San Mateo, California, United States
Deeply Experienced Payments Industry Professional, currently working as Chief Systems Architect at Visa. I'm a part of the Architecture and Consulting team in the Payment Products Development organization. Longtime Software Engineer on Large-Scale, High-Speed Transaction Processing systems. Mentor and Technical Instructor. I've had the unique opportunity to experience the Payments Industry from multiple viewpoints: Starting off years ago as a clerk in BofA's Credit Card Back Office Operations, then progressing through various roles at the Bank and other places over the years in Software Development working to support those very systems. (First at BofA's Item Processing and Statementing systems; then moving on to working on Visa's Clearing and Settlement system.) These experiences have given me a 360º viewpoint of the ins and outs of the Payments Industry, as well as a sympathetic view of what our Business Partners' experience can be when working with Technology Organizations. Along the way, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend three years working as a Director on the Tech Excellence team, which ran Visa University’s Tech College. I acted as Primary, in-residence Payments Industry SME and Lead Technical Instructor, developing and delivering Visa-specific courses. This also included responsibility to act as "Dean of Faculty" of the Tech College, recruiting and recognizing elite-level, internal Subject Matter Experts from throughout the Technology organization, as well as the Enterprise at large, to act in the role of Leader/Teachers for our most critical courses that can only be taught by the most deeply experienced and knowledgeable Visa staff. I really value the variety of experiences that I’ve had, and I’m excited my ongoing opportunity to apply all my Industry Experience and Knowledge towards solving some of the Payments Industry's biggest challenges.
I design and oversee systems changes impacting VisaNet’s critical Payment applications, (Authorization, Clearing, and Settlement), within the Payment Products Development organization, in roles ranging from Evaluation of Business Requirements, creation of Conceptual Approach documents governing multiple Development organizations' direction, and providing Guidance and Feedback to all impacted Technology and Product groups.
I had the pleasant distinction of being the first "Subject Matter Expert in Residence" of Visa University's Tech College, where I was tasked with creating and delivering Visa-specific learning that could not be obtained by external vendors. In this role, I found that I was able to greatly expand my ability to connect the Business of Visa to each of Visa's Technology Organization’s key capabilities. Teaching about things in my area of expertise helped me strengthen what I already knew; teaching about things outside of my area of expertise broadened my perspective of the Payments Industry as a whole. I now feel like a far-more-seasoned contributor ~ dare I say, a *more* Proven Resource? ~ to Visa’s ongoing Success. Added bonus: I made so many positive connections with so many grateful Visa Employee-learners, that I could literally run for Mayor of this place... :)
Assembler, C/C++ developer working on Visa's Mainframe-based Clearing and Settlement system, providing world-class Software Development in Visa's extremely dynamic and demanding Transaction Processing/Payment Systems environment. Recognized as a technical leader on the Real-Time Settlement Interface (RSI) team, with a proven track record of delivering innovative, forward-looking solutions to a variety of key projects that are cornerstones of Visa's current and future success.
Assembler and COBOL developer working on Bank of America's Mainframe-based Check Processing application, (CPCS), in various capacities. Developed code and provided 7x24 support. Full SDLC protocol experience, from requirements gathering, to Design, to Developing, Testing, and ultimately installation.
Worked in Bank of America's Bankcard Center's Payment/Sales Draft Research department, working up from Research, to Heavy Research, and ultimately as a Workflow coordinator with a staff of 9 researchers reporting to me. Gained invaluable expereince and insight to the Backoffice operations in the Bankcard industry, ranging from Sales Draft request research, to Chargeback processing, and Item Suspense/Risk clerking.