David's Resume
David F. Carr
971 NW 124th Ave. Coral Springs FL 33071-5082
Phone: (954) 757-5827
david@carrcommunications.com
http://www.carrcommunications.com
Overview
Primarily seeking assignments writing and editing assignments, as well as web development and project management work. Twenty years of writing and editing experience for newspapers, magazines, and online media, as well as commercial projects (white papers, technical writing, and ghost writing). Web development experience includes PHP/MySQL database-driven websites, AJAX, and PayPal integration.
Experience
Baseline Magazine, Ziff Davis Media
2001 – Present: Research and write in-depth case studies on information technology implementation and management. As Technology Editor, advise the editorial team on technology issues the magazine should be covering.
- Produced a series of stories on the operations of large Internet properties, including Google, Yahoo, MySpace.com, and Second Life. My July 2006 "How Google Works" feature is widely referenced and remains one of the most popular stories on baselinemag.com.
- Corporate cover story subjects included Herman Miller, Aetna, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In each case, the challenge was to define the corporate goals the firm was pursuing with the help of information technology and find ways to measure the success of those efforts.
- Extracted relevant data from Securities and Exchange Commission filings and other documents. Created spreadsheet models of metrics influenced by information technology, such as retail inventory turns.
- Traveled to Sierra Leone for a cover story on how information technology supports the United Nations peacekeeping mission in this African nation. Served as both writer and photographer for this story.
- Joined as one of the first magazine staff members, prior to the publication of the first issue in October 2001, and helped turn it into a respected award-winning industry publication.
- Represented the magazine with a keynote speech on "Integration Successes and Flops" at the International Conference on COTS-Based Software Systems, an event focused on the impact of commercial off-the-shelf software on system planning, development, testing, and maintenance. Moderated panel discussions at a Ziff Davis Enterprise Virtualization Summit.
- Participated in a Project Technical Assessment Board review of plans to improve computer account management at NASA, which produced a critique of project management and planning.
Carr Communications
Feb. 1996 – Present: Launched a consulting firm to provide technical and marketing communications, as well as Web development, services.
Web development:
- Currently supporting a political/professional networking group, the Democratic Professionals Council, which has expanded from its beginnings in Palm Beach to operating as a statewide organization partly on the strength of its website and email campaigns. Created with the PHP programming language and MySQL database, the website includes custom email list management software, records RSVPs from members, and accepts donations via PayPal. An administrative back-end to the website allows chapter presidents and the organization's treasurer to track RSVPs and record income from both PayPal and checks.
- Manage several political campaign websites including votebryanmiller.com and timryanforsenate.com, as well as small business websites such as scottjbrookpa.com and arcmediation.com.
Writing and editing:
- Produced white papers, brochure copy, speeches, articles, and documentation. Clients included IBM, General DataComm, Genesis Development, IP Highway, Ontos, Cayenne Software, Universal Software, and Coopers & Lybrand.
Internet World Magazine (formerly Web Week), Penton Media
1996 – 2001: Played a leading role in magazine cover stories and news analysis for online edition. Moderated panel discussions at the Internet World trade shows and other industry events. Helped refine the magazine's focus to emphasize Internet usage by businesses of all types, not just dot-coms.
- Reported on technologies including Java, CORBA, Microsoft Web technologies, and XML Web services.
- Analyzed broader trends related to the development, deployment, operation, and support of Internet sites. This included business issues, such as deciding what to outsource.
- Ran the Best of Show Awards program at the Internet World trade shows.
- Started as a freelancer in early 1996 and joined the staff as Senior Editor in September 1997. Promoted to Technology Editor, then Senior Technology Editor.
Digital Communications Services
Aug. 1994 – Feb. 1996: Vice President of Technical Communication. Managed projects and marketing strategy for a firm that provided research, writing, editing, and illustration services to software development organizations, particularly regarding object technology.
- Brought in new business including white papers for Andersen Consulting and Gemstone Systems Inc., sales brochures for Hyperion Software, and object documentation for ITT Hartford and Xerox.
- Supervised a Smalltalk frameworks documentation project at ITT Hartford aimed at promoting code reuse.
- Edited white papers for Andersen Consulting and Gemstone. Wrote case studies for Gemstone's report on "Three-Tier Client/Server Architectures and Application Partitioning."
- Wrote sales brochures for Hyperion Software accounting products.
- Published articles in The Smalltalk Report and Object Magazine.
Waterbury Republican-American
June 1988 – July 1994: Starting as a small town beat reporter with this newspaper in Waterbury, Conn. Developed a specialty in computer assisted reporting and lobbied for adoption of technology in the newsroom.
Highlights:
- Exposed deceptive fundraising practices by the Connecticut Humane Society. Prompted an investigation by the Connecticut Attorney General's office.
- Analyzed government data using spreadsheets and databases. Resulting stories analyzed the growth in state spending and taxes compared with inflation.
- Developed and maintained a Novell network including Macintosh computers, PCs (OS/2 and Windows), and a TCP/IP link to the legacy typesetting system. Programmed utilities to translate between typesetting codes and the Quark XPress tag language.
Other
New Haven Register, 1986-1988, full-time internship, followed by freelance work.
Comtex Business News Services, Jan.-Sept. 1987, copy editor for online news service.
Education and Honors
- B.S. Journalism, Southern Connecticut State University, 1986.
- Certified PayPal developer, 2007.
- Novell Certified Network Administrator certificate, 1994.
- Smalltalk programming course, 1995.
- Second place award from the New England Associated Press for an investigative report on deceptive fundraising by the Connecticut Humane Society, 1989.
- Published science fiction stories in Writers of the Future (third place winner, 1987) and Amazing Stories .
- Society of Professional Journalists, Connecticut Chapter, 1987 to 1995. Served as Vice President., Secretary. Organized speakers program, edited newsletter.
- Venetian Isles Community Association, Secretary, 2003-2007. Worked with board to hire a new management company, make policy decisions.Revamped Web site.