Michael Beck Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles

Innovative and Disruptive Web Application and Services (Web based application and services targeting rapidly evolving and disruptive emerging market opportunity).Brought on board to transform the vision of a new web based application and associated services into a functional product. Researching the opportunity led to validation of the need for what is a disruptive business model. The need is very real, and the potential size of the market is very large as well—necessitating a technology strategy to not only launch on a very tight budget, but to facilitate anticipated growth through the effective application of investment capital.Transforming the vision into actionable system requirements, own ‘living’ specifications documentation spanning platform/infrastructure, development/testing, delivery/support, and a roadmap for rapid growth.Activities span forward looking research into cutting-edge technologies, assembling teams for development/operations, and driving deliverables.Based on open source technology, development is pushing the envelope of existing and emerging technologies, standards and best practices to deliver a state of the art enterprise scale system. Technologies include leading edge cloud, Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/FuelPHP, Python/Django, JavaScript, JQuery, CSS, MongoDB, etc.

Working with founders of startups, provide technical guidance for all aspects of technology from infrastructure, product development, deployment and support. Requirements span a variety of technology stacks, including data center vs. cloud, Microsoft vs. Open Source, development frameworks (.NET, LAMP, etc.), and integration/interfacing.

Recruited to take full responsibility of all IT activities, including product development/release/support and infrastructure required to stabilize $2MM in revenue, and implement changes that allowed growth to $12MM in annual revenue.Starting with a dedicated but technically challenged core team and aging infrastructure—both of which had reached their limits of capacity—reorganized, recruited and transitioned technical staff while reworking infrastructure to provide a path for robust and reliable growth.Operating at the leading edge of SaaS/ASP based healthcare applications and services; managed all in-house resources, partners and vendors. Solutions varied from our core dictation/transcription application/service to integration with HIS, EMR, EHR, PMS, electronic prescriptions, patient compliance, healthcare provider career management, interfaces (HIS/EHR/PMS/billing/etc.), data exchanges/hubs, smart pen/paper, etc.AssistMed focused on partners, mergers and acquisitions as a means to quickly leverage key strategic market opportunities, necessitating a lead role for technical due diligence, integration, deployment, and maintenance of a diverse portfolio of healthcare applications and services. Complimentary to these tasks were preparing responses to RFPs, etc.Most solutions required 24x7x365 availability, which demanded world-class resources—both human and infrastructure.On the development side, technologies spanned Windows (all versions), Linux, IIS, Apache, Tomcat, CF, .NET, Java, PHP, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, etc. Infrastructure evolved to span two world-class data centers, levering technologies such as rack-mount devices/servers, blade servers, EMC, Compellent SAN, NAS, DAS, VLAN, redundant power/connectivity, VMs, etc. The bulk of the servers leveraged VMWare, leading to literally hundreds of virtualized servers—with the attendant ability to gracefully/quickly fail-over.

Originally hired as a consultant, drove all technical/legal activities required to deliver a high profile new product. Breaking the Avery mold, the product was based on open source solutions, including MySQL, Java and a number of Java open source frameworks. The application was implemented using what was then the new Flash MX Rich Internet Application (RIA) platform.The application benefitted from a Flash user experience, which was one of three Flash RIA solutions showcased during the keynote speech at 'FlashForward' 2003--earning the coveted 'Macromedia Max Award' for 'business experience'.Moving on from a solution for small to medium sized businesses--integrated with GE enterprise security solutions. Deployed throughout the AIG Houston campus, the application was fine-tuned to allow untrained security personnel to create a Photo ID, with a unique visit specific barcode, in under one minute. The badge was then able to control access to secure areas, starting with access to the secured lobbies—including their high-rise central tower.Mid-stream in the evolution of the product, development was transferred offshore, which resulted in several trips to work directly with the offshore senior management down to the developers to ensure a smooth transition.After coming onboard as an employee, went on to work on a new global order management system, assumed primary responsibility for technical SOX compliance, corporate Change Management, and online security.

Morphing from an incubator into a professional services organization, worked directly with and managed the technology needs of numerous start-ups. Tasks included those typically associated with the needs of such early stage business entities:• Gaining sufficient domain expertise to communicate with principles and their customers,• Assisting principles in defining and refining the purpose of their endeavors (target customer, pain, pain-killers, competition, market opportunities, etc.),• Making fundamental technology decisions such as buy vs. build, Microsoft vs. open systems, etc.—the types of decisions that will make or break a high growth company,• Working directly with principles to discover and capture product requirements,• Working directly with technology teams to implement best practices, and• Creating core technology assets when required skills and experience were unavailable by other means.Although the economic bubble associated with that period provided valuations that implied enormous budgets, the reality was more often very similar to typical technology sector economic conditions. Limited capital coupled with rapid change demanded tangible results in a timely fashion

Upon arrival, the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) product was in serious trouble, exposing the company to significant liability. Not only was this project turned around, it went on to become one of the most reliable and innovative products of its kind. Designed and implemented a development process that allowed the product to achieve FDA approval as a medical device. Based on a proven ability to both retain and add new customers during such a technically challenging transition, responsibilities expanded to encompass management of the RIS (Radiology Information System) product as well as all new product development. By building a new unified development team, created a technical solution to the problem of declining sales, while simultaneously developing and deploying new products, via a next-generation solution that leveraged the entire portfolio of software assets.

Responsible for system-level enabling technologies; designed and implemented an advanced PC-based distributed application infrastructure. Creating such pioneering technologies as a powerful DOS-based network MHS (Message Handling System) and distributed application objects (built using the MHS), ICCI, Inc. was able to deploy innovative airline automation solutions years ahead of the competition. Our creative and robust industry-leading solutions helped ensure the early success of America West Airlines.

Hired to close a technical gap in a mission critical project, quickly rose to a position of responsibility reporting to the division president and actively participating in problem resolution with members of Unisys executive management. An ability to perceive and troubleshoot complex software-development process problems involving technical as well as human-relationship issues allowed successful management of several critical operating system infrastructure projects including a first generation message handling service and a C2-certified security retrofit of the flagship BTOS operating system. Both of which were required to successfully fulfill the showcase Unisys contract of the time.

After rescuing a stalled software development effort, went on to produce a commercially successful legal time and billing product. Installed at law offices throughout the United States, the largest client was the Utah State Attorney General who was able to meet government-mandated deadlines due to the product’s automatic ability to recover from repeated failures of their central server due to lightning strikes of their main power feed.Design and implementation of numerous complex distributed-application solutions including:• A PC based real-time manufacturing control system integrated with a mainframe based MRP that dramatically improved overall productivity and virtually eliminated costly mistakes due to human error. • Mini-to-mainframe communications server that solved major connectivity problems for XCS (Xerox Computer Services) clients leading to increased sales and revenue.• Mainframe applications that included an MRP system—used by Volkswagen, Ford, Xerox, etc.—to implement first generation just-in-time manufacturing practices.• PC based micro-to-mainframe intelligent front-end. End-user control of the interaction between the PC and the mainframe-based application allowed for quick and simple management of evolving system requirements.

Working directly with the CEO, ‘earned his wings’ in a hard-core systems engineering shop by maintaining and eventually designing and implementing such solutions as:• A networked warehouse inventory control system that greatly enhanced productivity and reduced client costs.• Proprietary extensions to the CTOS operating system including communication protocol stacks, enhanced security, and networked inter-process communications functionality, all of which provided TSI, Inc. products a distinct market advantage.• A multi-threaded mini-to-mainframe intelligent front workflow engine that automated data retrieval, processing, and entry from multiple hosts in real-time—allowing the automation of labor-intensive and error-prone business processes.