Will Phelps, Principal

Overview

More than two decades of experience developing custom software applications serving a wide variety of industries. Is both intelligent and creative. Has world-class communication skills and loves to use these skills to help others. Authored numerous articles, technical documents, and several books including "The Revolutionary Guide to Visual FoxPro OOP" (Wrox Press). Hired and managed scores of high-level employees and contractors.

Experience

1983-Present: Principal, Phelps Computer Services – Consultation, analysis, design, implementation, documentation, and training provided for development of custom software. Specialization includes Xbase languages such as Visual FoxPro, object oriented design and programming, Web devleopment, HTML, client/server, structured query language (SQL), systems analysis, technical writing, training, and project management. Industries served have ranged widely, including accounting, airline pilot training, botany, cartography, day care management, direct mail marketing, environmental sciences, human resources, insurance, Internet services, investment services, manufacturing, printing, real estate, and telephony.

Beta tested Visual FoxPro for Microsoft Corporation and dBASE for Windows for Borland International.

1988-90: Project Manager, Radian Corporation – Provided analysis, design, and project management for the Environmental Data Management System (EDMS), a PC-based system used for tracking compliance with air quality regulations. This multi-user application included 15,000 lines of FoxBASE+ code and managed 60 tables. EDMS was installed at several major aerospace and electronics firms. Coordinated efforts of 4 full-time programmers. Successfully administered budgets totaling $70,000. All phases completed on time and within budget. Received Radian Individual Outstanding Achievement Award for efforts related to the development of EDMS.

Assisted with the development of a relational database used by the US Air Force for tracking ground water and soil samples. Developed using Rhodnius, Inc.'s Empress/32 SQL-based tools on a Sun 4 minicomputer.

Assisted with the administration of an 80-node local area network.

1983-87: General Manager, Airline Ground Schools, Ltd. – Supervised a staff of twelve, including six ex-airline captains. Successfully administered monthly operations budget of $10,000. Reduced costs by automating clerical procedures. Designed and implemented an aggressive advertising campaign, resulting in an 85% increase in sales, an increase of $40,000 per month. Increased market share from 9% in 1985 to 17% in 1987 (based on official FAA testing statistics).

Designed and implemented a PC-based data management system for direct mail marketing and tracking of student enrollment, graduation, and receivables. This application was originally written in dBASE II, and later rewritten in dBASE III Plus.

1982-83: Graphic Artist, Type-n-Print – Performed layout and camera work. Assisted with maintenance of 2 AB-Dick presses.

Education

1997: Graduate, Microsoft Education and Certification Website Essentials – Microsoft Corporation

1995: Graduate, Visual FoxPro 3.0 course – Flash Creative Management, Inc.

1994: Graduate, dBASE 5.0 for Windows course – Borland International, Inc.

1994: Graduate, The Dale Carnegie Course – Dale Carnegie and Associates, Inc.

1982-84: Computer Studies – American River College, Sacramento, California

1983: TRS-80 Basic Operating Theory and Programming Certification – Tandy Corporation

Community Involvement

2000-Present: Member, Sacramento Microsoft Database SIG – Supported group by contributing to planning committee meetings.

1985-Present: Steering Committee Member, Sacramento PC Users Group, Inc. – Enrolled in group’s volunteer Mentor program providing support to members Microsoft Visual FoxPro. Represented various database-related SIGs at steering committee meetings.

1996-2000: Program Coordinator, Sacramento FoxPro SIG – Assisted with forming the Sacramento FoxPro SIG by merging the Sacramento FoxPro Users Group with the Sacramento Xbase Users Group. Coordinated guest speakers.

1981-1996: President, Sacramento Xbase Users Group – Elected/reelected as President from 1988 to 1995. Oversaw production of “Directory of Xbase Services”, a guide to Sacramento area professionals specializing in Xbase languages. (Known as “Sacramento dBASE Users Group” from 1981 to 1993.)

Publications

Author, The Revolutionary Guide to Visual FoxPro OOP – ISBN 1-874416-40-0, Wrox Press, 1996 (with Andy Kramek and Bob Grommes). Reviews on Amazon.com include: “The writing in this book is clear and easy to understand.” (Doug Garnes), “This book is the only book I've found that both includes in-depth coverage of object orientation and is specifically written for FoxPro programmers.” (John Alston), “This book is a guide to OOP implementation in VFP…It provides far more discussion and detail on this subject than any other book I have seen.”

Contributing Author, July and August 1996, FoxPro Advisor – ISSN 1066-7261, Advisor Publications

Editor-in-Chief, April, 1991 - September, 1996, .READ – Sacramento Xbase Users Group. (Known as “Sacramento dBASE Users Group” from 1981 to 1993.)

Contributing Editor, December 1994 - February 1995, dBASE Informant – ISSN 1078-0246, Informant Communications Group, Inc.

Author, Planning and Managing Regional Air Quality Modeling and Measurement Studies: A Perspective through the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Study and AUSPEX – ISBN 1-56670-059-0, CRC Press, 1994 (with Jerry Anderson, Richard J. Hackney, Vernon Hughes, Karen L. Magliano, Elizabeth M. Niccum, John G. Watson)

Author, SJVAQS/AUSPEX and SARMAP Data Management – California Air Resources Board, 1993 (with Jerry Anderson, Richard J. Hackney, Vernon Hughes, Karen A. Magliano, Elizabeth M. Niccum, and Dr. John G. Watson)

Contributing Editor, August, 1991 - March, 1993, Sacra Blue – ISSN 0891-6799, Sacramento PC Users Group, Inc. Fox Pro to Fox Pro column has been reprinted, with permission, in various users group publications throughout the world, from Anchorage Alaska to London England

Technical Editor, EDMS User's Guide and EDMS Technical Reference Manual – Radian Corporation, 1989

Personal References

John Falappino – Occupation: CEO, Schools Insurance Group

Dr. Troy Thorup – Occupation: Plant Geneticist, Pan American Seed

Denis Winn – Occupation: Senior Systems Analyst, Retired, Compaq Computer Corporation

Contact information available upon request.