Key skills:

• Excellent analysis, troubleshooting, communication, planning, coordination and documentation capabilities.
• Versatile, working in roles as: Cognos Architect, Technical Lead, System Administrator, Senior Cognos Developer and Business Analyst. At times, performing more than one of these roles in the same job.
• Experienced in SQL with popular relational databases: Oracle, SQL Server (2000/2005) and DB2.

Software: Cognos (releases 7.x to 10.1) for Development use and Server Administration. Mainly: Framework Manager, Query, Event, Report & Analysis Studios, Business Insight and PowerPlay Transformer. ETL tools: Business Objects Data Integrator, Cognos Decision Stream.

Education:
B.S. Business Administration - Major: Computer Information Systems, Confidential.

Employment Experience (selected contract consulting projects, followed by full-time employment):

Lead Business Intelligence Analyst (5/2012 - present)
Confidential, New York, NY

• Provide technical direction to Cognos Development team for migration from Cognos 7.3 and 8.4 to 10.1.1. Includes making improvements in the design of Framework Manager and Transformer models, and packages. Recommend consolidation of reports and data queries as needed.
• Analyze business requests for BI reports and data cubes. Prepare technical specification documentation and handoff to Development. Assist in development and testing when needed for quick turnaround.
• Manage various projects as assigned by BI Management. Contribute to creation of project plans. Provide periodic updates on status of deliverables.
• Prepare BI objects for use with Cognos Go Mobile software. Deliver presentations for appropriate end users with mobile devices and provide support.
• Install and configure IBM Cognos 10.1.1 software on servers (multiple environments).

Technical Lead / Cognos Architect (8/2011 - 3/2012)
Confidential, Warren, NJ

• Provide technical direction to Cognos Development and Operations resources.
• Install and configure IBM Cognos 10.1 software on Unix servers (multiple environments) in Websphere.
• Recommend best practices to build and maintain Framework Manager models, metadata packages, and Transformer models.
• Oversee Cognos report and data cube development efforts, recommend best practices and technical design. Transfer knowledge as needed.
• Create and implement standards for Cognos portal administration across environments, including security maintenance. Recommend standard operating procedures.
• Review existing data design for use in reporting and analysis. Recommend alternatives as needed to improve performance of Cognos reports, data cube refreshes, drill-through reports, etc.
• Develop reports and data cubes to supplement the workload of Cognos development resources and to prepare prototypes when needed to meet new and unusual requirements.

Senior Cognos Consultant (10/2010 - 8/2011)
Confidential, Ridgefield Park, NJ

• Interact with various levels of staff across multiple company departments, Domestic and International, to provide Cognos BI System Support and Development services.
• Function as backup to the Cognos Architect (Team Lead). Create or revise technical design of Cognos metadata models and development standards/methods for BI reports and data cubes.
• Develop, test and deploy Cognos reports and data cubes across environments, per end user requirements.
• Research and resolve Cognos technical support problems related to reports, data marts and Cognos server portal access. Provide workarounds and/or solution(s).
• Prepare and maintain proactive data validation programs in data marts (SQL Server 2005). Resolve data issues quickly.
• Lead and perform all tasks in the SQL Server 2005 database migration effort; update and test all affected Cognos metadata models, Cognos report packages and 200+ Cognos reports already in Production.
• Gather business requirements for Cognos reports or data cubes. Translate business needs into technical requirements documentation according to standard procedures.
• Create and/or revise standard processes for Cognos administration tasks in the Cognos 8.4 environments.

Technical Consultant (1/2010 - 4/2010) [Short-term .NET portal project for Cognos reports]
Confidential, Ridgefield, CT

• Perform Technical Lead tasks for a team on a short-term project to build and deploy new Cognos 8.4 dashboard reports and to build and deliver a new .NET front-end.
• Meet with business management contacts to gather requirements for all metrics to be included on the new dashboard reports. Prepare mock-ups and share with end user management and development resources.
• Write the Design and User Requirements documentation for the dashboard reports and .NET front-end.
• Write the test plan and test cases for the new dashboard reports and the new .NET front-end.
• Provide weekly team status reports to Client Manager. Lead weekly team status meetings in their absence.
• Prepare and give presentations to end user management at significant project milestones, often in situations where attendees are connected remotely and NetMeeting is used.
• Coordinate additional meetings as needed to plan and document the implementation plans. Work with the team to design the architecture necessary for the front-end process and dashboard report security.
• Work closely with Cognos development, Oracle database and web developer resources to monitor their progress and give direction/clarify requirements to avoid unnecessary delays.

Applications Systems Analyst III (8/2009 - 11/2009) [Short-term Cognos report migration project]
Confidential, Hopewell, NJ

• Analyzed client-designated Impromptu 7.3 reports for migration and prepared project estimates.
• Installed and configured Cognos software; secured Cognos 8.3 portal using Series 7 Namespace.
• Generated the Framework Manager model from the Impromptu catalog, then reviewed and tested it.
• Created solutions in Framework Manager model (query subjects, prompt filters) for special report needs.
• Migrated reports to Cognos 8.3 Report Studio, using Cognos migration utilities where possible.
• Performed unit tests of migrated reports and made corrections as needed.
• Researched technical problems and provided documented workarounds or solution(s).
• Prepared and distributed Report Migration Project status reports to client routinely.
• Provided several Cognos 8.3 knowledge transfer sessions to client resources.

BI Reporting Analyst / Administrator (12/2007 to 2/2009)
Confidential, New York ,NY

• Designed and created the architecture for several Cognos multi-server environments for an international financial reporting and analysis application. Performed Cognos System Administrator tasks in all environments.
• Standardized the Cognos environments to enable ease of deployment (Development > UAT > Production).
• Migrated PowerPlay cubes and PowerPlay reports from Cognos 7.3 to 8.4. Created new Cognos Connection portal pages/dashboards for stakeholder review.
• Developed PowerPlay cubes and reports and Report Studio reports. Prepared Cognos prototypes as needed for stakeholders and as aids to coach junior Cognos developers.
• Implemented best practices and solutions for Cognos technical problems. Wrote 20+ Cognos Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents.
• Transferred knowledge to Development and Operations resources via WebEx sessions: programming tips, best practices, software installation & configuration, and system administration tasks.

Senior Software Engineer (7/2007 to 9/2007) [Short-term Cognos report migration project]
Confidential, New York, NY

• Gathered business requirements from stakeholders. Translated business needs into technical requirements for new and existing reports.
• Analyzed the existing BI (Cognos) reports, Framework Manager model and package files. Determined additional changes needed to meet enhancement requests for existing portal reports and the new reports.
• Prepared 'inventory' documentation of the existing Cognos reports and the data elements used in them as required by the (IBM) data warehouse project team.
• Transferred knowledge of business and technical requirements to other team members as needed. Especially to take over the primary responsibility of the Cognos programming changes to be done by off-shore resources.

Cognos Project Manager /
Senior Cognos Developer (9/2006 to 12/2006) [Short-term Cognos report migration project]
Confidential, Florham Park, NJ

• Successfully managed a short-term report migration project from start to completion, consolidating 100+ Impromptu reports into 77 Cognos 8 reports on a fixed budget and timeframe.
• Assisted in the development of 50% of the Cognos 8 reports and unit testing.
• Delegated work and monitored accomplishments. Maintained a Migration Project Plan and provided routine updates to the client.
• Prepared QA test scripts and complete report reference documentation of each report.

Senior Cognos Consultant/ Project Advisor (9/2005 to 2/2006)
Confidential, Whippany, NJ

• Provided consulting services to client using Cognos ReportNet and Impromptu products. Created new reports and migrated former Impromptu reports to ReportNet.
• Analyzed report requirements and designed Framework Manager solutions for optimal efficiency for report development and maintenance.
• Coached other developers on report design and development methods; monitored progress to ensure completion of deliverables within established deadlines.
• Transferred knowledge to client employee developers and consultants of programming tips, through meetings and training sessions and customized "How To" documents.

Senior Cognos Administrator / Developer (8/2003 to 9/2005)
Confidential, Montvale, NJ

• Provided contract consulting to client using Cognos IWR, PowerPlay Web, ReportNet and DecisionStream).
• Performed Cognos Lead responsibilities for the company: administration of the Cognos servers, development and deployment of cubes and reports, migration from Cognos 7 to ReportNet, maintaining Cognos security access, and mentoring Cognos developers.
• Managed resources to meet deadlines for cube and report development and enhancements. Maintained a Cognos Project status report of all work in progress and shared with IT and End User Management.
• Performed Cognos data cube and report development across multiple projects, often simultaneously.
• Customized the Cognos Connection portal; created special dashboard and financial reports for Executives.
• Installed and configured various Cognos software products including ReportNet onto multiple servers.
• Designed, created and deployed database tables, views and stored procedures to meet the technical requirements for Cognos data cubes and reports.

Lead Cognos Advisor/ Analyst / Developer (9/2002 to 8/2003)
Confidential, Princeton, NJ

• Provided contract consulting services to client by working as Advisor to Senior Management to implement Cognos software for the first time in the company. Cognos Series 7 software (PowerPlay Enterprise, Impromptu Web Reports) in a multi-server environment.
• Analyzed business requirements and created technical solutions as needed such as: design ideas for special summary tables, reference tables and views.
• Prepared and gave tailored mentoring sessions to Business Analysts, Managers, and Developers.
• Developed Cognos cubes and reports.
• Worked with Developers and Management to create a technical peer review process of Cognos cubes and reports prior to production deployment, to ensure best practices methods.

Senior Cognos Consultant (4/2002 to 8/2002)
Confidential, Montvale, NJ

• Provided short-term contract consulting services to client.
• Met with end users to review enhancement requests. Gathered and documented business requirements, translated into technical specifications, worked with developers to program and deploy to internal and external end users.
• Mentored developers in development of Cognos cubes and reports.
• Designed a Cognos security profile to fit the business needs for accessing the reports and provided specifications to the Cognos technical team for implementation.

Senior Cognos Consultant (4/2000 to 4/2002)
Confidential, Woodcliff Lake, NJ

• Provided contract consulting services to client by using various Cognos software products (IWR, PowerPlay Transformer and PowerPlay Web reports).
• Gathered business end user requirements, converted into technical requirements. Prepared technical documentation and deployment plan.
• Developed Impromptu Web reports and PowerPlay cubes.
• Designed and implemented the Cognos security profile which best fit the client's requirements.
• Worked with Oracle DBA to design ideas for special summary tables and views, which exploit the Cognos product capabilities, as well as meet the business needs.