Technically challenging software and writing projects that demand creativity, make use of my experience with the entire software life-cycle, and require my unique blend of talents: design, programming, writing, teaching, and interpersonal skills.
UW Soil Science Department: Systems Programmer (9/96 to 6/06); Senior Systems Programmer (6/06 to present). Create and deploy software in support of agriculture and land-use planning via the Web and desktop applications (current platforms include Ruby on Rails, Apache, and Tomcat for Web apps, C and Java for the desktop). Shepherd projects from conception through deployment. Act as a scout and evangelist for new and useful technologies. Maintain Linux workstations, servers, and web sites. Languages: Java, Ruby, XML/XSL/XSP, C++, Perl, Unix shell programming.
Current and recent projects include:
Groundwater modeling to estimate the impact and policy implications of high-output wells in the Central Sands region of Wisconsin. The model is written in C in conjunction with Dr. William Bland, and its parameters optimized in a series of experiments with the PEST parameter estimation program.
GIS website to help growers find one of 56,000 section-level maps for nutrient planning. Written in Java and Javascript using GeoServer and OpenLayers, this is a multiagency project with WI DATCP and NRCS.
Nutrient runoff risk estimation model and GIS website, a cooperative project with 10 other agencies including the National Weather Service and WI DATCP.
A molecular-visualization website using Java applets, XML, and XSL
Courseware using Ruby on Rails to let a small team of instructors handle online assignments for a large class
An agricultural decision-support website using nightly weather data and GOES satellite imagery to provide pest management and irrigation information such as degree days, insolation, and evapotranspiration.
A decision-support application that publishes XML content to a variety of formats using Cocoon
CMP Media/Techweb: Contributing Editor (2/01 to 1/04), New & Noteworthy Editor (1/04 to 3/06) for Software Development magazine. Research and write product reviews and feature articles on software development tools and processes. (See Publications) Served as judge for annual Jolt Awards from 2001 to present.
Cardinal Software Consulting: Self-employed Software Engineer (11/92 to present). Develop PC software for clients, from concept through maintenance. Example project: principal engineer for a PC-based front end to telecommunicate with the client's central work-planning and reporting system. Led the spec/design/prototype process, implemented the software with input from their programmers, writers, and trainers. Trained existing programming staff in object-oriented design and C++ programming. Created testing and bug-tracking system to ensure that the program could be released with confidence.
UW Horticulture Department: Programmer Analyst (9/94 to 9/97). Develop Windows software for agriculture. Design user interface and internal architecture; adapt current development methods to embrace coding standards and object-oriented design. Write online documentation, installation packages, and code for WISDOM, a decision-support application supporting Integrated Pest Management techniques. Create and manage a World-Wide Web server for the IPM unit.
Point Line Graphics: Software Engineer (4/90 to 11/92). Design, develop, test, document, and maintain high-performance CADD software on IBM PC platform. Projects (written in C, Pascal, and assembler for DOS and Windows) included video device drivers, file translators, and enhancements to Point Line's core CADD programs (2D drafting, 3D design/rendering, animation, and painting). Created prototype DDE service software under Microsoft Windows and Liant C++/Views. Wrote user and internal documentation (led documentation team); performed technical editing, managed source code and new software releases; Novell Netware system administrator; advertised for and interviewed new staff.
UW WISPLAN Computing Service: Programmer (5/89 to 4/90). Design, develop, and test E-mail/telecommunications software on the IBM PC platform.
Mattson Instruments: Software Engineer (1/89 to 4/89). Develop software in C for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy on IBM PC and UNIX platforms: interrupt handlers, EMS virtual-memory routines, bitmap dumper, standalone programs.
Self-employed: Software Consultant (9/89 to 12/89). Develop data acquisition and analysis software for an environmental engineering firm. Interface IBM PC to Varian gas chromatograph, create data reduction software.
UW WISPLAN Computing Service: Network Administrator/Programmer (5/88 to 1/89). Install and maintain DECNET, TCP/IP, mail under VMS; assist in system administration; maintain current VAX and IBM PC software, write new programs in C and VMS DCL. Install and maintain PC and VAX hardware. Student Assistant (January 1988 to May 1988). Performed backups for MicroVAX II.
Student Employment at UW Computer Science and Math depts. (9/85 to 5/88): System Administrator for a Gould 9080 supermini in a 300-user 4.3 BSD/NFS environment and for DEC, HP, and AT&T UNIX workstations. Presidentof Undergraduate Projects Lab, coordinated software projects, acted as departmental liaison, developed/taught courses in C language to over 300 students. Student Assistant, MACC Micro Lab:Assisted users with and maintained IBM PC, Macintosh hardware and software. Automated user login and accounting with Microsoft Excel.
Cole-Parmer Instrument Company, Chicago, IL: Copy Supervisor (11/83 to 5/85). Edited copy, hired and supervised writing staff. Helped MIS maintain NBI word-processing system; developed automatic typesetting codes, telecommunication, and application programs for indexing and scheduling. Advertising Copywriter (11/81 to 11/83). Researched, wrote, and edited ad copy for a 15,000-product line of scientific instruments and supplies. Specialty: computers and data acquisition; wrote demonstration software.
I wrote reviews, features, and new-product items for Software Development magazine for five years. My primary job was to alert SD readers to crucial new technologies. For example, I was writing about XML in 2000, open source and Ruby in 2001, and wikis in 2005.
XML And Pig Poop: Agribusiness Online, Software Development magazine, February 2000.
"The Perfect Job" in Tales Of Terror, Software Development magazine, October 2000.
"Attack of the Valkyrie" in Pick a Language, Any Language, Software Development magazine, March 2001.
Is Open Source for You?, Software Development magazine, May 2001.
Location, Location, Location, Software Development magazine, March 2002.
Peer (to Peer) Pressure, Software Development magazine, April 2002.
The Wiki Way, Software Development magazine, April 2005.
A Joyful Gem (Ruby review), Software Development magazine, January 2001.
Walking In CodeRover Boots, Software Development magazine, March 2001.
Railing on AJAX (Ruby on Rails review), Software Development magazine, November 2005.
BA, double major in biology and journalism, Indiana University May 1981. Coursework in biology (through ecology and biochemistry), chemistry (through organic chemistry with labs), photojournalism plus writing/editing sequence, and computer science.
Computer science coursework, University of Wisconsin (graduate level): operating systems, networks, databases, data structures, architecture, machine language, compilers, computational linguistics, independent programming project in C.
Instrument-rated private pilot; member Experimental Aircraft Association, Flight Leader for Young Eagles Program
National Ski Patrol: Snowboard and Senior Alpine Patroller. Emergency rescue and first aid services; safety training. Instructor for skiing, rescue toboggan handling, first aid, emergency chairlift evacuation. Former secretary of Devil's Head Ski Patrol Board of Directors; was co-director of training program for skiing proficiency and on-the-hill rescue
Boy Scouts of America: Troop committe member
Bicycling: commuting and mountain-bike carnage
Photography; juggling; waiter and short-order cook for assorted cats, children
Email: fewayne (at) wisc.edu
Phone: 608-265-9354 (days, at UW Soils), 608-242-7187 (Cardinal Software Consulting)