Résumé for Michele Foster
Download My Résumé
509-261 Cooper Street
Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
K2P 0G3
Tel: (613) 232-7447
Email: michele@wizardev.ca
Enhanced security clearance
A note to readers:
The résumé presented below represents my entire work history. A more compact résumé is available for download in various formats (see above). Want to know more? – Contact me.
Computer Skills
Programming/Authoring
- XHTML – eXtensible HyperText Markup Language
- CSS – Cascading Style Sheets
- ASP – Active Server Pages (VBScript)
- VBScript – VisualBasic Script for ASP
- SQL – Structured Query Language
- Dreamweaver Template Language
Internet-Specific
- Deployment of sites on IIS and Unix Web servers
- Browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla/FireFox)
- File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Software (WS-FTP, Voyager, CuteFTP, FileZilla)
- Email (Outlook, Eudora, Outlook Express)
- Macromedia (now Adobe) Dreamweaver and Contribute
- ISAPI Rewrite
Graphics/Desktop Publishing Software
- PhotoShop and ImageReady
- Macromedia Fireworks
- Adobe Acrobat Writer/Distiller
- Adobe Illustrator
- CorelDraw
Desktop Applications
- MS Office (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint)
- WordPerfect for Windows and DOS
- Lotus 1-2-3
- MS Windows and MS DOS
Work Experience
WizarDev - Web Development Solutions
Internet Specialist
March 1998 – present
- Full responsibility for the day-to-day operations of running a small business including Accounts Payable/Receivable, purchasing of supplies, invoicing, budgeting, quotations, marketing, networking, client meetings, etc.
- Design, develop and maintain several web sites including brochure-like sites, product databases, web-based applications and e-commerce solutions for a wide variety of clients. Web sites are hand-coded in ASP and CSS to W3C standards as well as web accessibility and usability guidelines and best practices. Detailed web development project profiles are available.
- Creation of several MS Access databases for use on-line and as stand-alone internal applications. Detailed database development project profiles are available.
- Undertook Internet research projects, e.g. cross-cultural training and documents for international travellers.
- Word processing and desktop publishing services provided to several clients. Projects include complex technical reports, easy-to-read training manuals, brochures, newsletters, general correspondence, meeting minutes, etc.
- Design and creation of several PowerPoint presentations geared to a wide-variety of audiences, including both transparencies and on-screen slide shows.
- Designed and created an Access contact management database system for a car dealership. Various input forms, tables, queries and reports were prepared.
- Designed and created an Access project description database for an environmental consulting firm. An input form and a few sorting queries were set up to allow users to quickly extract the data required for proposal preparation and marketing initiatives.
- Undertook data entry, manipulation and analysis for the technical team working on the AERCo$tTM (Air Emissions Reduction Costing) Database.
- Prepared a technical the User's Guide for an emissions costing database program (AERCo$tTM) for Environment Canada.
- Organizational and logistical assistance provided for companies participating in trade shows which included ensuring that booths were in a strategic location, electrical, computer or other special requirements were pre-arranged, travel arrangements, transportation logistics of booth materials and product samples.
Natural Resources Canada (Government of Canada)
Internet Officer (IS-03)
November 2003 – March 2006
- Undertook the redevelopment of the Government of Canada's (GoC) bilingual Climate Change web site based on a pre-approved design. The new site was hand-coded in ASP and CSS to meet Common Look and Feel guidelines, departmental standards (where applicable), W3C standards, and Web accessibility/usability best practices.
- Responsible for the day-to-day development and maintenance of the Climate Change web site including various database-driven applications.
- Work with clients on developing, modifying and updating their content and various applications on the Climate Change web site. Suggest recommendations for improvement to their site content and graphical elements, as well as, provide advice on technical issues and database uses and implementation.
- Develop technical guidelines and protocols for outside suppliers preparing Web pages for the site.
- Research and analyze the effectiveness of all new site content for usability and accessibility.
- Research software, Internet technologies and Web development applications, as required.
- Designed and developed in ASP an Intranet site for use by the Climate Change Web team.
- Lead designer and co-developer of the One-Tonne Challenge Extranet site which is written in ASP, CSS and uses SQL Server databases.
Other duties:
- Analyze site traffic using WebTrends, prepare weekly, monthly and fiscal statistical reports and monitor search engine referral traffic.
- Undertook a needs assessment and evaluation of suppliers to provide multimedia streaming and encoding services.
- Analyze traffic resulting in 404 errors and redirect users with ISAPI Rewrite to the new site pages.
- Liaise with technical staff on configuration and other issues with the Web servers.
- Prepare and maintain technical documentation for the GoC Climate Change site including ISAPI Rewrite, ASP documentation and coding, CSS style guide, search engine optimization plan and multimedia information.
World University Service of Canada
Web and MS Access Developer
December 2002 – September 2003 (and contracts in 2004 and 2005)
- Undertook a complete redesign and redevelopment of the bilingual corporate Web site (~700 pages). The site was hand-coded in ASP, CSS, JavaScript and Dreamweaver MX template code (for use with Contribute). Research options and evaluated various stand-alone products for a search engine and forum on the site. Atomz search engine and Webwhiz forums were implemented on the new site. Customized PhotoShop templates were developed for staff to create photo galleries quickly and easily.
- Trained staff to update the site using Dreamweaver MX, Contribute and CSS. Comprehensive procedures, guidelines and site documentation was also created.
- Developed multi-page, interactive registration forms for use by international development workers in submitting their resumes and identifying their experience. These registration forms were developed in ASP and submit to an in-house Access database.
- Met with several departments to determine their needs for improving an existing multi-user, Access database. Extensive work was done to the database including modifying tables, reports, queries, macros and forms to better meet the identified requirements and improve the speed, security and functionality of the database for all users.
A detailed project profile is available.
Health Canada (Corporate Services Branch)
Desktop Publisher / Technical Support
October 2002
- Provided support in document creation, design, and advanced formatting for WordPerfect documents, Excel charts and PowerPoint presentations.
- Provided technical assistance on computer software related issues.
Industry Canada (Telecommunications Policy Branch)
Research Assistant / Desktop Publisher
September 2002
- Helped Branch employees with scanning and formatting of documents, inserting graphics and tables, printing of colour documents and presentations, and writing files to CD.
- Assisted employees on using a wide variety of software applications and resolved various software problems.
- Designed and produced layouts for graphic, tabular and statistical material in WordPerfect and PowerPoint.
- Helped produce a publication ensuring that departmental guidelines were respected for printing purposes. Submitted WordPerfect and Adobe formats to the Web development team.
- Distributed (via e-mail) ITU-T and ITU-R electronic documents on a daily basis.
SENES Consultants Limited
Executive Administrative Assistant
September 1990 – March 1999
- Word processing of all material for senior management which included, on a daily basis, reports, proposals, tables, presentations, letters, memos, overheads/transparencies, equations, meeting minutes, etc.
- Created flyers, brochures and bulletin-boards in Corel Draw and other applications, as required.
- Provided executive assistant duties to the President and other Senior Associates including liaison with clients and other staff members both in-house and at affiliated offices in the U.S. and Chile.
- Provided technical support for e-mail and BBS administration, printing problems, system malfunctions, software conversion, etc.
- Trained various staff members in different computer applications including Word, WordPerfect, Lotus, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet usage.
- Prepared the Technical Manual and User's Guide for a software program developed by the company which included advanced page set-up, tables, equations, indexing and cross-referencing.
- Undertook the reformatting of all corporate information (e.g., brochures, experience sheets, CVs) which included creating different presentation designs for final approval by a committee.
- Implemented the company-wide switch to WordPerfect 5.1 from WordStar 6.0 which included extensive training of other word processors and staff, writing of macros for daily use and set-up on all machines.
- Prepared several WordPerfect (5.1 and 6.0) databases for various projects which included advanced macro functions allowing the data to be sorted, indexed, and/or tabulated and printed automatically.
- Attended a training session for the Xerox 5760 colour photocopier which included editing and programming features available on this system. Used this system in the preparation of overheads and presentation material.
- Occasionally provided assistance in photocopying and binding of reports.
- Member of various in-house committees including Health and Safety Committee, Operations Committee and Computer Committee.
Pro-Die Industries (Division of Magna International Inc.)
Secretary / Receptionist / Accounting Clerk
October 1988 – September 1990
- Processed all confidential correspondence for general manager using Word Perfect 5.1.
- Prepared form letters, mailing lists, purchase orders, memorandums, quotations, charts, and invoices using WordPerfect 5.1.
- Maintained customer and supplier lists for general manager and purchasing department.
- Maintained databases such as employee records, fixed assets, calculation of insurance premiums, job lists, and other files using Lotus 1-2-3, as well as editing and revising data and macros as required.
- Various accounts payable/receivable duties as directed by the accounting manager.
Pictures (Markville Shopping Centre)
Store Manager (promoted from Sales Clerk)
September 1986 – February 1989
- Supervised 4 part-time employees.
- Responsible for all banking transactions, deposits, cash, credit card, and cheque sales.
- Purchased and monitored store inventory and custom framing orders.
- Produced weekly report of product sales.
Volunteer Work
- Former co-administrator for f2o.org, an online community providing free web hosting to web developers.
- Former co-administrator of evolt.org, an online community for web professionals.
- Active participant in several on-line mailing lists for web professionals.
- BluesFest.
- Winterlude.
- Taught children and adults how to paint ceramics.
- Trouble-shoot family and friends' computers (software and hardware issues).
- Taught one-on-one computer courses.
Education
- Several computer courses/seminars attended including Office 97 applications, Corel Draw 5.0, WordPerfect 5.0, Lotus 1-2-3, dBase IV, MS-DOS.
- Markham District High School – Received Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma. Major courses studied were related to Business Administration.
