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| Benjamin H. Ziskind |
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You can download my complete resume with contact information in RTF/Word format.
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Resident of San Diego, California
Summary
Over ten years of experience as manager, analyst, designer, and developer with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. A big picture strategic product and technology perspective paired with entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic. Extensive experience in product management, software usability, interface design, and strategic planning specializing in Web-based, real-time, wireless, interactive and collaborative client-server software applications for the entertainment and enterprise industries.
Education
Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bachelors of Science in Information and Decision Systems and Human-Computer Interaction
Professional Experience
| mobZilla - La Jolla, California |
April 2004 - Present |
| Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Director of Product Strategy, Co-Founder |
Responsible for defining and managing technical and product strategy of mobZilla, a Web and mobile streaming audio service. The mobile streaming subscription service allows users to create and stream personalized radio stations to the Web and Java J2ME MIDP-2, Symbian S60, and Windows Mobile handsets. The mobZilla Music application was selected by CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2005 as a Wireless Widget (featured product). Perform multiple roles in the organization including CTO, product manager, system architect, director of operations, and sales engineer.
- Defined and translated high-level business goals into product specifications and technical requirements.
- Managed complete application life-cycle from definition to launch
- Developed business and technology strategies for PSMS (premium SMS) billing, carrier integration, and CDN (Content Distribution Network) integration
- Led the design of application, database, and system architecture
- Built and managed engineering and operations teams
- Managed the integration of messaging, premium billing relationships with Cingular, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, and multiple billing aggregators
- Designed interface, functionality of cross-platform interactive streaming music application
- Mobile Phones: Java J2ME MIDP-2, Symbian S60, Windows Mobile 2003/, Windows Mobile 2003SE, Windows Mobile 5.0
- Web: AJAX (Web 2.0)
- Designed SMS content distribution and subscription platform
- Designed content ingestion and transcoding pipeline supporting WMA, AAC, aacPlus, 3GP, M4A, and MP3
- Developed product marketing and investment collateral
| SMS.ac - San Diego, California |
Sept 2003 - April 2004 |
| Contractor Director of Product Strategy and Senior Product Manager |
Focused on improving overall user experience of wireless and Web-based applications though long- and short-term project initiatives. Responsible for strategy throughout the product lifecycle including: defining product vision, competitive analysis, authoring, review and approval of functional specifications and requirements.
- Created and implemented standardized product requirement and specification process for company-wide use.
- Product lead and designer of a J2ME application providing users real-time access for a prototype Motorola handset.
- Product manager of a SMS based content distribution application, growing revenue 400% over a six-month period.
- Optimized and redesigned a premium SMS mobile billing platform resulting in a 300% increase in system capacity and reliability.
| Time Warner Cable / Road Runner Business Class - McLean, Virginia |
2003 |
| Contractor Senior Analyst - M2 Consulting |
Senior analyst and system designer evaluating CloseTabs, a Customer Relationship Management/Sales Force Automation (CRM/SFA) extranet developed by Time Warner Cable/Road Runner/Business Services. Focused on increasing CRM platform flexibility for integration with enterprise and partner applications while increasing application usability.
- Led the creation of functional requirements and use cases for the next-generation CRM/SFA extranet.
- Gathered user requirements by conducting user interviews, focus groups, and a system functional review.
- Evaluated and recommended migration paths for CloseTabs, focusing on future Web services integration and third-party technology integration.
- Co-author of corporate business plan for the CloseTabs platform.
- Developed project schedule and roadmap with division project manager for migrating application from ASP to ASP.NET.
| Qove Studios - McLean, Virginia |
2002 - 2003 |
| Chief Experience Officer (CXO) and Co-Founder |
Co-founder of Qove Studios, a mobile/console video game and Web software boutique. Led the development of the Web software consulting business team.
- Planned company's short- and long-term strategy, budgets, and schedules with department managers.
- Managed artists in the development of game demos utilizing licensed intellectual property (IP) and the creation of original characters.
- Authored and maintained design documents for products, games, and contract proposals.
- Led the design of a billiards game for Palm OS 5.0 and Pocket PC 2002.
- Led the design of a port of an action/puzzle game from PC to Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox Live.
- Developed product proposals for contracting and subcontracting projects.
| Bantu - Washington, D.C. |
1999 - 2002 |
| Product Development Manager |
2000 - 2002 |
Managed and developed product strategy and future product direction for the Bantu Enterprise Instant Messaging and Presence (EIM/EIMP) platform. Interacted with Bantu customers and partners to develop product feature requirements, designs and implementation schedules.
- Managed user-interface design; usability evaluations; functional and technical requirements gathering, testing, and integration of software for customers and partners.
- Led design and development of WML/HDML wireless instant messaging client accessible from Palm OS, RIM, and mobile phones. (The first enterprise interoperable IM platform for mobile phones in the US.)
- Lead author of "Next Generation" real-time communication platform requirements roadmap.
- Directed the shift of instant messaging platform functionality from consumer-oriented service to an enterprise Web-services application.
- Performed heuristic, think-aloud, and discount usability evaluations on the Bantu product platform.
- Designed, prototyped, and user-tested interfaces for new products and features.
- Provided technical engineering support to customers and partners including Blackboard, Citrix, Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), Sprint, SRA International, TeleCommunication Systems (TCS), VeriSign, webMethods, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Navy.
- Researched and evaluated technology partnership opportunities and competitive EIMP products.
- Developed technical marketing content for the company in conjunction with Marketing and PR teams.
| Director of User Experience (Bantu) |
1999 - 2000 |
Acted as a liaison between Bantu's developers, graphic designers, customers, and business development to develop user interfaces. Managed assessment and development of Bantu's product requirements and functionality, including user testing, interface design, and implementation.
- Led design and development of proof-of-concept wireless instant messaging client.
- Designed, prototyped, and user-tested interfaces for Bantu products and features.
Maintained and updated existing components and developed new components for eGrant, a Web-based art grant application system developed by the Center for Arts Management and Technology.
Redesigned the department Web site, developed, upgraded, and maintained a number of Web-based applications written in ASP and ActiveX controls. Performed systems administration duties for a Windows NT Server domain, supporting IIS with FrontPage for internal department projects and twelve development teams.
Developed, upgraded, and maintained a number of Web-based threaded discussion group applications for the department.
| Freelance Web Developer |
1995 - 1998 |
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Consulted on all aspects of Web site development including hosting decisions, graphics optimization, Web-page building, programming client/server functionality, user training, and Web site usability.
- Designed, developed, and supervised implementation of user-interface/style API for a Web-based authoring, collaboration, and profiling environment built on Microsoft ASP and Oracle.
- Developed Web-based administration tools, mailing lists, discussion groups, custom searches, calendar applications, opt-out e-mailing system, and Web site traffic analysis using an array of technologies and platforms.
- Developed secure eCommerce catalog and shopping cart application.
Served as a client/user-interface developer in the port of Momentum (government financial systems software) from Smalltalk to a Java- and CORBA-based (BEA Jolt) client-server system. Researched and evaluated new technologies for development team including: JFC, Swing, Activator, XML, and user-interface modifications.
| IntraACTIVE - Washington, D.C. |
1997 |
| Internet Software Developer |
Developed a Web-based groupware prototype using Netscape Enterprise Server, Livewire, Oracle, and Designer 2000. Designed and programmed the interface for a Java-based real-time communications component (similar to ICQ). Provided Web site crisis analysis. Performed system administration duties including installing and maintaining Windows NT 4.0 Servers (DNS, WINS, DHCP).
| Potomac Interactive Corporation (now iXL, Washington, D.C.) - Rosslyn, Virginia |
1996 |
| Web Developer |
Worked on over ten production Web sites creating and updating page layout, graphics, and scripts. Developed a number of CGI scripts for Windows and Unix using Visual Basic, C, and Perl. Installed and maintained server hardware and software for Windows NT and IRIX. Researched and wrote reports on development tools, Web site traffic analysis, and technical documentation.
Industry Speaking Experience
"Buddy List and Beyond," CTIA Wireless Agenda 2001, Dallas, Texas (May 2001)
Patent Pending
Integrated Internet Messenger System and Method (09/735,467)
Activities and Interests
- Internet Development Club, Carnegie Mellon University, Founder and President (1998-1999)
- DES Cryptography Challenge (1997)
- Falls Church City Virginia Technology Taskforce Member (1994-1995)
- Operated an electronic subscription online gaming BBS (1992-1995)
- Lived in Japan (2002)
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