Helmut Forren

2180 Pleasant Hill Rd., Suite A-5100, Duluth, GA 30096 770-833-2529, fax 770-246-0740,

EDUCATION

06/11/88 Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech
Thesis: “Multiprocessor Design Methodology for Real-Time DSP Systems Represented by Shift-Invariant Flow Graphs”,
relating to organizing, load balancing, optimizing, and scheduling of tasks with complex interdependences; applicable to both programming and management responsibilities.
Minor in mathematics
3.8 GPA – Highest Honors

12/11/82 Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech
Specializing in Computer Systems and Applications, Quantum and Physical Electronics, and Digital Signal Processing
Minor in mathematics
3.5 GPA – High Honors

09/04/81 Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech
Emphasis on Microcomputer Hardware, Computer Science (Programming), and VLSI design
3.8 GPA – Highest Honors

EXPERIENCE

I am an expert in systems development, including all phases from architecture design through implementation, debugging, production, in-house and user documentation and presentation, marketing, sales and support. This expertise includes complex systems with database interaction, improved graphical user interfaces, OOPS programming with classes and controls for both short- and long-term growth of in-house core technologies and tools to ensure future scalability, accounting and other business software, as well as Internet with e-commerce systems.

v Extensive software development experience – 1975 to present (31 years)

v Extensive business and management experience – 1983 to present (23 years)

v Extensive Intranet, Internet, and e-commerce experience – 1994 to present (11 years)

v Extensive hardware and firmware development and production experience – 1982 to present (24 years)

Software development experience:

Programming Language and Operating System Experience – 1975 to present (active 31 years):

- Primary Languages and Concepts: C++ including .NET & C# (active 14 years), Visual C (active 14 years), C (active 25 years), BASIC including Visual Basic (active 31 years), OOP (13 years), FORTRAN (active 10 cumulative years).

- Database Experience: MS Access (active 10 years) , SQL Server (active 2 years), MySQL (active 7 years), generic relational databases (active 25 years).

- Internet Programming: Java Applets (4 years, active 1 cumulative year), Javascript (active 4 years), HTML (active 12 years), PHP (active 7 years), MySQL (active 7 years), PERL (active 2 cumulative years), ASP (introductory only but with quick competency given other experience).

- Operating Systems: Windows XT/2000/ME/NT/98/95/3.11/2.0/1.0 (active 25 years), DOS (active 25 years), UNIX (24 years, active 5 cumulative years). Also: VMS, NOS, EDX.

- Networks: Internet protocols (IP, TCP, UDP, active 8 years), multiple Windows networks (active 14 years), NOVELL (active 7 years).

- Assembly Language: Analog Devices SHARC DSP (active 3 years), Microchip RISC (active 11 years), Motorola 68* (23 years, active 10 cumulative years), Intel 80*86 (active 5 years), IBM Series/1 (active 5 years).

Designed and implemented Microsoft Windows and Internet-based systems and applications – 1979 to present (active 27 years):

- For BSC: Fourth generation applications development system with completely parameterized data entry, report generation and option menu processors; implemented in both Windows DLL’s and DOS TSR’s. (active 13 years)

- For BSC & ISS: Design and implementation of Windows based insurance risk management system using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) and Microsoft Access database. (active 12 years)

- For Arthur Andersen: Automated Internet file transfer utility using FTP. (active 1 year)

- For Forefront & Computech: Design and implementation of Windows-based TachTime and DataPro race-car data acquisition analysis software package, including sophisticated graphing procedures. (active 10 years)

- For Forefront & LapZapper: Design and implementation of Windows-based real-time centralized official timing and scoring software with visually advanced display features. (active 2 years)

- For Microsoft Information Highway PC Group: overall architecture and design of DLL’s, VxD’s, and NDIS device drivers for new Windows 95 system product. (active 1 year)

- For Microsoft Windows Printing Group: implementation and testing of the PCL emulator DLL used with the Windows Printing System product. (active 1 year)

Designed and implemented on mini- and micro- and handheld computers, including IBM PC’s – 1981 to present (active 25 years):

- Commercial image-handling software for Pocket PC using embedded C++ (active 1 year)

- Commercial applications for the IBM PC and IBM Series/1, including insurance risk management, general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, contribution processing, client time accounting, commissions receivable, and touch-screen building directory. (active 13 years)

- Automated clearing house communications and formatting for electronic funds transfers. (active 2 years)

- Custom indexed-sequential access database manager (Knuth’s btree method, DOS TSR and Windows DLL). (active 13 years)

- Numerous voice response telephone registration systems with real-time on-line host interaction. (active 3 years)

- Three automated credit card authorization systems: two using state-of-the-art Internet credit card gateway; the other using remote omron terminals communicating through asynchronous modems with 3780 bisync communications directly to federal banking host with no intervening gateway. (active 6 years)

- Energy management system featuring touch-tone and power line carrier communications. (active 2 years)

- Hand-held laser-scan inventory collection and management system. (active 2 years)

Intranet, Internet and e-commerce experience:

- Designed, implemented, installed, and maintain online shopping cart software for Libertarian Party of Georgia, and Voter Choice Coalition. (active 4 years)

- Designer and webmaster for Forefront Inc., Peachtree International Film Society, Libertarian Party of Georgia, and Voter Choice Coalition. (active 9 years)

- Designed, implemented, installed, and maintain intelligent user-interface web pages (PHP) and 65,000 record database (MySQL), compiled and reduced from 4.5 million record master State of Georgia database, for collecting citizen petition signatures and forwarding them to state legislators. (active 4 years)

- Designed, implemented, installed, and maintain website credit card acceptance gateway for Libertarian Party of Georgia and Voter Choice Coalition. (active 4 years)

- Automated credit card authorization system using remote omron terminals communicating through asynchronous modems with 3780 bisync communications to banking host. (1980’s intranet, active 2 years)

- Automated clearing house communications and formatting for electronic funds transfers. (1980’s intranet, active 2 years)

Business and project management experience:

- For BSC, senior programmer and group manager for several business and accounting software development projects. (active 9 years)

- Founder and president of Forefront Inc., specializing in software consulting and consumer electronic products for the amateur racing industry. In software, responsibilities include client relations and billing. In electronics, responsibilities include all aspects of product development (pc host software, embedded programming, circuit development and design, board layout and packaging design, testing), production, marketing, sales, accounting, and customer support. All other aspects of business management included in responsibility as well. (active 11 years)

- Assistant Director of local Atlanta 501(c)3 non-profit cultural educational organization. Responsibilities included managing up to 100 volunteers, each at one of a variety of responsibility levels; all relating to producing special events, coordinating publications and advertising, accommodating out-of-town VIP’s, event ticketing, membership dues processing, accounting. (active 7 years)

- Chairman of local 527 non-profit organization. Responsibilities include managing hundreds of volunteers statewide in hierarchical county structure, producing regular publications online and in print, processing membership dues and contributions, accounting, organizing and chairing annual business convention as well as monthly Executive Committee meetings, use of Roberts Rules of Order, press releases, public appearances. (active 5 years)

Hardware and firmware development and production experience:

Embedded systems – 1992 to present (active 14 years):

- VE-4 high-end consumer audio product based on heterogeneous multiprocessor platform; including Analog Devices digital signal processor and Microchip microcontroller, a mixed digital and analog solution employing four-layer printed circuit board and on-board switching power supply. Development required simultaneous use of three different emulator systems. Responsibilities included: embedded programming; circuit design; board layout; autorouter; manufacturing consulting; testing; documentation; consumer Internet upgrade software. (active 5 cumulative years: 1995, 1999-2002, LT Sound)

- TachTime and DataPro data acquisition system for road racing, circle track, and drag race applications; featuring frequency, digital, and analog input channels; SRAM data collection memory; complete with wiring harness and specialized sensor interfaces. Including system for real-time video overlay of data on video image from inside race car and infra-red lap timing system. Responsibilities included: embedded programming; circuit design; board layout; manufacturing consulting; testing; documentation; custom electronics packaging; completely integrated analysis software; complete marketing, sales, and support. (active 11 continuous years: 1992-present, Forefront and Computech Systems)

- Patent-pending 900 MHz RF communication system for race car timing and scoring; featuring low-cost transponder for placement in each vehicle plus finish-line base station; including exclusive in-cockpit lap time display capability. Responsibilities included: embedded programming; circuit design; board layout; manufacturing; custom electronics packaging; on-track testing; documentation; real-time centralized official timing and scoring software with visually advanced display features. (active 2 years: 1998-1999: Forefront and LapZapper)

- Numerous small electronic products for the racing industry, including weather stations and reaction timers; featuring atmospheric sensors with embedded IEEE floating point atmosphere analysis; motion sensors. Responsibilities included: embedded programming; circuit design; board layout; manufacturing consulting; testing; custom electronics packaging; customer support. (active 8 continuous years: 1995-present, Computech Systems)

Integrated Circuit Design – 1982 to 1985 (active 4 years):

- 100ns CMOS EPROM family for an IC manufacturer; 128K, 256K, and 512K versions; including actual IC design, testing, and fabrication.

- Very high speed digital CMOS SOS military communications IC with 68000 interface. Also: autorouter.

- Unique bit-serial multiply-and-accumulate chip for systolic arrays.

- Gate array RS-232 baud rate conversion chip (dual buffered UART).

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1979-1992 Sole Proprietor and Engineering Consultant for Lockheed Georgia, BSC, SCS, Delta Tech, Technology Dynamics, Insurance Software Solutions.

1992-Present Engineering Consultant for Forefront Inc., with clients including:

Microsoft, Arthur Andersen, Computech Systems, LT Sound, LapZapper, ID Network, Voice Computer Technologies, DAVOX, Insurance Software Solutions, SCS.