking forward to making connections between members, sharing news and information, and guiding the Forum through its growth.

    As my bio states, I study and train in historical fencing, practice and teach Yoga, and will take my road bike out for random rides. I'm a bit of a nerd, my games collection is in steady competition with Lego builds and an expanding hat collection.

    Now, on to you. Make an introduction, share a bit about yourself, and connect with one another!

    ------------------------------
    Charles Dane
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    PARTNER
    Posted 07-02-2020 07:56
    David Knight, a mv developer and business owner specialising in the Australian Private Hospital marketplace for some 30 years; despite the odds!
    Consider myself an expert in d3/win having used this since the R83 days, through OA, AP and so forth.
    Cut my teeth on systems developed by hand [only as a support person, then] for a company called Medrecord which had a wide range of applications including Medical, Pathology, Medical Records, Hospital, Payroll and General Ledger systems. IMHO systems that were way ahead of their time, but the company found itself in financial strife and was eventually sold to a competitor who thought that PICK was a 4-letter word! The irony being, that company, it's "better" application, development system, and preferred O/S have all since died.
    At least they had the sense to foray into early versions of SB+, and I had the brilliant experience of working closely with the dev team at SB+ Bondi Junction, Sydney, enhancing that system.
    Created with another colleague, and ran very successfully an SB+ user group in Sydney bringing together and helping other SB+ focussed businesses to 'engineer' their systems to the SB+ paradigm.
    Two quick war stories:
    1. Above mentioned company which shall remain nameless; was struggling to get a "new" non-green-screen version of "their" app out the door, and failing miserably after 18 elapsed months with 3 fulltime R&D people. So I managed to convince somebody to let me borrow a machine onto which I loaded SCO Unix, AP Unix [as it was then]; restored the R83 basically completed SB+ application from 2 year old archives; regenerated and recompiled everything; and with about a further 2 hours of non programmer fiddling [me] got the full system up and running and looking beautiful [for the time]. Full feature set, exceeding that of "their" proposed application, fully functional in less than one day. Showed it to the board, and their answer? "Yes, but it is PICK". So narrow minded, and stupid.
    2. Naturally, that led to frustration on my part and I left to set up my own company and wrote the first version from scratch of the Hospital Administration system using SB+ in under 3 months; and never looked back.
    Have since moved on to migrate from SB+ to designbais; which is farking awesome! Try to promote and work with other designbais users to encourage use of this amazing tool, via user groups and direct advice.
    Consider myself proficient in application "engineering" and a dab hand at development and debugging d3 applications.
    While the company is based in Australia, I run a totally virtual office which means I can be anywhere running the business. Right now, I am in the UK, looking for business opportunities to expand the application of my talents into Eurpope, which of course can now more easily include the Americas.
    Available for a chat, as a sounding board for ideas, and consulting if needs be. Always on the lookout for interesting and challenging business relationships which add significant value to an enterprise. Particularly like long term profit sharing projects which spread the risk, but reduce or eliminate barriers to entry and growth. There are so many businesses out there which could use a hand, but typically cannot engage due to the cost of up front hires. Whereas, I prefer to go for the long term residual income of sharing in a mutually agreed percentage of the profit growth.
    Pop me a message, if you need some help.
    David Knight B.Pharm
    Managing Director
    Matash Australia Pty Ltd
    Hoscare: Helping Hospitals be Better
    f: +61 2 9475-4455


    ------------------------------
    David Knight
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 07-02-2020 12:46
    Adding to the introductions:

    I am John Jenkins and am a principal Technical Support Engineer based in the U.K.  I've been with Rocket since U2 was acquired from IBM in 2001, and have been involved in Multivalue wearing many different 'hats' since 1982. Previously I worked on systems ranging from mainframes and mini-computers to early generation micro-computers in a variety of languages and industries world-wide.

    I have always viewed Coaching as being one of the great pleasures of life, and on the subject of 'Consumability' try to stand by the dictum of 'do it once, do it right, never - ever - have to do it again'.

    My personal interests include creative writing (hoping to get published and serialised one day), problem solving, mathematical conundrums and logic problems. At one time I raced 'bikes and still remember what it feels like to top 180 mph on a standing 1/4 mile burning meth. and nitro.

    ------------------------------
    John G. L Jenkins (JJ)
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------

    ------------------------------
    John Jenkins
    Principal Technical Support Engineer
    Rocket Software Limited
    U.K.
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 07-03-2020 08:28
    Edited by Alberto Leal 07-03-2020 08:28
    Hello I am Alberto Leal, I live in Brazil, I have been working with D3 / Linux since 2004, in version 7.3 (yes I am new, they are still in my 30s) I started with user support, and over the years I moved to Leading developer, working from the design of the project to the delivery of the final product in its programming, having as main R&D activities for new solutions and improvements, the company operates in the auto parts distribution business for the aftermarket. I also use technologies with Java and Php and system integrations via Webservices and EDI

    ------------------------------
    Alberto Leal
    Systems Analyst
    Millano distribuidora
    Campo Grande
    +556799057432
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 07-06-2020 15:23
    Hi All,

    I am Janet Cioffi-Kennedy. Sr MV Partner Manager.  I started originally in 1987 with Pick Systems with Dick Pick, as one of their first inside sales people to work with their Distribution and Value Added Reseller Channel. Over the years and changes with Pick Systems to Raining Data, then to TigerLogic, moved to Outside Sales positions along with Sales Director of the Americas and VP of Sales.  With Rocket acquiring TigerLogic in late 2014, have been in Partner Sales management roles for the last (5) years with Rocket.   

    Love working with our MV partners and direct customers to assist them as they modernize and grow their business.  Another passion I have is with interior decorating & home staging.  

    Janet Cioffi Kennedy
    Rocket Software

    ------------------------------
    Janet Cioffi-Kennedy
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    PARTNER
    Posted 07-07-2020 20:45
    I am responsible for Channel Development for MultiValue software (predominantly Rocket Software) throughout the Asia Pacific Region including recruitment, ongoing relationship management and business development of Value Added Resellers.

    Currently MBS has some 120+ Tiered Partners delivering solutions based upon Rocket Software throughout the region. I have been employed by MBS since 1997 and before that I enjoyed stints at Ultradata and Ultimate since being introduced to MultiValue back in 1980.

    In my spare time I enjoy supporting the Liverpool Football Club, The Sydney Swans AFL team and the Melbourne Victory A-League team.

    ------------------------------
    Brian Egan
    MultiValue Channel Manager
    MBS
    Carnegie VIC
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 07-23-2020 14:23
    I'm Jay Leader, the Chief Customer Officer at Rocket.  I joined Rocket in 2014 as the company CIO, but after spending almost 35 years in IT I have crossed over to the dark side and am now responsible for all post-sale customer interaction, including Technical Support, Professional Services, Sales Engineering, Customer Engagement and Managed Services.  I try to leverage my experience as a very demanding customer of software companies to deliver the kind of highly personal, highly differentiated customer experiences that I wished for when I was the recipient -- as I tell my teams, if you could make me happy as your customer, you can make ANYONE happy!

    ------------------------------
    Jay Leader
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 07-23-2020 15:31
    Hi,

    I am Yann ZHAO, currently Mainframe Assembler Developer but also sharing my time as Proxy PO.
    Previously working as Mainframe QA, Mainframe System Programmer & Mainframe System Administrator, as IT Manager or IT Trainer.
    I am kind of a "jack of all trade" since I'm not arrived at a wise age yet and cumulate different experiences and skills.

    In my free time, I love practicing photography and mixed martial arts.

    Regards.
    ------------------------------
    Yann Zhao
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------

    ------------------------------
    Yann Zhao
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 07-24-2020 07:18
    My name is Lionel Dyck and I'm a software developer at 21st Century Software. I'm also an open source author/contributor of z/OS tools using ISPF and REXX which includes being a major contributor to the z/OS ISPF Git Interface (ZIGI) open source project (https://zigi.rocks).

    ------------------------------
    Lionel Dyck
    lbdyck
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 08-12-2020 17:48
    Hi,
    My name is Jan van Schalkwyk and I am currently employed by Youi (insurance) in the lovely Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. Been playing the MultiValue game for more than 30 years. I stopped counting

    ------------------------------
    Jan Van Schalkwyk
    Youi
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 08-24-2020 02:48

    Hi,

    My name is Rashid Hoosen and am a Developer employed by Investec Bank in South Africa since 1993. I started off my career with the PICK OS in the late 80's, and still developing in MV with Unidata.



    ------------------------------
    Rashid Hoosen
    Investec Bank
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 09-11-2020 17:12
    Hi Rashid, great to see you on the Rocket Forum - welcome! I'm product marketing for MV here at Rocket. Kathy

    ------------------------------
    Kathy Larson
    Product Marketing Manager, MultiValue
    Rocket Software
    Denver, CO
    720-225-6531
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 09-08-2020 13:17
    Hi everyone.
    I'm Daniel Banche, from CSI based in the UK, having worked for Tectrade for 16 years prior to the company being acquired by CSI.
    Specialist in backup and recovery, storage and cloud solutions. I've been working with IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) since 2002, and also work closely with Dell EMC with their Data Protection suite (Avamar/NetWorker/PowerProtect/Data Domain).
    My main focus here is on Rocket Servergraph, which we use at CSI to provide reporting and monitoring of systems for managed customers of our Helix Protect Backup-as-a-Service offering.

    ------------------------------
    Daniel Banche
    CSI Ltd.
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 09-09-2020 11:44

    My name is Don Broadbridge and I'm a principal CSE Delivery consultant based in the UK working with the ALM/DevOps products - LifeCycle Manager for IBM i (LMi), LifeCycle Manager for Enterprise (LMe), Community Manager (CM), Ops Portal and all the different APIs involved with these products. I've been with Rocket since 2012 and previously with Aldon from 2004, among other places. I've been involved with the IBM i platform for quite some time now. From early 2016, I also became a Rocket iCluster delivery consultant, so ALM/DevOps and IBM i replication, and I do both in Spanish, as and when required.

    I look forward to contributing and working in the new exciting Forums - stay safe everyone.


    ==================================
    Don Broadbridge
    CSE Delivery, Principal Consultant
    ITIL V3 & V2 Certified, PRINCE2 Certified
    Rocket Software Limited
    UK
    ==================================

    ------------------------------
    d broadbridge
    Rocket Software
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 09-10-2020 09:18
    Hello All!
    Ryan McMullen I have been active in the PICK/MV world since the mid 90's when I was handed Jonathan E Sisk's book 'PICK BASIC A Programmers Guide' and asked if I could learn it.  Of course I said yes, I had played with BASIC and knew some other languages already.

    Fast forward I no manage a small team of developers for JuicePlus in TN.  

    As for hobbies, I have too many (at least according to my wife).  Woodworking(flat work, turning, scroll saw), hobby farming, gardening, electronics (raspberryPI, Arduino, etc.), Scouting with my son, BBQ to name just a few of my likes.

    ------------------------------
    Ryan McMullen
    JuicePlus
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 09-11-2020 17:11
    Hi Ryan, great to see you on the Rocket Forum. I'm Product Marketing for Rocket MV. My first job out of college was at UniData in Denver in the 90s! Kathy

    ------------------------------
    Kathy Larson
    Product Marketing Manager, MultiValue
    Rocket Software
    Denver, CO
    720-225-6531
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 09-11-2020 13:20
    Greetings,

    I'm Don Wolfe, Senior System Administrator for Central Garden & Pet from smokey northern CA, USA.  I have been involved in programming and system administration since 1991 on various hardware from SGI, HP, Sun, IBM, and now with Linux on PCs.  I am still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow 'up', but have been actively engaged in finding out this whole time.  I more recently found myself supporting an application using UniData on RHEL, so here I am.  Thanks for having me.

    I enjoy the outdoors generally and most often riding on-and-off-road motorcycles or my mountain bike.

    Best regards,
    Don Wolfe
    CG&P

    ------------------------------
    Don
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    ROCKETEER
    Posted 09-11-2020 17:14
    Hi Don, welcome to the Forum! My career began at UniData in Denver Colorado in the 90s. Now I'm product marketing for MV at Rocket. Kathy

    ------------------------------
    Kathy Larson
    Product Marketing Manager, MultiValue
    Rocket Software
    Denver, CO
    720-225-6531
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    PARTNER
    Posted 09-30-2020 14:17
    Hello Everyone,

    I am Jay LaBonte. I am the creator of Mercury Flash, the most advanced U2 Database Administration system available and I have been a part of the Multivalue community since 1980 when I was first introduced to Reality on a Microdata 4000. 

    I have been using UniData and UniVerse since 1996 and have volunteered many times as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to create and maintain the Rocket Software administration exams for both UniData and UniVerse. 

    Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would simply like to connect.




    ------------------------------
    Jay LaBonte
    President & CEO
    Paradigm Systems, LLC
    561-705-3688 | https://www.paradigm-systems.us/
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    Posted 11-20-2020 07:56
    Hi,

    Craig Willcocks, a mv analyst and developer in the UK specialising in ERP systems.

    I first started in MV in 1988 with schools admin software in Pick on GA kit, and in 1990 moved to R83,  Unidata and Reality on McDonnel Douglas, ADDS Mentor, and GA servers, and fleet management software This was where i was first introduced to the early stages of System Builder and later on SB+.  The company i worked for merged with Sandersons, and i moved to an ERP startup software company in 1997, working with Universe and SB+, and moving into end user development and support in 2001, using Universe and now SBXA.

    Typing all that above has just made me realise that ive been working with pick for more than 32 years!!

    I have happy memories of Spectrum meetings, Pick User Groups and System Builder User Group meetings!

    In my spare time i am heavily involved with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets as a volunteer, I cook, I parent (or try to), I walk my dog Winston, and I alpha/beta test computer games!

    Looking forward to being part of this community

    Craig

    ------------------------------
    Craig Willcocks
    Nycomm Group Ltd
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: Meet your fellow members and introduce yourself!

    PARTNER
    Posted 11-21-2020 15:15
    Hi Craig

    I too started writing in MV in 1988, using Pick R83. It was only supposed to be an experiment. A friend had given me a 3-user license to see what I could do with it. At the time, I was writing the core of a financial management package with specialised features for managing credit contracts. I was using Quick Basic.

    I spent only a few days of converting my existing Quick Basic code to R83 before I realised that I could write the same functionality with pretty close to one tenth of the number of lines. I reasoned that it would quite likely mean that I would be ten times more efficient developing a system in R83! Two weeks later I had a fully functional system to show my existing clients who were using Sybiz at the time. Although it lacked most of the features my clients needed, they became excited and told me that they would support me financially and use the product if I developed something with the features they needed. That took only 6 weeks or so, and I was on my way!

    I had developed methods that allowed the dictionary of each file to fully specify the functionality of data held in the file - not just for reports, but also for maintenance screens, and even some feature definitions. That meant I could quickly build new "views" into data for clients. I took that even further and by adding a few files containing configuration items, I built a system that could be configured into anything a client wanted without changing any code. Even the modules that performed calculations scaled the data according to dictionary specifications, meaning that any desired changes in decimal point position were relatively easy. All numeric data was stored as integers ("internal" format) in the database. This approach also meant that I could regularly and incrementally upgrade all aspects of the system without affecting any customisations made for each client.

    The system was given the name "Crusader". (A Colleague said I was on a crusade!) Over the first few years it gradually became a fully-featured mature FMIS / ERP and many of the original clients used the system for 25 to 30 years to run their entire businesses. I still have two committed clients running their businesses using Crusader, and they still request modifications and additions from time to time.

    My "problem" with this approach was that this was so unconventional that apart from some clients who modified their own systems, I had problems getting others involved in the business. So I was essentially a "one man band", and never built the business up to a point where I could exit if I wanted to, and always lacked the resource necessary to transform Crusader into being a modern system. All the D3 upgrade paths assumed use of statements such as INPUT. My 250,000 lines of code lack a single INPUT statement! That's because even my input routines referred to dictionaries for their function. I had similar differences with every display function. ALL were multi-functional! (I outlawed "GOTO" as well.)

    But I have loved working with R83 Pick, Advanced Pick and D3. I still do when I get the opportunity. Just this year I have learned C# and returned to Visual Studio after nearly 20 years of avoiding it! 10,000 lines of code later, I have a new product emerging that will offer an affordable Business Process Automation system. I am incorporating many of the features I developed in Crusader, including use of dictionaries to define data and control function. Once again, it is unconventional. I have not used a single stored procedure in SQL, meaning that the system is operating system agnostic, and also database agnostic. I have a version written for D3, using D3 code, and the new C# product can also use D3 as its database. This time I already have others involved and look forward to the intended release target of February 2021.

    I too have enjoyed the Pick User Groups that were held in New Zealand, and welcome this initiative to build and support a community of MV developers and users generally.

    ------------------------------
    Alan Miles
    Business and IT Consultant
    Amba Limited
    Whanganui
    +64 27 220 9745
    ------------------------------