Project details

Derrick So’Brien

NOTE: This covers career highlights up to 2000. For 2001 to Present see https://sites.google.com/site/derricksobrien/career-highlights/cv

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EDUCATION

1986-1988

University College London

MSc. Microwaves & Modern Optics

Relevant Courses:

Communication Systems

Microwaves/Optical Measurements

Networks & Devices

Satellite & Terrestrial Communication

Fourier Optics & Signal Processing

Opto-Electronic Devices

Special Project:

Computer Simulation & Measurement of Coupling in Integrated Optical Waveguides

1986-1983

University College London

B.Sc. Electronic Engineering with Computer Science

Special Project:

An Automated Optical Waveguide Measurement System - Industry Sponsored

1982-1983

University of the West Indies

1st Common Year - Mechanical, Civil, Electrical Engineering

1980-1982

Presentation College, San Fernando

A-Levels

Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics

Awards:

National Scholarship - Country Prize of Full Sponsorship of Tertiary Education

San Fernando Gold Medal - District Prize

Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics - School Prizes

1975-1980

St. Peters Secondary School, Pointe-a-Pierre

O-Levels, University of London, SAT

Awards:

Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry

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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

 CISCO, Mitel, Lync, Juniper VOIP

 IBM, HP, Dell Infrastructure

 Microsoft Infrastructure

 Microsoft Office

 MS Project

 Pascal, FORTRAN

 Visual Basic, C++

 Windows, Mac Intosh, Linux platforms

 Corel Draw & Photopaint, Adobe Creative Suite

 Internet & E-mail, FTP

 LAN/WAN connectivity

 HTML5, Java, Javascript, CCS3

 AutoCAD, Autodesk Animator, AutoDesk 3D Studio

Seminars & Workshops:

Education & Training related

May 01 Instructor Pre-Service skills Program (SAIT Modules)

Feb 01 Classroom Management for Instructors - TTIT

Sept 00 Placeware on-line training

June 00 CISCO Partner E-learning Site Courses

Information Technology related

Jan 01 CISCO Wireless LAN Technology (Aironet) - CISCO University

Nov 00 Microsoft Technology Week

Sep 00 Microsoft Sales Specialist

July 00 CISCO Switching Technology - CISCO University

Jan 00 Executive Selling - Hewlett Packard

Mar 99 IBM - Server Technology

Jan 99 3Com - Computer Networking Technology

Nov 98 Motorola - Internet & Networking Technology

Regulatory Policy related

July 98 Privatization & Regulation - Min. Of Public Utilities/COMSEC

July 98 Preparing Caribbean Countries & TELCO’s for Reform - ITU, Barbados

July 98 Competition Policy - Dr. Taimoon Stewart/Chamber of Commerce

May 98 Development of an IT Strategy for the Public Service - Min. Of Public Administration

Dec 97 The Electric Utility Game/Southern College - Southern Electric/Powergen

Sept 97 Electric Utility Rate-making Seminar/ WEFA Associates

Tourism & Energy Management related

Aug 96 Performance Contracting - 2 days, Association of Energy Engineers/Hansen Associates

Mar 96 Energy Management - 1 week, Association of Energy Engineers/Carolina Consulting

Jan 96 HVAC Design using Carrier E20-II - 2 Days, Carrier Inter America Corp.

Nov 95 Small Hotels Retreat - Caribbean Hotel Association, St. Lucia

Jul 95 Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14000) - 3 Days, Bureau of Standards/Excel Partnership

Jun 95 CHIC - Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference, Puerto Rico

Neal & Massy Executive Development Programme (1995)

Conversational Spanish

The Art of Negotiating

Fundamentals of H.R. Management

Assertiveness Training Workshop

Neal & Massy Graduate Training & Employment Programme (1993)

Becoming a Sales Champion - ROYTEC

Understanding the Stock Market - NOVA Business Workshop

Final Projects:

Determine the market potential and develop marketing strategies for “Prestige” roofing systems

A marketing study on Industrial & Commercial Electrical Power Analysis

Workshops:

Personal Development & Goal Setting

Presentation Skills

Team Building

Principles of Leadership

Time Management

Principles of Marketing

Assessing Employee Performance

Personal Budgeting

Principles of Company Finance/VAT

Interpersonal Skills

Handling Conflict

Career Planning

Concepts of TQM

Company Rotation:

Electrical Industries - Sales Marketing

C.H.I.C. - Accounts/Finance

C.C.S - Sales Marketing

Industrial Gases Ltd. - Sales Marketing

MIS - Systems/Computers/PR/HR

N&M Motors - Inventory Management/Purchasing

Geo F. Huggins - Corporate Planning

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WORK EXPERIENCE

Jun 2001 to 2003

Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Technology – (Partnership with SAIT - Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)

Positions held: Instructor - Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering

Taught the following courses:

Bachelor of Applied Electrical Engineering Technology

 EET 301 - Circuit Analysis III

 EET - Engineering Analysis (Differential Equations)

 EET – Remedial Mathematics

Higher Diploma in Electronic Engineering Technology

 MATH 235 – Mathematics I

 MATH 285 – Mathematics II

 CMPP211- Introduction to C Programming

 INST 222 – Instruments

 EFAB 301/330 – Electronic Fabrication Techniques

 ENGD 226 – Electrical Drafting and AutoCAD

Higher Diploma in Computer Engineering Technology

 CMPH 200 - Computer Hardware

 ELTR 321 – Electronic Engineering Applications

Higher Diploma in Telecommunications Technology

 COMP 220 - Computer Fundamentals (Office 2000)

 ELCM 340 – Data Communications

 CMPH 317 – Microcomputers

 CMPH 235/6 – Microprocessor Fundamentals

Aug 1999 to May 2001

Computers and Controls Ltd. – Agents for CISCO (Premiere Partner), NORTEL, HP, RACAL, Pair Gain, Active Voice, Compaq

Positions held: Senior Account Executive - Networks and Communications

Worked on the following Projects:

 Computer Network Design & Implementation

 BP Amoco - Central Router Upgrade

 Intercommercial Bank - Voice/Data Converged WAN

 Academic Institutions - Data Network, Power & Security Infrastructure

 Energy Sector - Structured Cabling & Fibre Networks

Marketing Professional & Technical Services

 Wireless Broadband Services (ADC Internet & WAN)

 Data Bridging using Short Haul Laser Links - Jolt & Blackbox

 Wireless LAN Services (Cisco/3Com)

 Network Health Audits (Fluke)

 High Speed Core switching (Cisco/3Com)

 Router applications - Internet, Intranet (Cisco)

Nov 2000 to April 2001

School of Management and Accounting

Positions held: Lecturer.

Worked on the following Projects:

Telecommunications and Computer Communications

The course comprises University level tuition for the University of London External Programme

Oct 1998 to June 1999

Commnett Caribbean Ltd. – Agents for Newbridge, IBM, 3Com, MODTAP, MOTOROLA, EMULEX

Positions held: Senior Account Executive

Worked on the following Projects:

Computer Network Design & Implementation

Specifically targeting the Government and Public Utilities sector

Project Proposal, Sale, Implementation & Support

 Prime Minister’s Office, Whitehall – Network Electronics & Structured Cabling

 National Information Systems Center - Structured Cabling of Head Office LAN for Voice/Data

Marketing Professional & Technical Services

Outsourcing of corporate support, Systems Analysis and Design

Technical Support for new & installed IT/LAN/WAN solutions

Oct 1998 to April 1999

School of Business and Computer Science

Positions held: Lecturer.

Worked on the following Projects:

Computer Programming

Databases

Sept 1997 to Sept 1998

Public Utilities Commission

Positions held: Assistant Executive Director.

Worked on the following Projects:

Organizational Management

Performing all of the substantive duties of the Executive Director including participation in the Regular Monthly Meetings of the Commission. The Organisational Structure included the following departments; Research & Analysis, Legal & Compliance, Administration.

Regulated Industries Commission Bill

Coordinating the on-going Organisational Transformation of the Public Utilities Commission into a successor body which would be better equipped to deal with changes in the Economic Framework and State Apparatus of Trinidad & Tobago

T&TEC Rate Hearing

Evaluated Technical submissions by the Electric Utility in their claim for a rate increase. Involved in advising the Tribunal on Technical and Regulatory Matters. Coordinated the operation of the hearings.

Research Agenda

Responsible for coordinating the Research efforts of the Commission. Supervision of a multi-disciplinary team of Professionals including Economists, Financial Analysts and Engineers.

Sept 1994 to Mar 1997

Climate Control - A Division of Neal & Massy Enterprises Ltd.

Positions held: Energy Systems Coordinator, Consultant - Energy Management Services, Coordinator - Research, Training & Development, New Business Analyst, Sales Engineer

Worked on the following Projects:

Green Room Package

Developed, Marketed and Managed the package consisting of Energy Saving Opportunities, Environmental Conservation Opportunities and Certification Services. This required Technical & Marketing expertise as well as extensive travel throughout the Caribbean.

HVAC Training Program

Developed Marketing for a joint venture for technician training with Carrier Inter-America Corp.

Climate Control Web Site

Developed and Managed an INTERNET presence for Climate Control and Energy & Environmental Engineering Partnership (EEEP).

Gas Cooling Feasibility Study

Performed Economic and Engineering study for Natural Gas powered Commercial Cooling

Direct Digital Controls

Applications in the Caribbean Tourism and Commercial Sectors

Internal Training

Performed a needs assessment for employee development and sourced the necessary programmes.

July 1993 to Aug 1994

Caribbean Telecoms - CARTEL

Positions held: Electrical Energy Management, Sales Engineer

Worked on the following Projects:

Developed the market for Computerised Access Control and UPS systems.

Initiated projects for Computerised Electrical Energy Monitoring with remote access.

Performed Market Studies for the feasibility of Commercial Wireless Wide Area Networks and Specialised Mobile Radio Services

Nov 1989 to Dec 1993

University of the West Indies - Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Position held: Graduate /Research Assistant

Worked on the following Projects:

Developed “workstations” for interactive teaching of instrumentation.

Designed & Developed Laboratory exercises for Undergraduate Engineering program.

Assisted in the supervision of Postgraduate Research and Final Year Project Work.

Oct 1986 to Sept 1987

University College London

Position held: Optical/Electronics Researcher

Worked on the following Projects:

Developed an Automated facility for the characterization of Opto-Electronic materials. The system was subsequently reproduced and used for collaborative work in Cambridge-UK and Italy.

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PUBLICATIONS:

Digital Learning Objects

Collaborative Server-Based Computing

Technology Blog - metafore2012.blogspot.ca

“Club St. Lucia - Dramatic Energy Savings and an Award Winning Environmental Program” - Advertorial in May ‘96 Issue of “Green Hotelier” Magazine

“Climate Control and the Ozone Layer” - August 1995 Earth Talk

“Centronics Port Drivers for Computer Aided Laboratory Experiments” - International Journal of Engineering Education - accepted June 1994

“An Inexpensive PC-Based Laboratory Configuration for Teaching Electronic Instrumentation” - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (US) Transactions on Education

February 1994, Vol37, No1

“Dielectric Crystals and Optical Waveguiding Layers” - UCL Annual Review 1987

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HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Traveling, Music & Theatre production, Squash, Cycling, Cinema, Robotics, Prototyping

Alberta Distance Learning Projects

Smash Careers - Calgary Science Center

Career Explorer

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REFERENCES

Jason Fisher

SAIT