I. PROFESSIONAL HISTORY & EXPERIENCE
CLARIS CERTIFIED EXPERT FILEMAKER PRO APPLICATION DEVELOPER, FULL-STACK WEB DEVELOPER & SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR, San Francisco, CA
I provide IT strategic and software engineering solutions with a Claris expert-level certification in the FileMaker Pro platform, FileMaker Pro Server, and all related technologies, plus full-stack web development, and provided general technical support and training, server and network administration, and broad IT expertise to my clients, on Macintosh, Windows, iOS, and web platforms. Individual project contract engagements have ranged from 4 hours to over 6 years in length.
Clients served have included nonprofits, individuals, and businesses ranging in size from sole proprietors, nonprofits, and small family businesses up through Fortune 500 corporations, both onsite in the San Francisco area or often nationwide, either via remote work or by traveling to be onsite. Businesses have included several biotech labs, internet startups, small retail boutiques, tour operators, ecommerce websites, preschools, a digital prepress agency, both large and small book publishers, psychotherapy clinics, the University of California, a traveling grade-school music educator, a sign shop, a music publishing company, staffing agencies, a trade show & convention promotional services provider, a sculptor’s studio, a major national healthcare provider corporation, antique dealers, financial institutions, personnel agencies, a movie prop warehouse, massage therapists, a clothing retailer, a map and cartographic data company, a theater company, a medical practice marketing corporation, and numerous educational and nonprofit groups. I also have provided development services as a subcontractor to major national FileMaker consulting agencies.
Related technologies and proficiencies used alongside FileMaker have included extensive experience in web development (HTML/CSS3, Javascript/jQuery, PHP, PERL, WordPress development & administration), XML/XSLT, Unix administration (Debian and MacOS/Darwin), Web Server administration (LAMP stack), BASH scripting, Applescript, and data processing in MS Excel (charting, financial modeling, pivot tables, etc.)
Skills frequently utilized in my work have included the technical skills of software engineering, solution architecture & information design, analysis and evaluation of existing database projects and IT infrastructure, data processing tools and methodologies, and coding, in addition to the consulting and business skills of data needs assessment, IT decision-making guidance and advice, specification development, client relations, end user support, and an ability to communicate clearly with nontechnical users. As a sole proprietor I am experienced in providing responsive and flexible personalized attention and have a concrete understanding of the challenges facing smaller businesses.
A. PAST PROJECTS DEVELOPED USING FILEMAKER PRO AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDE:
Clinical and scientific data processing and management projects:
- Developed automated FileMaker system for reporting human trial results of cancer medicine research for the pharmacovigilance department of biotechnology research corporation, including FileMaker WebDirect web browser interface, which:
- Automatically imported new and revised CIOMS Form PDFs from clinical partners received via email using 360works Email plugin.
- Read and extracted adverse reaction data out of PDFs using 360works Scribe plugin to populate FileMaker tables.
- Tracked MedDRA information and FDA reporting requirements compliance and generate required reports.
- Created scientific study data and HR management databases for a biotechnology research lab that successfully brought to market an innovative drug for melanoma, including desktop FileMaker client and browser-based web interfaces, for managing study data and tracking cryogenically frozen cell sample inventories.
- Long-term (20 months, 24 hrs/wk) onsite customization and support for existing FileMaker management database system for 100+ psychotherapist nonprofit clinic under contract to serve the needs of foster children in the four San Francisco Bay Area counties, including:
- HIPAA-compliant patient records checking and management elements.
- HR and financial recordkeeping and reporting.
- Automated therapist email notifications and alerts.
- Federal standards-based electronic data interchange (EDI) with county health agencies.
- FileMaker instruments for recording and statistical analysis of psychiatric personality inventory results for use in evaluating worker’s compensation claims.
CRM, back office, and general business MIS projects:
- Long-term (6.5 years, 20-30 hrs/wk) as sole developer and user support for very large 5000 field, 110 table legacy MIS FileMaker database system managing all aspects of corporate data for 80 users at an international dental practice marketing corporation, including:
- Integrated new standalone accounting packages.
- Implemented and updated CRM functions in fast-paced, frequently changing business.
- Tracked manual and scheduled electronic communications between clients and staff including creating database-managed SMS sending/receiving via Twilio API integration, and custom-coded features to create threaded SMS conversations and to coordinate SMS chat groups among field team members.
- CyberSource payment processor API integration.
- SurveyMonkey survey result collection through an API integration.
- FileMaker integration with external PHP and JavaScript pages for reporting.
- Daily sales team schedule updates via automated SMS including real-time programmatic FileMaker handling of group SMS replies via Twilio API integration.
- Calendaring system for managing system-wide automatic scheduling of appointments and work schedules around business holidays.
- Generating complex statistical reports.
- Full system per-user and per-department permissions and notification management.
- System-wide logging of user database actions and edits for audits.
- Back-end processing of customer data for an interactive web-based Business-to-Business directory and placement service, including two-way ODBC data transferal between office databases and live MySQL website back-end.
- Designed an inventory and invoicing system for a movie prop rental house.
Travel & Hospitality sector projects:
- Long-term (15 years, flex-time/as needed) sole developer and administrator for the FileMaker-based operations system an adventure travel company which operated national bus camping tours and guesthouses in San Francisco and Seattle, including:
- Authored and administered a large proprietary system of 20 related FileMaker Pro databases (500+ fields and 180 scripts in total), in 24-hour use at both guest houses to handle all front desk transactions, petty cash and vending activity, reservations, guest history information, occupancy and vacancy reporting, guest referral source tracking, accounting, management auditing and report generation.
- Made all design decisions, administration and troubleshooting of system of 35+ MIS databases hosted on FileMaker Pro Server at San Francisco tour operator office, including relational passenger reservations system, travel information, office communications, online troubleshooting information and guidance, mailing lists, contact databases and more.
- Developed MIS databases for Seattle guesthouse, including desk clerk shift closeout, employee records/payroll, work/rent trade accounting, and financial recordkeeping.
- Built custom reservations tracking, operator relations, scheduling and accounting system for a Central America adventure tour booking company.
Manufacturing and Construction sector projects:
- FileMaker Pro 12 conversion and overhaul of existing Job tracking system databases for the main prototype fabrication lab of the world’s largest computer & communication technology corporation.
- Troubleshot, performance-optimized and customized pre-existing budgeting databases for $40+ million-dollar construction project.
- Job tracking system for the packaging design division of a sporting goods manufacturer.
- Lead and job tracking database for home improvement contractor, including data synchronized between “satellite” estimating databases on-site in laptops and primary database in office.
Finance, Accounting, and Retail sector projects:
- FileMaker Pro-based stock and options trading and account management software, including the following: broker REST API integration, integration with TradingView alerts and custom Pine Script indicators, automatic oAuth authentication flow, automated complex stop order generation based on ThinkOrSwim ThinkScript conditions, and live interactive JavaScript options risk/reward graphs.
- iPad-based CRM app for a women’s clothing boutique using FileMaker Go.
- Shelf signage printing system for national import/specialty food retail supermarket chain.
- Excel model of a Web3 Automated Market Maker used in decentralized finance, allowing users to see, transaction-by-transaction, the effects of user interactions on pricing, slippage, LP token issuance, and impermanent losses (Excel project only, non-FileMaker)
Education and Nonprofit sector projects:
- Provided 4 years ongoing weekly client tracking database development and support for several large in-house community legal projects run by nonprofit overseeing local county pretrial diversion programs.
- Provided 2 years MIS development and support for a nonprofit providing Buddhist spiritual training and literature to prison inmates.
- Troubleshot, customized, and instructed staff on MIS databases for an educational book publishing firm.
- Maintained, customized, and troubleshot relational management and subscriber information database system for a nonprofit magazine publisher.
- Oversaw new development on an existing PHP front-end and FileMaker Server back-end database for a FileMaker Custom Web Publishing (CWP) website for class scheduling and student record management for a training company.
- Created a student placement and records management system for a nationwide non-profit student exchange program.
- Created a Management system for elementary school PTA “scrip” fundraising program
- Overhauled and troubleshot outdated MIS databases for a large nonprofit educational foundation and learning disabilities resource library.
Digital Asset Production and Management projects:
- Provided 4 months of full-time onsite FileMaker Pro v7 migration of digital asset management database system for a national corporate clothing manufacturer’s online store.
- Provided 6 months of full-time onsite development of large bespoke job and time tracking system in 24-hour use at a 50-workstation digital prepress company, managing jobs from photo retouching up to billboard production.
Professional and Small Business sector projects:
- Provided 6 months of full-time onsite FileMaker Pro development for back-end databases for a Business-to-Business website directory startup.
- Provided FileMaker Pro tutoring to help a boutique music publishing company owner learn to understand relational database structure so he can code and maintain his own database-based business tools.
- Provided Mailing label formatting help for small local antique dealer.
- Created appointment scheduling and patient record management system for small massage therapy center.
- Developed multi-campus work order tracking system for international computer manufacturing corporation.
- Created participant registration and scoring system for “Sports challenge” and “pop quiz” concessions for a trade show exhibitor, designed to provide engagement to up to 800 participants per day at 13 kiosk workstations, including iPad score entry stations implemented using FileMaker Go, and 53″ monitor kiosk mode leaderboard to display up-to-the-minute high scores.
- Developed CRM and scheduling FileMaker database for a traveling freelance grade-school-level music educator
B. PAST PROJECTS IN WEB DEVELOPMENT AND WEB SERVER ADMINISTRATION INCLUDE:
- Authored framework for self-documenting automated QA unit tests in node.js using Selenium WebDriver for a SaaS company, using javascript decorator functions to implement self-documentation features in standard Selenium test functions.
- 10 years as sole developer and webmaster of a website for an adventure travel company, including these responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Developed website from an initial 7 static HTML 2.0 pages to over 150 dynamic pages with CSS and jQuery-driven navigation.
- Developed and implemented Perl CGI user message boards, discussion forums, and database-integrated customer feedback forms.
- Handled all company internet relations and online marketing and research.
- Advised management on online marketing and design strategies.
- Maintained search engine submissions and optimization (SEO), including regularly checking search engine result positions and continually optimizing pages to the latest standards.
- Created FileMaker-driven HTML web pages for an adventure travel company for easy website schedule updating.
- Developed numerous PHP integrations for integrating a marketing company’s SMS-based communications between its field sales team and customers with a central FileMaker Pro server using Twilio’s PHP API, including writing custom PHP webhooks on the server for receiving incoming SMS using Twilio SMS messaging into FileMaker, and sending the sales team’s custom group SMS chat a daily dynamic browser-based sales reports using PHP custom web publishing.
- Developed interactive customized PHP-based web catalog for a trade show services vendor, built on the PHP Directory2 templating system (currently live at https://www.3d-mediagroup.com/promos/).
- Authored complex jQuery-based Greasemonkey browser user scripts, for purposes such as adding utility and research tools to a decentralized finance portfolio tracking site, or allowing users to flexibly perform complex, open-ended general filtering of objectionable content from websites
- Developed original PHP single-purpose web app framework allowing bundling numerous media assets and separate user-facing “pages” into a single portable PHP file.
- Extensive WordPress development and administration experience, including:
- developed WordPress theme function customizations in PHP, jQuery and CSS to customize site design and functionality.
- authored custom PHP caching functions to increase site performance by tracking site update timestamps and transparently caching output of theme functions in WordPress transients for faster retrieval when site content hasn’t changed.
- authored custom plugins and shortcodes for dynamic content generation
- created dynamically generated site menus in PHP to replace default WordPress menus, traversing the entire post category hierarchy to generate previews and word counts on the fly, and including responsive design to accommodate navigation for mobile users.
- managed all general WordPress site administration such as updates, troubleshooting, backups, and migration when necessary.
- Performed site maintenance and content updates directly in back-end databases using PHPMyAdmin and VirtualMin’s SQL query features.
- Direct diagnosis and troubleshooting of issues from server PHP error log.
C. PAST CONSULTING IN IT MANAGEMENT, NETWORK ADMINISTRATION, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT INCLUDES:
- 15 years (flex time basis, as needed) as IT manager for a San Francisco-based adventure travel tour operator, solely responsible for all aspects of IT decision-making and maintenance, including:
- Administering, maintaining and troubleshooting hardware, software, networking, backup procedures and media, email, and internet connectivity for office LAN of 13 Macintoshes at San Francisco location, including dedicated server, front desk clerk, phone staff, accounting, and graphics/DTP workstation.
- Advising executives on all aspects of company hardware and software decisions; supervising and training staff in use of computer systems.
- Providing consulting, troubleshooting and administration advice for 4 Macintosh ethernet LAN at company’s Seattle location.
- 18 months (24 hrs/wk) as on-site sole IT & networking support for a 5,000 sq. ft. co-working space, responsible for servicing all their onsite IT support needs, including:
- Supporting & maintaining all MacOS & Windows machines and peripherals.
- Supporting & maintaining onsite networking equipment including broadband switches, Cisco Meraki cloud-based routers and access points, and VOIP phones.
- Providing training and helpdesk support to staff and clients on an as-needed basis.
- Several years (on call, as needed) as end user support for a managed IT support company, making occasional “house calls” to provide on-site networking, troubleshooting, and end-user support to a large variety of small businesses and individuals.
- All projects, including FileMaker and web solutions, have typically involved also assessing and advising on client backup and storage needs to safeguard against data loss (typically 3-2-1 backup strategy).
- Currently solely responsible for all aspects of hosting and maintaining my own in-house LAMP web server on a Debian 12 VMware Fusion VM, hosting several personal public-facing static, custom PHP, and WordPress websites, plus maintaining all domain registrations, SSL certificates, DNS configuration, Cloudflare and Quic.cloud CDN integration, and all networking, configuration, and support necessary to maintain consistent uptime and availability from the public internet.
- Managed Windows Amazon EC2 instances hosting FileMaker Server for several FileMaker consulting clients.
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT:
Prior to starting my career as an independent consultant, I had various IT-related positions, including IT assistant to a small General Contracting business, Sales & Technical Assistant at an electronic music software company, Operations Assistant at a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm, and temping doing primarily Excel, FileMaker, and general MacOS end user support for a variety of businesses in the Seattle and San Francisco areas. Please inquire for further details.
II. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- Certified Expert Claris FileMaker Pro App Developer. Verification: https://www.credly.com/badges/4946b237-c15f-44f7-a5bf-81763e61d506/public_url
- Certified Associate Claris FileMaker Pro Server Administrator (Note: “Associate” is currently the most advanced FileMaker Server certification offered.) Verification: https://www.credly.com/badges/2f913976-6607-4877-b2b4-ef3caeafc28a/public_url
- Certified Javascript Algorithms And Data Structures developer. Verification: https://www.freecodecamp.org/certification/Kupietz/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures-v8
III. RELEVANT ASSOCIATIONS & VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
I maintain an active presence on Github, where you can see some samples of open-source projects I have developed in a variety of fields and platforms in my repos at https://github.com/kupietools.
For several years early in my career, I took a lead role in providing community volunteer FileMaker support and training on an ongoing basis as a member of Berkeley Mac User Group’s FileMaker Pro Special Interest Group and as a year-round volunteer FileMaker developer for the Burning Man Festival’s Technical Team onsite in their San Francisco office.
For two years in college I was Teaching Assistant to electronic music pioneer Prof. Joel Chadabe, responsible for all aspects of management and user training in what had originally been the United States’s first Electronic Music Studio, founded by Chadabe and inventor Robert Moog at State University of New York at Albany, NY.
IV. EDUCATION
Degree: BA Natural Sciences with concentration in Physics, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Senior Project: “On the Mathematical Modeling of Lowest-Mode Sounding Frequency of Uniform-Bore Fipple Flutes”, under the supervision of Prof. Burton Brody, a study of the mathematical modeling of wind instrument acoustics
Primary Coursework:
- Physics (Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Modern Physics, Acoustics, Analog Electronics, Digital Electronics, Calculus)
- Computer Science (Intermediate through Advanced Programming, Expert Systems)
- Music (Electronic Music Performance, Analog Sound Synthesis, Digital Sound Synthesis, Electronic Music History, Guitar Performance, Piano Performance, Composition, Music Theory Foundation, Counterpoint)
V. REFERENCES
Available upon request.
