Stories:
IT Strategies Consultant Uses His 'IT Energy' to Save Energy at Water District
IT Strategies Senior Consultant Michael Mann is using his quality information technology expertise to create a quality water energy management system.
Assigned to the Las Vegas Valley Water District since 1998, Mann and a team of other IT Strategies consultants, Das Sunkara, Kavitha Vala and Jeya Jothi, have been busy developing an Energy Water Quality Management System (EWQMS) to economize water pumping while maintaining water quality standards for the public. The efforts will ultimately help the district save on energy costs.
"It's been an interesting and challenging project, and an exciting one to work on," said Mann.
The computer software Mann's team is working on acts as a constant 'real time' system. It will tie the pumping schedule into Nevada Power rates and help the water district continually determine the right decisions. It not only will save energy but it will give district representatives instant information, such as emergency conditions, to allow them to provide quick responses. It will allow the operators to respond and control the 'SCADA' system in-house.
Quality water energy management systems are used in many parts of the nation, but Las Vegas is unique in that it is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation yet it still uses reservoirs and wells, Mann said.
"The goal of the product is to incorporate savings with low operating costs," he said. "It will add efficiency and allow for better optimization."
Prior to joining IT Strategies, Mann served as technical project lead for Washington Mutual Bank in Seattle, Wash., where he designed and built an on-line accounting report system. He also handled Java development for NextRx in Bothel, Wash., where he helped to produce a wireless single dose dispensing system for use in the medical industry. He previously worked for the Las Vegas Valley Water District as a Web site developer, building and maintaining the company's intranet Web site.
Mann studied structural engineering at North Seattle Community College in Seattle, Wash. and at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. He is a registered developer with Auto Desk.
IT Strategies Welcomes New Hires
Three new consultants have joined the IT Strategies team to offer their expertise in different areas.
Senior Consultant James Gamber is assigned to VirtGame to handle programming. VirtGame provides technology to race and sports books in casinos. Prior to joining IT Strategies, Gamber served for the 2004 Carpenters Local, conducting J2EE development for Idea, Jboss, WebSphere and Struts. He also worked in Irvine, Calif. for 2004 Capita, handling Java software development and movie industry cost accounting.
In addition, Erin Walsh has joined the firm as a consultant, working with the Southern Nevada Water Authority in various technology endeavors. Walsh possesses a strong capability in ColdFusion and is also experienced in CF Studio. Before joining the IT Strategies team, she served as the Senior ColdFusion Developer for ResortQuest International. Walsh designed and implemented a new statistical reporting tool based on the ResortQuest user needs and increased online booking revenue by 268 percent in her first year of employment. Previously, she served as the web developer for EmeraldCoast.com and as the Senior ColdFusion Developer for E web designs.
Another new consultant, Willys Chang Mah, is providing information technology consultation services to the Las Vegas Valley Water District, assisting with the PeopleSoft implementation of the new customer service and billing system. Chang Mah previously served as a systems application designer, handling development, customization, testing and implementation of customer information systems. He also worked as a systems analyst for Soluziona, Inc., developing information systems for the utility industry.
Patrick Kingsley also has been hired as a consultant for the Water District, assisting with Help Desk support. He previously served as a technical support analyst for Spherion, outsourced by IBM Global Services. While there, he provided support to commercial customers, performed problem determination and resolution, and configured various tools used by the customer. He also worked in desk side Technical Support for Cornell Cooperative Extension, where he maintained and repaired various computers at extension centers. Kingsley brings extensive support experience to IT Strategies. He is proficient in a number of operating systems and software applications, including all versions of Lotus Notes and AS400 support.
IT Strategies Holds Fun-Filled Holiday Party for Employees
Michael Marriott and Michael Beardslee, principals of IT Strategies, offered a little holiday cheer to their employees recently at their annual holiday party at TPC Summerlin.
More than 40 employees and their guests turned out for the Dec. 3 festive event, which offered cocktails, a delicious dinner, gift giveaways and dancing to a D.J.
"Our annual party allows us to convey to our staff how much they are appreciated for their hard work and dedication," said Marriott.
To view photos of those who attended, click on this link.
Happy Holidays!
IT Strategies Staff Receives Recognitions for Efforts
The consultants at IT Strategies are putting some feathers in their caps after being recognized by different organizations for their information technology skills and efforts.
"We strive to hire the best consultants available for our clients' projects and are pleased that their work has been superb, garnering them recognitions," said Mike Marriott, executive vice president of IT Strategies.
Among the recent honors are:
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority has recognized Consultant Jacqueline Johnson for her help in improving the 'Tool Loan' program. She was known as being "very knowledgeable, helpful and informative" on the project. In addition, she has been nominated for the 'Customer Service Excellence' Award through the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Jacqueline has proven time and time again that the key to success lies in hard work, team work and dedication!
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority's Data Management Team has also recognized IT Strategies consultants Amar Trivedi, Diane Altschuler and Kimberly Kurr for their work in helping to improve the Enterprise Data Dictionary. The EDD is a Web application that can be used by all district personnel to answer questions about district computer applications, the person to contact about an application for assistance, or the data structures that support an application. The Data Management Team has thanked Amar and Kimberly for their efforts in developing the Oracle database component that attracted their attention and eliminated the need for reproducing what had already been done. The team also has thanked Diane and Kimberly for their work in developing the front end of the application to leverage the gathered information and bring it all together.
- The Southern Nevada Water Authority has also recognized IT Strategies Senior Consultant Jason Ramirez with a 'Leaders in Service' award for his excellent work creating map tiles for 'cathodic protection.' Receiving the award on Aug. 20, Ramirez said he was very happy to help save co-workers valuable time through his efforts. In his role, he converted information already stored in the computer into an understandable spatial element. He has been working at the water district for five months in the role of GIS support and implementation.
"We congratulate all these IT consultants on a job well done!" said Michael Beardslee, president of IT Strategies.
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U.S. Army Reservist Visits Mother in Las Vegas, Shares Insightful
Stories about Iraqi War with IT Strategies Staff at Holiday Party
(Las Vegas) - While the media portrays a grim outlook and shows major violence occurring in Iraq, the son of a Las Vegas woman paints a different picture when it comes to the United States' efforts in the Middle East.
U.S. Army Reservist Daniel Hebert, 28, son of IT Strategies Consultant Mayri Hebert, recently attended the IT Strategies holiday party with his mother. At the party, held at TPC Summerlin, Daniel Hebert shared stories with the IT Strategies staff and principals, who all commended him on his and other military personnel's efforts in the Middle East.
People can view photos of Daniel, his mother and other IT Strategies members by clicking or pasting the link in your web browser:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mayri54/album?.dir=7915&.src=ph&store
=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mayri54/my_photos
Hebert served in Iraq from November 2003 through July 2004 and says his experience there gave him a glimmer of hope for the future of Iraq. While the troops occasionally encountered hostility, many Iraqi citizens and dozens of children flocked to the American men and women with open arms and kind gestures.
"They were very hospitable and thankful," Hebert said recently during a visit to Las Vegas. "If you went to someone's house and they only had one loaf of bread, they would break it in half and offer it to you."
Hebert, who is stationed in San Diego, handled psychological operations assessment while in the Middle East. While there, he helped find weapons and assist U.S. contractors build new schools and set up water systems. At times, they would walk by the schools and children would throw rocks at them, but he would just explain to the youths, "that we were there to help them, not to control them, but to help them."
Hebert recalled one young boy who carried a photo of Saddam Hussein in his wallet. He showed Hebert the picture and asked him if he was 'good.' Hebert told the boy that Saddam Hussein was a bad man. Because they lived in tyranny for so many years, they still believe he is coming back. The children there also don't take anything for granted since they have never been subject to materialistic things. They enjoy playing soccer in dirt fields, and the smallest of items are considered enormous gifts. When the military got boxes of shoes to hand out to the children, the youths tried to force them on even if they were the wrong size. Girls were also the proud recipients of zipper pencil pouches from the Girl Scouts. They were sent from the popular United States girls association with pencils and photos of the troop members.
"The children there have nothing, so they appreciated all they received," Hebert said.
Hebert noted he will hold many memories of Iraq for years to come.
"The people there are trying to do good and make their society better," he said. "They have a long way to go, but they are good people. Many Americans question why we're there, but they really need us and our help."
IT Strategies Consultant Applies Unconventional
Approach to Computer Career
(Las Vegas) - Eric Madsen, a senior consultant for IT Strategies since December of 2001, has found success right at his “fingertips.”
After originally beginning his career as a massage therapist in Colorado, Madsen later found his technology niche as an information technology expert in Las Vegas. What makes him unique is that he didn’t attend classes to learn his trade. Rather, he self-taught his way to becoming a well-rounded computer consultant.
“I was dedicated to learning the profession and the different aspects of it,” Madsen says. “It turned out to be the right decision and allowed me to pursue new opportunities.”
As an IT Strategies consultant, Madsen is currently working at the Las Vegas Water District in programming, where he assists with the GIS program and works with micro media flash, a groundwater management program. For the last three years, he has been compiling and implementing environmental data for office management. Since communication proves to be the biggest challenge, he helped establish a central location to view schedules, reports, and content management.
Since his career is dictated by the needs of clients, Madsen must delve into different technical areas and learn new things. GIS definitely peaked his interest, and he hopes to learn more about geography through his work. He also enjoys working with micro media flash.
Madsen plans on staying at the Las Vegas Water District for “as long as they will have him.”
“The water authority has a nice culture of people,” he says. “I love everyone I work with.”
Prior to joining IT Strategies, Madsen served as senior cold fusion developer for Webfamilies.com in Denver, where he developed content management systems and set up cold fusion applications for data conversion and storage. When he served as a massage therapist, he supplemented his income by working at Access Graphics, a Netscape distributor. It was there that he began his computer education by learning about HTML and developed a desire to self-teach himself more about technology.
When he joined the IT Strategies team, Madsen moved to Las Vegas with his wife, Kimberly. They have three children: Parker, 6, Quintin, 4, and Amaia, 1.
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