Michael Bowbin Email & Phone Number

Tallahassee, Florida, Us

Optimum Software SolutionsMainframe Systems Programmer 06/19 to still employed Engagement: RRB Supporting a Z/OS 2.2.3 operating system. I am part of Optimum’s team that is executing RRB’s desire to have us lead the “Mainframe Rehosting” project. My primary tasks are typical MVS systems programming activities such as participating in disaster recovery tests. Other day to day activities are system performance, problem determination and resolution, and RACF security administration. I am backup to CICS and DB2 systems programmers. I also perform IPL’s of the Z/OS LPARs as that is not part of the Operations staff’s duties. I recently participated in removing RRB's hardware in Chicago to an IBM site on the east coast running in a zCloud environment..

Downers Grove, Illinois, Us

My primary responsibilities are installing, customizing and maintaining the MVS operating systems for clients of Ensono. Very challenging and exciting environment working with an exceptional management team and talented high end peers. Most clients were running Z/OS 2.1 or Z/OS 2.2. I regularly participated in disaster recovery tests. Note that I worked with the same clients since 08/17 but I started with Insight Global on a contract to hire position. I then began working for Wipro as a regular employee. In 2018 Ensono and Wipro merged. Paychecks were then issued from Ensono.

Worked as a systems programmer for client Dell supporting a stabilized MVS and VM environment as they are converting to a Linux operating system. This is basically a “keep the lights on” assignment. Client was hoping to finish the project before 2018.

Assisted with conversion of CICS 4.2 to CICS 5.2 in a Parallel Sysplex shop with over 300 regions. Utilized Omegamon, RMF, SDSF, and Abendaid for problem determination and resolution. This included infrastructure changes such as emergency fixes along with user initiated requests. Provided off hour support to implement software upgrades.

Senior systems programmer. I installed and customized three releases of the mainframe system. The first ServerPac upgrade was from Z/OS 1.9 to Z/OS 1.11. The second was a standalone Z/OS 1.13 Driver System which allowed us to upgrade Z/OS 1.13 to Z/OS 2.1 via a ServerPac. I also applied maintenance to several OEM products. I utilized RMF and EJES to assist with performance and problem determination and resolution. Participated in disaster recovery tests for two VA sites. Wrote DFSMS constructs and procedures to allow the VA to eliminate tape mounts, improve throughput, and save money on maintenance for old technology.

I installed and customized a new release of the mainframe system. The ServerPac upgrade was from Z/OS 1.12 to Z/OS 1.13. I also applied maintenance to several OEM products. A couple of the products were CA1, CA90s, and Syncsort. I improved the capturing and processing of svcdumps to assist with problem determination and resolution.

Installed and customized new release of VPS in conjunction with operating system being upgraded from Z/OS 1.9 to Z/OS 1.11. Handled day to day issues related to VPS. Assisted IBM and Wellpoint staff with major conversion that required substantial troubleshooting and testing with VPS/DRS and level 2 calls with vendor LRS. Worked with other print software products such as INFOPRINT and CASPOOL. Supported over twenty lpars across the country.

Senior systems programmer. Part of a two man team managing locations in Oak Brook and Lisle Illinois with thirteen lpars. Primary responsibilities were installing, customizing, and maintaining the MVS operating system. Other major subsystems utilized are SAP/DB2, MQSERIES, and IMS. Installed and supported various OEM products. Perform RACF and ACF2 security administration. Performed pager duty 24/7. Engaged in problem determination and resolution. Used RMF, Omegamon, and Netview to assist with performance, network, and problem reporting. Operating system levels vary from Z/OS 1.9 to Z/OS 1.11 in a Parallel Sysplex. Write Assembler language programs as needed for system exits and internal utilities. Constantly interfaced with developers and users especially during major conversion of legacy customer facing applications to SAP/DB2 systems. I implemented DFHSM in our SAP/DB2 environment which executed IBM software exclusively. Tweaked systems via updates to PARMLIB, Coupling Facilities Structures, and WLM Policies. Assisted with splitting our single data center into two sites. Each location had enough computing power to execute critical core business activities and eliminated the need for an offsite disaster recovery testing facility. Oak Brook remained the primary nerve center while the Lisle data center was a lights out unmanned site.

Lincoln, Rhode Island, Us

MVS systems programmer. My primary responsibilities were installing, customizing, and maintaining MVS, DB2, CICS, and IMS. Lead MVS disaster recovery programmer. Major tests executed quarterly to test major corporate and customer facing applications such as SAP/DB2. Perform ACF2, TOP SECRET, and RACF security administration. Installed various CA products along with other OEM products. Tutored junior programmers. Handle pager duty and engaged in problem determination and resolution. Write Assembler language programs as needed for system exits and internal utilities. Frequently interface with developers and users. Use Sysview, RMF, and SAS for performance and problem reporting. Operating systems are current. Most are Z/OS 1.8 in a Parallel Sysplex. Tweak systems via updates to PARMLIB, Coupling Facilities Structures, and WLM Policies.

Engagement: State Farm InsuranceSenior systems programmer. My primary responsibilities were problem determination and resolution for over sixty lpars. I also installed, customized and maintained the MVS operating system. This included the base system and OEM products. Most systems were running at Z/OS 1,2. with six at Z/OS 1.4.

Senior systems programmer. One of twelve MVS systems programmers supporting over fifty lpars. My primary responsibilities were installing, customizing and maintaining the MVS operating systems. Wrote Assembler language programs for system exits and internal utilities. Our installs required zero defects due to a narrow implementation window and service level agreements. Due to time restriction, problem determination and resolution were essential skills for this job. CA’s TMS was converted to DFRMM. Wrote/updated procedures for Coupling Facilities Structures and WLM Policies. Most of the systems were in a Parallel Sysplex at 0S/390 2.10. Z/OS was installed on test system. Hardware change implementations were executed using HCD and HCM.

Engagement: McDonald’s CorporationLead MVS systems programmer. My primary responsibilities were installing, customizing, and maintaining the MVS operating system. Upgraded many OEM products and performed initial installation of MQSERIES and ADSM. Other major duties I was accountable for were problem determination and resolution. Backup to CICS, DB2, VTAM, and Performance technicians. I was responsible for upgrading the operating system on several occasions. I implemented OS/390 V2R on a test lpar. CA’s TOP SECRET and TLMS were converted to RACF and DFRMM respectively. Performed TOP SECRET and RACF security administration. Updated and customized RACF/ISPF dialogs and QMF reports. Created procedures and documentation ensuring availability and integrity of the RACF database. In-house programs and system exits were coded in Assembler. I also headed the staff with the YEAR 2000 project, SHARK dasd, and the upgrade of our CPU to a 9672-R56. Participated in the planning and execution of disaster recovery tests. Utilized SAS and MXG for performance and problem reporting. Updated I/O configurations using HCD. Implemented new configurations using HCM (Hardware Configuration Manager). Other tasks performed routinely included interfacing with users, computer operations, software vendors as well as serving backup to the project manager.

Engagement: Central Steel & WirePart of a facilities management team. Standalone MVS systems programmer. My primary responsibilities were installing, customizing, and maintaining the MVS operating system. Other major duties I was accountable for were system performance and tuning, DASD management, RACF security administration, and problem determination and resolution. Utilized Assembler language to update exits. Other activities performed regularly were interfacing with users, computer operations, and software vendors along with backing up the CICS and VTAM systems programmers.

Technical ConsultantEngagement: Blue Cross Blue Shield AssociationSystems programmer in a facilities management project. Installed and customized a new release of the operating system and OEM products. Interacted on a daily basis with the user community, applications, and operations.Engagement: Palos Community HospitalResponsible for MVS/XA 2.2.3 conversion. Products included were ASSEMBLER, COBOL, DFP, ICKDSF, DFDSS, EREP, DFHSM, ISPF/PDF, MVS/SP, JES2, JES/328X, PL/1, RMF, SDSF, SMP/E, DFSORT, TSO, and VTAM using CBIPO. Installed new releases of ACF2 and TMS; supported and enhanced other products.Engagement: Trans UnionInstalled new releases of MVS/ESA, JES2, ACF2, and applied maintenance to the remaining MVS products. Many exits and user modifications required updating using Assembler language.Engagement: Loyola UniversityInstalled new releases of DFP, GDDM, ICKDSF, and SDSF. Maintained and upgraded other IBM products in the CBPDO.Engagement: Veterans AdministrationWrote a JES3 printer exit using Assembler language. Engagement: North American Company of Life and HealthResponsible for MVS/SP to MVS/XA 2.2 conversion using CBIPO. Products included were TSO, SDSF, ISPF/PDF, JES2, ICKDSF, RMF, EREP, JES/328X, SMP/E, COBOL, DFDSS, VTAM, PL/I, and TMS. Also responsible for customization.Engagement: Florsheim Shoe CompanyGuided Florsheim through VM/XA to MVS/XA 2.2 conversion using EXPRESS. Included in the EXPRESS were VTAM, RMF, SDSF, ISPF, TSO, JES2, ICKDSF, COBOL, and CICS. Other products installed were NCP, SSP, EP, NSI, FORTRAN, numerous CA products (ASM2, ACF2, PANVALET, PAN/ISPF, VMAN, DISPATCH, TLMS, CA/7, CA/11, CA/SORT, EASYTRIEVE), and ABENDAID. Established and implemented an SMP/E methodology and customization of the MVS/XA subsystems and third party software security administration.Other engagements at Direct Marketing Technology and Loyola University(Four additional tours at Loyola).

Systems Programmer (05/87 to 03/89) Responsible for the installation and testing of new products and services. Assisted in the conversion of MVS/XA 2.1 to MVS/XA 2.2 using CBIPO. Other installations included DFHSM, DFDSS, FORTRAN, VSAM QUICK-INDEX, VSAM I/O PLUS, ICKDSF, SYNCSORT, FDR, EREP, and PC 3270 FILE TRANSFER. Interfaced with vendors to resolve software problems. Utilized RMF, OMEGAMON and other software to assist in fine tuning and problem determination. Also wrote user exits and Assembler programs and procedures as needed. Storage Administrator (05/86 to 05/87) Maintained DASD space, backups, and performance utilizing VSAMAID, RMF, and EPILOG. Heavily involved in the development and implementation of new programs and procedures. Isolated files from five CICS regions into individual pools using VSAMAID to facilitate the redefining process. The CICS tuning was completed using IDCAMS REPRO/MERGECAT on over 400 clusters spanning 30 user catalogs. Wrote an Assembler program that would issue OS MOUNT commands on batch production volumes based on the current mount status, largest primary area, and the total amount of free space on the volume. Converted old VSAM catalogs to ICF catalogs. Created a procedure to archive datasets from batch production volumes; initial run freed up ten 3380 volumes. ASM2 was the tool I installed, customized, and utilized for archiving. Wrote an ISPF dialog for operations support which generated JCL to utilize various program products.

Systems Programmer. Accountable for writing programs and procedures for the data center and users, installing program products, problem resolution, maintenance of DASD space and backup procedures using FDR/ABR and VMBACKUP, as well as performing I/O gens and system maintenance. Created a “Data Center Scratch List” by writing and testing Assembler programs that used LOCATE and CAMLST macros in searching two CVOL’s. This program utilized VSAM and several VSAM macros. Constructed an Assembler program that would determine the status of a UCB and developed a primitive “Online Monitor” using Assembler to compute CPU cycle time for active batch jobs. Acted as Operations Supervisor leading the data center relocation effort and conversion from OS/VS1 to MVS.

Computer Operator Responsible for performance monitoring of the systems, maintaining batch schedules, mounting tapes, and printing output.