Training and Performance-Centered Design (Electronic Performance Support Systems, EPSS) Historic Preservation Web Site Design Cartography/GIS Frank Brusca
112 Executive Court
Westerville OH 43081
(614) 523-2284 - (614) 901-2379 FAX
frank@kingsfield.com
Background Resume Skills Summary


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Frank X. Brusca

112 Executive Court   
(614) 523-2284 Voice
Westerville, OH 43081 
(614) 901-2379 FAX
frank@kingsfield.com
(937) 360-4538 Cell

Systems Specialist
Expertise with Large and Small Scale Projects

A recognized expert in the integration of intuitive, easy to use designs in mission critical applications...
An award-wining professional with nine years of human factors experience. Proven track record, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget. Exceeds client expectations. Strong Project Management expertise. Well versed in the financial/insurance, retail, hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Professional, creative, self-motivated and highly dedicated.

Areas of Expertise

  • Advocate for Usability and Intuitiveness
  • Windows, Mac OS, UNIX, OS2
  • Multiple Application Development Tools (Visual Basic, Dreamweaver UltraDev, CourseBuilder, ASP, VBScript, JavaScipt, PERL, Photoshop, Flash, etc.)
  • Dynamic, Database-Driven Web Site Development
  • Web-Based Training
  • LSM/LCMS/PeopleSoft HRMS Background
  • Working Knowledge of AICC & SCORM
  • Client Management
  • Hardware / Software Evaluation
  • Written & Spoken Communications
  • Appropriate Use of Learning Technologies
  • Accomplished Industrial Video and Film Producer
  • Client Management
  • Microsoft Project & Office Professional Suite Power User

Career Progression

ARIEL PERFORMANCE CENTERED SYSTEMS, INC. (www.arielpcs.com) - Cincinnati, Ohio

[The industry leader in the field of human factors engineering and system usability.]

Partner and Sr. Consultant (1998-2002)

Develop proposals per client requests.  Provide system design, architecture and development services across multiple teams.  Serve as de facto Chief Technical Officer.  Organizational leadership.  Develop marketing plans and external communication media.  Coordinated legal protections of company's intellectual property.

Representative Projects:

  • Designed and managed a web-based learning system for a major retailer (Payless ShoeSource).  Selected system technologies based on client's needs and their appropriateness.  Architected and developed a database-driven information system using Dreamweaver, CourseBuilder, SQL and ADO.  In a published controlled study, Payless measured additional annual revenues of $400 million.  This system was also a Performance Support Design Winner at Online Learning 2000.
  • With human factors expert Gloria Gery, created web-based tools for a Fortune 10 financial services company.
  • Managed the front-end design and underlying processes for John Deere's web-based GIS system, DeereTrax (www.http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/deeretrax/deeretrax_home.html). Developed iconography and metaphors to facilitate ease of use.  Created algorithms for converting geo-spatial data to meaningful place names.
  • Managed the front-end design for a multi-site B2B service.  Created multiple iterations of web-based user interfaces and querying processes for diverse audiences.
  • Participated in usability engineering and knowledge transfer projects with two financial services companies.  Designed prototypes and facilitated the technical transfers with the clients' IT departments.
  • Developed a rapid prototype and wrote a usability assessment for a Fortune 20 financial services company using Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
  • Created database-driven, web-based multimedia training content for a financial services company using Flash.
  • Provided three commercial organizations and one federal agency with learning management system consulting with a focus on AICC and SCORM.
  • Designed and built the Ariel web site (www.arielpcs.com) using Dreamweaver UltraDev, ASP, ADO and other technologies.

AUNTSTELLA.COM (formerly located at www.auntstella.com - please note this domain has since been transferred to a different company with the same name) - Yellow Springs, Ohio

[Online retailer specializing in custom greeting cards and handmade gifts.]

Chief Technical Officer (1999-2001)

Designed, built and maintained all IT systems.

Representative Projects:

  • Designed and built an e-commerce site with a focus on ease of use.  Developed using BSD OS, Apache web server, Miva Merchant e-commerce engine.  Was selected by the Miva Corporation (shopping cart system) as their showcase e-commerce site in September, 2000.
  • Web development in HTML, XML, JavaScript, MivaScript, PERL, MivaScript, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, ImageSecure, ImageRobot and Microsoft Office.
  • Created an image encryption process that protected licensed copyrighted images.
  • Network architecture and engineering to support business operations.

ROUTE40.NET (www.route40.net) - Yellow Springs & Westerville, Ohio

[Information clearinghouse for one of America's most historic highways.]

Site owner, designer, programmer and graphic artist (1995-present)

Representative Responsibility:

  • Designed and developed one of the most popular web sites dedicated to the history and culture of the highway U.S. Route 40.  Developed using BSD OS, Apache web server, Dreamweaver UltraDev, JavaScript, PERL, Photoshop, ImageRobot.  The site has logged over 150,000 visitors and has been featured in a three-page article in Delta's in-flight magazine Sky (April 2000), USAToday, Washington Post, Denver Post and numerous syndicated articles.  Other site awards include Best of the ‘Net, Fall 1997, and Internet Top 5%, Spring 1997.

GLORIAGERY.COM (www.gloriagery.com) - Tolland, Massachusetts

[Information portal for one of the world's leading usability experts.]

Designer, programmer and graphic artist (2001-2002)

Representative Responsibility:

  • Designed and developed a database-driven web site for Gloria Gery using Dreamweaver UltraDev, ADO, ASP, Photoshop, IIS.  Created a custom web-based content management system.

NCR CORPORATION (www.ncr.com; formerly AT&T Global Information Solutions) - Dayton, Ohio

[Industry leading manufacturer of financial transaction systems (sorters, ATM, etc.) and retail point of sale terminals.  Also a leader in the data warehousing industry with its Teradata division.]

Systems Architect & Usability Specialist, NCR University & Professional Services (1993-1998)

Provided technology leadership to NCR's global learning community.  Led the consolidation efforts for NCR's global LMS and served on the company's Global Learning Leadership Team.  Designed, architected, developed and managed learning technology solutions.  Developed proposals in response to client request.

Representative Projects:

  • Managed the research, selection and deployment of an enterprise-wide learning management system (LMS).  The LMS was made available to 35,000 employees in 104 countries; adhered to EU privacy statutes and interfaced with the company's PeopleSoft HRMS modules and other AICC systems.
  • Oversaw the deployment of a global learning web server containing 500+ web-based training courses.
  • Analyzed, designed and managed support for a business reengineering effort.  Developed systems using Visual Basic, the M4 artificial intelligence engine and multilingual capabilities (using external text string files).  Created on-line help files and interactive Cue Cards using RoboHelp and Doc-to-Help.
  • Designed, developed and managed interactive computer-based and classroom curricula for NCR's retail, financial and hospitality lines of business.  Systems developed using Visual Basic, IconAuthor, Toolbook and Photoshop.  Clients included SunTrust (financial), Wal*Mart, McDonalds, Strawberries (retail), National Convenience Stores, Albertson's (retail), AT&T and United Airlines.
  • Created initial system prototypes for Apollo Travel Services (United Airlines) using Visual Basic.

GOUCHER COLLEGE (www.goucher.edu) - Towson, Maryland

Information Desk Librarian (1986--1988)  

Representative Responsibilities:

  • Managed the college library during evening hours.
  • Responded to patron requests for information.
  • Assisted with the library's information technologies including computer networking, satellite downlinks.

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION (www.westinghouse.com; this division was later bought by Northrup Grumman, www.northgrum.com) - Baltimore, Maryland)

[Manufacturer of radar and other high technology communications systems.]

Instructional/Information Specialist, Electronic Systems Group (1978-1993)

Design, developed and managed contractual learning solutions.  Partnered with training groups to teach effective use of multimedia.  Engineered corporate audio and video systems.  Developed proposals in response to client request.

Representative Projects:

  • Supported organizational and contractual requirements by designing, writing, editing, directing and producing informational and instructional media (primarily film, video and interactive videodisc). Programmed systems using Pilot, IconAuthor and proprietary development tools. Video hardware included professional grade 1", BetaCam, CMX, Teac/TASCAM.
  • Wrote, directed, produced and directed a series of successful interactive point-of-information kiosks for the State of Maryland and the Mass Transit Administration (Baltimore).  Developed with OS2, IconAuthor and IBM touch screens.
  • Managed the corporate auditorium and AV equipment.

Technical Knowledge

Platforms - DOS, Windows NT/2000, UNIX, Mac OS, OS/2

Internet - Mosaic, IE, Netscape, Opera, Lynx, Dreamweaver UltraDev, FrontPage, FTP, Telnet, SSH, Apache, IIS, IRC, IM, Firewall, Bobby

Programming - Visual Basic, Dreamweaver, RoboHelp, HTML, VB Script, ASP, VBA, JavaScript, PERL, Visual Café, IconAuthor, Authorware, Quest, Pilot, dBase

Graphics/Authoring - Photoshop, PaintShop, Image Robot, Fireworks, Corel Draw!, Animation Shop, Acrobat, ORC, Ventura

Multimedia - Pinnacle Studio, Premiere, Gold Wave, Flash, QuickTime VR, Streaming Media, MP3

Basics/Database - MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Publisher), MS Project, Flat Files, SQL, dBase

Equipment - Scanners, CD-RW, DVD+RW, Slide/Film Scanners, Digital Cameras (still and video), Laser Printers (monochrome & color), USB, Firewire, POS

Networking - Hubs, Routers, Print Servers, ISDN, TCP/IP

Historic Preservation - Transportation, highways (Route 40, Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway), milestones, diners, petrolinia

Cartography / GIS - GPS, Delorme (XMap, Map Expert, Topo USA, 3D Topo Quads, Ertha, Street Atlas, Map and Go)

Education

Towson State University, Towson, Maryland

M.S., 1992.....Instructional Technology

B.S., 1978

Additional Training

  • Ariel PCS Methodologies, Ariel PCS, Mountain View, CA
  • Building Performance Support Systems, Ariel PSE, Atlanta, GA
  • Managing Projects in Organizations, George Washington University/NCR, Dayton, OH
  • MediaScript Authoring, Network Technologies, Springfield, VA
  • Microsoft Project, ExecuTrain, Dayton, OH
  • Quest Authoring, Allen Communications, Denver, CO

Publications & Presentations

[By or about Frank Brusca; all publications by Frank Brusca unless otherwise noted.]

  • Fifty Years on Forty.  Manuscript in progress.  Tentative publication in 2003-2004.
  • "Yankee Milestones."  Journal of the Milestone Society [U.K.].  September 2002.
  • Zibart, Eve.  "Time Travel."  Washington Post.  August 23, 2002.
  • Corridor Management Plan for the Ohio National Road Scenic Byway.  Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Preservation Office.  November, 2001.  Contributor and consultant.
  • "First Things First: Developing a Visionary Design for Knowledge Management."  Paper presented at KM World, Santa Clara, CA.  October 31, 2001.
  • "It Ain't Gonna Swing without that Vision Thing: Making the case for visionary design prototypes."  Paper presented at Performance Support '01, Los Angeles, CA.  October 3, 2001.
  • Moline, Matt.  "Some get kicks from Route 40."  Topeka Capital-Journal.  December 10, 2000.  pp. 1A, 14A.
  • "Click Here for Success: Online Support for a Grassroots Petition Campaign."  GSA Intergovernmental Newsletter.  December 2000.
  • "EPSS in the Marketplace: Applying Performance-Centered Designs to e-Commerce."  Paper presented at Performance Support '00, Denver, CO.  September 24, 2000.
  • Batz, Bob.  "Route 40 on road to comeback."  Dayton Daily News.  July 9, 2000.  pp. E1, E4.
  • Grossmann, John.  "A Road Really Less Traveled."  Sky.  April 2000.
  • "Developers are from Mars, Trainers are from Venus, Users are from Earth." Paper presented at Performance Support '99, Los Angeles, CA.  October 19, 1999.
  • "NCR University: Architecture, Deployment and Management of a Global Learning System." Paper presented at Managing a Corporate University, IQPC, Chicago, IL.  March 24, 1998.
  • Weiser, Carl.  "Historic Route 40 now on info Superhighway."  Denver Post.  December 25, 1997.  Syndicated.  Also appeared in the Wilmington News Journal on December 27, 1997.
  • "Designing Decision Support Systems for Media Selection."  Paper presented at EdMedia ‘97: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Calgary, Alberta. June 20, 1997.
  • "Using Decision Support Systems to Select Appropriate Instructional Media."  Paper presented at Multimedia ’97: Society for Applied Learning Technology, Orlando, Florida. February 20, 1997.
  • "Milestone Documentation Underway."  Milepost.  Vol. 1, No. 4. October 1995. pp. 3, 7.
  • "Reengineering driven performance support at AT&T Global Information Solutions."  Paper presented at Performance Support ‘95, Washington, D.C. September 7, 1995.
  • "Historic Road Traced through Its Milestones."  Capper's.  August 29, 1995. p. 8.
  • Albrecht, Robert.  "Ohioan Drawn to Old Route."  Columbus Dispatch.  August 27, 1995.  pp. B1-2.
  • Hays, Jim.  "Milestones along the National Road."  Springfield News-Sun.  August 21, 1995. pp. 9, 12.
  • "Historic Road Traced through Its Milestones."  Larimer County [Colorado] Historical Society Newsletter.  1995.
  • Pfeffenberger, Rachelle.  "Yellow Springs man hits the road to pursue milestone hobby."  Xenia Gazette.  July 19, 1995. p. 6.
  • Temple, Amanda.  "Old National Road receives recognition."  Richmond Palladium-Item.  July 16, 1995. p. A2.
  • "Man researching old milestones."  The Madison Press.  July 7, 1995. p. 10.
  • Mannweiler, David.  "Digging out the old signs."  Indianapolis News.  July 6, 1995. p. C1.
  • Maxwell, Alison.  "Milestones mark history."  Frederick [MD] Post.  June 26, 1995.
  • "Historian Seeks Road Markers: Old National Road Focus of Ohio Man's Search."  Hendricks County Flyer.  June 24-30, 1995. pp. B1, 8.
  • "Yellow Springs resident documents old National Road milestones."  Fairborn Daily Herald.  June 24, 1995. p. 3.
  • "Technology-based instructional media: A primer for trainers."  Linton Training Sourcebook.  1995.
  • "The technological gender gap: Considerations for trainers."  Educational Technology Research and Development, 21(3).  1992.
  • Maryland ITVA Videogram.  Various articles.  1991-1992.  Editor, writer and desktop publisher.
  • "Making successful presentations: A self-teaching guide."  Wiley Press, 1983.  Contributing editor.

Awards

  • Performance Support Design winner, September, 2000.  Online Learning/Performance Support Conference.
  • Miva Corporation e-Commerce Showcase, September, 2000.
  • Frank's web site development work has been featured in Delta Airlines' Sky magazine (April, 2000), USAToday, Acura Driver, Ohio magazine and dozens of local newspapers.
  • Communications Award, October 1997.  NCR Corporation.
  • Best of the ‘Net, Fall 1997, and Internet Top 5%, Spring 1997.  Awards for web site design.
  • Great Performer Award, 1994-1995.  NCR Corporation.
  • Customer Dedication Award, 1994.  NCR Corporation.
  • Customer Dedication Award, 1993.  NCR Corporation.

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Current/past member of:
    • American Society of Training and Development
    • International Society for Performance and Instruction
    • International Television Association
    • Society for Applied Learning Technology

  • Between 1991-92, served as the communications officer of the Maryland chapter of ITVA.

  • Board Member, Society for Commercial Archaeology (2002- )
  • Board of Directors, Ohio National Road Association (2002- )