William Bowlus

Current

• Software Design and Database Engineer at SNAPforSeniors, Inc.

Past

• Corporate Quality Manager at Strategy Computers, Inc.
• Training Business and Operations Manager at Microsoft Corporation
• Development Training Manager at Microsoft Corporation

• Developer Support (DS), Team Manager at Microsoft Corporation
• Strategic Account Engineer/Support Engineer at Microsoft Corporation
• Software Engineer at ThreadZ Software
• Other Experience at Various

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4 more...

Education

• Strategy Computers
• Microsoft Corporation
• Langevin

• University of Iowa
• University of Iowa
• Kent State University

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3 more...

Recommended

1 person has recommended William

Connections

37 connections

Industry

Computer Software

William Bowlus’s Summary

Proven experience and strong skills
• Software and database development – .NET and Win32, SQL, DotNetNuke (DNN), Windows and Web applications
• Software tools – Visual Studio 2008/.NET, SQL Server, Reporting Services, Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Business management – planning and goal-setting, measurement and tracking, budget and accounting, contracts, customer service, etc.
• People management – entry level to star performer
• Advanced technical training and curriculum management and development, teaching
• Critical thinking, decision making, planning, communication
My well-rounded perspective comes from a wide range of work experiences.

William Bowlus’s Specialties:

• Languages and Technologies: C# and VB, SQL and Reporting Services, ASP.NET, DNN, XML, JavaScript, HTML, C++/C, MFC, COM, Win32/Win SDKs
• Certifications (2006): MCSD, MCDBA, and A+
• Platforms and Software: Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2005 and Reporting Services, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, DNN, Windows Server 2003/2000/NT, Windows XP/9x/3.x, Microsoft Office and other Microsoft products
• Technical training development, delivery, and administration
• People and project management

William Bowlus’s Experience

• Software Design and Database Engineer

  SNAPforSeniors, Inc.

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry)

  July 2006 — Present (2 years 6 months)

  Teamed with other engineers at this start-up to create a new website to facilitate the search for senior housing nationwide. I was responsible for acquiring, managing, and maintaining the high quality of our data – the only comprehensive database of senior housing information – and providing periodic and ad hoc reports using T-SQL and SQL Reporting Services. I developed numerous DNN modules (essentially ASCX controls) and utilities using C# and Visual Basic, interfacing with the SQL Server back-end and our CRM system through its web services. I also documented development processes and was consulted on feature design.

• Corporate Quality Manager

  Strategy Computers, Inc.

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

  December 2004 — November 2005 (1 year)

  Responsible for the management of a training facility for IT professionals that offered a range of certifications (e.g., A+, MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, CCNA, CCNP, and Network Security) and technology programs (e.g., Software and Game Testing, Web, and XML development). Also managed seven employees, including instructors, student advisors, a network administrator, and bookkeeping and clerical staff.
  
  As Student Advisor, I provided career and personal guidance to prospective and current students, worked with them to secure loans or government funding, and coached them on resume preparation and interviewing techniques. I also assisted students with technical issues for projects they were working on.

• Training Business and Operations Manager

  Microsoft Corporation

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; msft; Computer Software industry)

  January 2003 — August 2004 (1 year 8 months)

  Handled the business aspects of producing all Microsoft Technical Education (MSTE) training programs for Microsoft product group employees. This role included budget and accounting, contracting and legal issues, training metrics, profiling our customers, procurement, and vendor relations. Because of my previous experience as the Development Training Manager, the data and personal guidance I provided to new directors and upper-level training managers assisted them in making informed decisions for employees in their various disciplines. I partnered with other Microsoft training organizations to standardize our business and accounting procedures, contracts, and operations as well as to consolidate resources. I saved MSTE $275,000 in FY04 by negotiating fee reductions from key training vendors. For several months, I also oversaw a team of five people responsible for the operational logistics of delivering MSTE’s training classes and talks.

• Development Training Manager

  Microsoft Corporation

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; msft; Computer Software industry)

  December 1999 — January 2003 (3 years 2 months)

  Responsible for providing all Microsoft software developers with technical training – e.g., computer languages (Win32, C/C++/C#, ASP, Visual Basic, and .NET programming), SQL, XML, scripting and web development, software development processes, debugging, OS essentials, etc. Assessed training needs, developed curriculum, and oversaw classroom and online course development and delivery. Managed a team of five to seven highly qualified instructors and vendors who delivered the training. Tracked and managed training budgets, contracts, and metrics, and handled vendor relations. Taught Product Cycle Model and Mentoring Windows Developers. Special projects included producing Microsoft DevNet (a major internal developer conference) and coordinating the Security Push training for Microsoft’s internal Trustworthy Computing initiative. I collaborated closely with Microsoft development managers, directors, vice presidents, and distinguished engineers as well as key industry experts.

• Developer Support (DS), Team Manager

  Microsoft Corporation

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; msft; Computer Software industry)

  January 1998 — December 1999 (2 years)

  Managed the performance and professional development of 18 developer support engineers, covering more than a dozen middleware technologies (IIS, ISAPI, WinInet, MCIS Chat Server SDK, ADSI, MIFST, WLBS, ASP COM, WebClasses, Internet Transfer Control, IFilter). Worked closely with the TransPoint and Passport business groups to establish support for their developer customers. Instituted a Quality Partnership program to raise quality awareness, professionalism, and pride on the team. I coordinated the new hire training program, lead the DS Competencies Identification Project, championed alternative delivery methods to improve customer service skills, and designed a Practicum program to provide support engineers real-world development experience. Delivered new hire orientation classes for Product Support Services. Provided feedback for courses and helped plan Service Academy curriculum and training strategies for DS. Coordinated Windows 2000 training within DSM.

• Strategic Account Engineer/Support Engineer

  Microsoft Corporation

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; msft; Computer Software industry)

  September 1994 — December 1997 (3 years 4 months)

  Developer Support Liaison to Broadcast PC:
  Worked in the Broadcast PC product group to coordinate the support planning efforts of various technical, developer, and end-user support organizations. Served on the BPC War Team, evangelized BPC at WinHEC, E3, and the DIRECTV PDC, helped plan the Field Test and beta programs, and worked closely with SDK/DDK writers to ensure quality, completeness, and usability of documentation.
  
  Internet and Components Group:
  Served as leader of the ActiveX Virtual Team and a key member of ActiveX SDK, Training, Interview, and other teams. Spearheaded the Virtual Teams concept during a major DS reorganization.
  
  Premier Developer Support Team:
  Served as Tech Lead and as Product Lead for MFC. Also responsible for all new hire orientation and numerous special projects and public speaking engagements.

• Software Engineer

  ThreadZ Software

  (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Computer Software industry)

  July 1990 — July 1994 (4 years 1 month)

  Participated in all phases of Windows software development. Projects included an asynchronous telecommunications and email system, a suite of award-winning file management tools, and many smaller utilities. My final project integrated multimedia components, animation, sprites, and sound. Reviewed all product documentation and user manuals.

• Other Experience

  Various

  (Public Company; 11-50 employees; Financial Services industry)

  June 1978 — June 1990 (12 years 1 month)

  My wide variety of former work experience includes teaching every subject K-12, financial planning, banking, accounting, management, and others. I often supervised employees and was responsible for hiring and firing decisions.

William Bowlus’s Education

• Strategy Computers

  A+, MCSD, MCDBA, .NET Software Development, Database Administration and Design, November 2005 — June 2006

  Strong hands-on, project-based training focused on problem solving in a real-world environment. School has had a fine record of success for over 17 years.

• Microsoft Corporation

  Programming, Management 1994 — 2004

  Attended, coordinated, and delivered numerous technical, security, and management courses and talks at Microsoft while an employee there, including the Windows Security Push, .NET programming, Management Essentials, Negotiation Strategies, High Performance Coaching, Situational Leadership, etc.

  Activities and Societies:

  • Development Training Manager for all internal developers,
  • Training Coordinator for Developer Support

• Langevin

  The Successful Training Manager April 2000 — April 2000

  Week-long course covering all aspects of corporate-level training management including needs assessment, curriculum planning, coordination and delivery of training, and evaluation as well as adult learning styles, courseware options and approaches, and training philosophies.

• University of Iowa

  BA, Education, August 1975 — May 1978

  Accelerated program included extensive in-class observation and student teaching at elementary and junior high levels.

  Activities and Societies:

  • Dean's List,
  • Community Theater

• University of Iowa

  BA, Psychology, 1973 — 1975

  Took an accelerated course schedule to complete my first BA in Psychology in 3 years. Strong emphasis on accounting, economics, and business classes as well.

  Activities and Societies:

  • Honors and Honors in Psychology,
  • Dean's List,
  • Community Theater

• Kent State University

  Psychology 1972 — 1973

  Took FORTRAN IV programming and then tutored other students.

  Activities and Societies:

  • Computer Programming (tutor),
  • Theater,
  • Opera

Additional Information

William Bowlus’s Interests:

Training, computer and software security, management, breeding and showing/coursing my purebred Basenjis, writing music (choral and for children), cinema and theater, architecture, and travel.

William Bowlus’s Groups:

Microsoft Alumni Network
Evergreen Basenji Club
Basenji Club of America
Basenji Club of Canada

•    Linked:Seattle
•    Ex-Microsoft Employees
•    .NET @ Seattle

William Bowlus’s Honors:

Rookie of the Year (IDS, 1982)
Phi Beta Kappa
National Honor Society

William Bowlus’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch