Erik Karl Hoffmann

Erik K. Hoffmann is an experienced senior software engineer/architect, specializing in full life cycle business system implementation utilizing cutting edge technologies, with 28 years of professional experience in delivering retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and imaging solutions for the desktop and the web using Microsoft tools, technologies, and best practices.

After graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor in Computer Science from the University of Missouri-Rolla, Mr. Hoffmann joined the Research and Development department of Consumer Products Incorporated (CPI)(www.cpicorp.com), a St. Louis based photography and manufacturing company. During his tenure at CPI, Erik was involved in the design and implementation of sales presentation software, point of sale software, CPI’s Store Automation System (SAS), and digital camera systems.

In February 2000, CPI spun off the Research and Development group as Centrics Technology. From February 2000 till December 2003, Erik was intimately involved with the analysis, design and implementation of image processing systems, application frameworks, online retail sites, digital manufacturing systems, and continuing work on CPI’s sales presentation systems, point of sale, and camera systems. Erik was also heavily involved in user requirements gathering, project planning and estimation, recruiting and interviewing, process improvement, prototyping applications for potential clients, and presenting at tradeshows.

In January 2003, Erik joined Centrics LLC (www.centrics.com), a technology company specializing in enabling companies to offer branded personalized products through an exclusive network of manufacturers, branded albuming and ecommerce sites, and a digital manufacturing system specialized for photo gifting.

To contact Erik Hoffmann, please email ehoffmann@ekhweb.com.

Erik has worked with many different clients, including:

When not working with clients, Erik enjoys spending time with his family and working on his personal web platform, www.ekhweb.com, a C# .NET web site built upon a custom object relational mapping framework.

Erik Hoffmann
ehoffmann@ekhweb.com
Qualifications
  • 28 years of professional software development experience in delivering retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and imaging solutions for the desktop and the web using Microsoft tools, technologies, and best practices.
  • Strong background in full product lifecycle and software development methodologies
  • Detail and process orientated, excellent troubleshooting and testing skills
  • Experienced with internationalization and localization of software
  • Experienced technical recruiter and interviewer
  • Experienced in mentoring, process improvement, project definition, work assignment and monitoring, quality assessments
Work Experience
July 2006-Present Centrics LLC - Fenton, MO
Senior Software Engineer
Performing analysis/design/implementation/maintenance of ecommerce sites, manufacturing systems, and B2B web services utilizing C#/VB.NET AJAX/JavaScript/CSS/DHTML and SQL Server
  • Implemented Adobe Flex based product ordering wizard with Adobe AIR rendering pipeline
  • Implemented online ASP.NET AJAX photo editing pipeline utilizing Aurigima components for the backend processing
  • Implemented Multi-surface Photo Product Ordering Wizard
  • Implemented SellSystems Manufacturing Interface Web Portal allowing manufacturers and retailers to view and manager their online accounts and orders
  • Implemented Personalized Photo Calendar Ordering Wizard
  • Performed many integrations with third party companies for data import/export (web services, xml)
  • Migrated web systems from .NET 1.1, 2.0 to .NET 4.0 + ASP.NET AJAX
  • Designed and implemented generic system health job execution framework to allow scripted monitoring and reporting on production systems
  • Various enhancements on custom in-house work and defect tracking system
  • Provided technical support for web sites and manufacturing systems
  • Managed SQL 2000/2005/2008 databases (installation, backup plans and maintenance, stored proc & index maintenance, etc)
  • Managed Cisco ASA firewall
  • Managed LoadMaster hardware load balancer
January 2005-July 2006 Maritz, Inc - Fenton, MO
Technical Lead (Consultant for SBS Creatix)
Technical Environment: .NET 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, Visual Studio .NET 2003, SQL Server 2000 ADO.NET, COM, DHTML/CSS/JavaScript, Flash, ASP 3.0, Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Visual Source Safe, custom defect & tracking tools
  • Project: American Express WishList Project Extended existing ASP.NET and C# eCommerce application with new functionality for limited sales batch/timeframe concepts. Coordinated onsite and offshore resources to perform analysis, design, implementation, and testing. Enforced process compliance on code reviews. Performed functional and load testing of application. Performed post launch defect & reporting support.
  • Project: American Express IN:CITY Credit Card Sites Managed a team of 10 developers (onsite and offshore) to successfully launch four ASP.NET/C# 1.1 credit card point program web sites and the corresponding administration tool (in-la.com, inchicago.com, innyc.com & maintenance tool) within an extremely tight marketing driven deadline.
  • Project: American Express Membership Rewards Redesign Implemented new interface and introduced strong integration with Endeca (endeca.com) search technologies for large volume point catalog site www.membershiprewards.com in ASP.C#/NET 1.1
  • Project: American Express Membership Rewards Maintenance Tool Extensions Implemented changes to the existing administrative data entry & management application to support changes introduced in an earlier project for this client
January 2003-January 2005 Centrics LLC - Creve Couer, MO
Senior Software Engineer
Performed analysis/design/implementation/maintenance of eCommerce sites, manufacturing systems, B2B web services, and third party consulting utilizing ASP.NET, C#/VB.NET, SQL 2000, Visual Studio 2002/2003, JavaScript, DHTML, XML, Adobe Graphics Server, and Web Services
  • Designed and implemented portions of the SellSystems Manufacturing Interface & Manufacturing system; a B2B web service & manufacturing system to enable retailers and manufacturers of personalized goods to efficiently do business.
  • Performed business system and process analysis and documentation to identify client's workflow issues and prepare system change proposals
  • Implementation of e-commerce platforms using Microsoft Visual Studio 2002/2003, Visual Basic. NET, Log4Net, .Net 1.0/1.1, ASP.NET, JavaScript, SQL Server 2000, Storefront. NET, Web Services, and Centrics SELL Systems.(http://www.personalizedballoonstore.com, http://www.myballoons.com, http://www.photogiftplace.com,http://www.photogiftworks.com)
  • Design and Implementation of http://www.myhomepics.com (an online gallery for home buyers) using Microsoft Visual Studio 2002/2003, C#, .Net 1.0/1.1, ASP.NET, Log4Net, SQL Server 2000.
  • Presenter at 2003 PMA (Photographic Marketing Association Conference in Las Vegas), promoting 3M & Anagram product
  • Designed and implemented Centrics SELL Systems Personalized Digital Products Platform using Visual Studio 2002/2003, .NET 1.0/1.1, C#, ASP.NET, JavaScript, SQL Server 2000, Adobe Graphics Server, ABCUPload.NET, NUNIT 2.0, Log4Net 1.1, and ITextSharp. The Centrics SELL Systems PDP Platform provides core functionality to enable partner retailers to add personalized product ordering to their web sites, and to provide tools that enable partner/manufacturing vendors to efficiently produce these personalized products.
  • Port and Extension of in-house work and defect tracking system using Visual Studio 2002/2003, C#, .NET 1.0/1.1, ASP.NET, SQL Server 2000, JavaScript, Microsoft Data Access Application Blocks
  • Design and implementation of in-house work and defect tracking system utilizing JSP/JSTL (Java Server Pages), J2EE, JavaScript, Struts, Tomcat, and Sun One Studio, SQL Server 2000
  • Consultant for CPI Corporation, providing support, troubleshooting, and enhancements for www.searsphotos.com and internal digital manufacturing systems; increased potential sales 40% and increased the percentage of returning customer sales
February 2000-January 2003 Centrics Technology - Creve Couer, MO
Senior Software Engineer
Responsible for the analysis/design/implementation/maintenance and support of point of sale, sales presentation, image acquisition and processing, online order entry systems using C++, ODBC, MFC, ATL, STL, Visual Basic, COM/COM+/DCOM, ASP, XML, JavaScript/DHTML, PVCS (version control software) , Informix and SQL Server 2000.
  • Developed prototypes for Kinko's new store systems initiative and participated in exhibition at large conferences.
  • Kinko's Picnic Conference - Presenter and technical support
  • Technical lead responsibilities (Mentoring, Process Improvement, Project definition, work assignment and monitoring, quality assessments)
  • Provided technical leadership to other team members (resident expert on COM/DCOM/COM+, internal system application frameworks, ATL, C++, Visual Basic, .NET, C#, VB.NET, and general programming practices)
  • Redesigned and converted CPI's existing store systems platform from C++/Visual Basic/Informix to C#/Visual Basic. NET/Visual Basic 6.0/Database agnostic platform using custom code generators, translators, business object re-design, and COM interop
  • Designed and implemented image processing pipe line using C++, MFC, ATL, STL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0. The imaging pipeline implemented many standard and advanced features such as support of multiple file formats, cropping, resizing, n-degree rotation, overlays, flips, black and white, sepias, alpha blends, warping, ICC profile application, scripting of image manipulations (including streaming of 'script' to database or XML streams.). This pipeline was built on top of several libraries including the Intel Image Processing Library, libPNG, libTIFF, Independent JPEG Group, Kodak ICC Profile Suite, Lurawave, MSXML, and Image Gear.
  • Designed and implemented major features of a Digital Manufacturing System (web based batch management, image rendering, system integration) using C++, MFC, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, STL, ATL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6., ASP, JavaScript, XML/XSLT, Kodak DP2, Kodak color management and correction libraries
  • Participated in the review/maintenance/enhancements of the core application framework(C++, MFC, ATL, STL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0) for CPI systems. This framework manages data storage, interaction with ODBC data sources, SQL building, job scheduling, core services, wrappers to operating system services, data replication, and basic data structures
  • Updated http://www.searsphotos.com website using ASP, Visual Basic 6.0, XML/XSLT, COM+ components, SQL Server 2000 stored procedures) to enhance functionality
  • Developed an HTTP upload application using C++, MFC, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, STL, ATL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 to enable the customer to order film-based content from their portrait sitting online.
  • Assisted in capturing and refining user requirements
  • Provided software system and application architecture, analysis, design and test specifications that met user requirements within schedule and budget constraints, while upholding corporate and industry standards and conventions.
  • Administered PVCS (version control software) projects by monitoring configuration and promotion of source code (review of changes for correctness, consistency and conformance to standards)
  • Responsible for product builds. Reviewed changes, change requests, updated project status, acted as final quality check prior to formal testing.
  • Reviewed peer developer specifications and source code for accuracy and completeness
  • Provided end user and technical documentation
  • Recruited at local colleges (Rolla, Washington University, Purdue)
  • Interviewed applicants (entry level and experienced) for software engineering positions
  • Researched and evaluated new technologies and toolsets for new and existing projects
October 1996-February 2000 CPI Corp - Saint Louis, MO
Senior Software Engineer
Responsible for the analysis/design/implementation/maintenance and support of point of sale, sales presentation, image acquisition and processing, and online order entry systems using C++, MFC, ATL, STL, Visual Basic, COM/COM+/DCOM, and Informix
  • Participated in the review/maintenance/enhancements of the core framework(C++, MFC, ATL, STL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0) for CPI systems
  • Designed print/render queue system for dye sublimation printers using C++, MFC, ATL, STL, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.
  • Created software interfaces for the following devices: Kodak CCD, Sony DKC-ST5, dye sublimation printers (Kodak XLS 8600, Sony UPD7000, Sony UPD70a), and CPI's custom camera room hardware. Developed using C++, MFC, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, STL, ATL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6. ASPI, TWAIN, and custom serial protocols utilized to talk to the devices.
  • Participated in the design and development of over 30 of the client side screens using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 for CPI's Store Automation System.
  • Responsible for the design/implementation/maintenance of business object components (C++, MFC, ATL, STL & Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0) in the Point of Sale system. Subsystems worked on include: Image meta-data management, inventory management, customer and manufacturing orders, pricing, promotions, production tracking, accounting, customer data, job scheduling, and data import/export
  • Facilitated meetings with end users and business experts to determine system architecture needs for Point of Sale software, camera acquisition software, Digital Manufacturing System, and custom hardware support systems
  • Assisted in capturing and refining user requirements
  • Provided software system and application architecture, analysis, design and test specifications that met user requirements within schedule and budget constraints, while upholding corporate and industry standards and conventions.
  • Administered PVCS (version control software) projects
  • Responsible for software product builds. Reviewed changes, change requests, updated project status, acted as final quality check prior to formal testing.
  • Created install applications using Install Shield.
  • Reviewed peer developer specifications and source code for accuracy and completeness
  • Provided end user and technical documentation
Training
  • Software Process development
  • Kodak DP2 Training
  • Code review and estimation workshop by Software Productivity Center
  • Software Internationalization
  • Developmentor classes ( Guerilla Distributed Services, Effective C++ for C Programmers, Writing NT Device Drivers, Essential Win32, Essential COM, Intensive .NET )
References
Available upon request
Education
  • Bachelors of Science in Computer Science University of Missouri - Rolla May 1996
Experienced with:
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5
  • C#
  • VB.NET
  • ASP.NET, AJAX Control Toolkit, Silverlight
  • Adobe Flash 9, 10, 11
  • Adobe Flash Builder 4.0, 4.6
  • Adobe Flex Framework
  • HTML/DHTML/JavaScript/CSS
  • SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008
  • Visual Studio 2002/2003/2005/2008/2010
  • Version Control Systems: Microsoft Team Foundation Server, QVCS, PVCS, GIT, Mecurial, Source Safe
  • XML/XSLT
  • Microsoft Application Building Blocks
  • ADO.NET
  • ASP
  • COM/DCOM/ActiveX/COM+(1.0 & 1.5)
  • Visual Studio 6.0 / Visual Basic 4, 5, 6
  • StoreFront web shopping cart
  • Visual C++ (STL, ATL, MFC)
  • NT/Windows service implementation
  • Lurawave
  • Telerik components
  • WebSuperGoo components (ABCUpload.NET, ABCPDF.NET)
  • Log4Net
  • Nunit
  • Intel Image Processing Library
  • LibPNG, LibTiff, Independent JPEG Group
  • Kodak ICC Profile Suite
  • Kodak DP2 Digital Print Software
  • Adobe Graphics Server
  • InstallShield
  • Windows Server 2000, 2003, 2008
  • Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista, Windows 7
  • Java: JSP/JSTL, J2EE, Struts, Tomcat, Sun One Studio, Eclipse
  • Perl
  • Powershell
  • Microsoft Office Suite (2000, 2003, 2007, 2010)
  • Photoshop 5/6/7/CS2
Types of Work Performed:
  • Web applications and services
  • Windows applications, services and utilities
  • Web design and implementation (Portal based and Custom)
  • Intranet development
  • Work/Defect tracking systems
  • Third party integration
  • Business Process Analysis/Documentation
  • Full Cycle Software Application Development
  • Online credit card transaction processing (integration with gateways)
  • Automation of manual processes
  • Application integration
  • System prototyping / User Interface Design
  • Technical Research
  • Enabling reporting on existing systems
  • Process control/improvement
  • Document version control
  • Requirements analysis
  • Database Design
  • Application Design
  • Technical Documentation
  • Technical Recruiting and Interviews
  • Software Code Review
  • Mentoring
  • Training
  • Internationalization and Localization of software
  • Tradeshows and presentations
Industry Types Involved In:
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail POS
  • Online Business to Business
  • Online Retailer/eCommerce (B2C)(OLTP)
  • Copy\Print
  • Photographic/Photofinishing
Types of Systems Involved In:
  • eCommerce
  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Online Retail/Portals
  • Web applications and services
  • Windows applications, services and utilities
  • Photographic/Photofinishing
  • Image Processing