John L. Taylor
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
I am a Business Systems Analyst with multiple technical certifications and experience in an array of technologies, statistical analyses, and instruction. I am passionate about learning, teaching, and problem solving. My qualifications include:
- Skills: Business Analysis, Business Intelligence, Statistical Analysis, Requirements Gathering, Business Process Improvement, Quality Analysis, SQL Administration
- Software/Servers/Environments: MS Office Applications (Esp. Excel & Access), MS Server (2000, 2003), MS SharePoint (MOSS), SQL Server (2005) SSRS, SSAS, SSIS
- Modeling/Statistical Software: @Risk, Minitab, R, RapidMiner, SAS
- Mark-up/Scripting/Querying: HTML, XML, PHP, VBA, SQL
EXPERIENCE
Condor Earth Technologies, Columbia, CA
IT & Business Systems Analyst, 2006 – Present
My role incorporates elements of analysis, systems administration, and troubleshooting. On the analysis side, I gather requirements, model, prototype, and deliver forms, reports, dashboards, project sites and more, in a variety of environments. Additionally, I perform financial and project analyses as needed, including OLAP reports, Monte Carlo estimates, quality analyses, statistical tests, forecasting and statistical estimation. On the information technology side, I manage the Business Intelligence back-end to finance and aid in the administration of a network comprised of four offices, nearly 20 servers, 70+ users (ranging from GIS Analysts to Field Technicians) and their clients, with particular emphasis on SQL and SharePoint.
Selected Projects:
- SQL Server Business Intelligence (SSIS/SSAS/SSRS) setup, configuration, and integration into finance database for OLAP driven reports through Analysis Cubes.
- Comprehensive design of dashboards, reports and graphical summaries for executive, divisional, and project managers (supplemented ad hoc OLAP reports).
- Championed business process improvement by producing a comprehensive strategic plan (via SWOT, balanced scorecard, and strategic map) integrated with targets and measures obtained through our finance system.
- Bottom-up development of a cash flow forecast, using autoregressive time series methods.
- Cost and contingency estimation for a multi-million-dollar engineering project using Monte Carlo simulations on distributions elicited from subject experts.
- Statistical testing support for environmental compliance (normality testing, nonparametric testing, etc.).
- Installation, configuration, and testing of company finance software, inclusive of revenue generation, overhead allocation, and cross-charge methods.
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Computer Lab Administrator/Web Designer. 2006
As a lab assistant, I maintained four servers running Apache and Microsoft IIS, sent out mailings, and administrated software in development (http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/picola/). Additionally, I provided support for faculty and had to troubleshoot server problems. As a website designer, I developed and maintained five different sites (e.g. http://www.hss.cmu.edu/philosophy/).
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Teaching Assistant– Introduction to Ethics, 2005
I created and moderated class forums, maintained grade spreadsheets, graded exams and papers, and advised students on effective writing, critical analysis, and class subject matter. I held open office hours and met with students upon request.
Teaching Assistant– What Philosophy Is, 2004
I taught recitations held in the form of Socratic dialogue for two sections of approximately 30 students each, maintained online records, and graded homework and papers, while providing extensive written comments. Furthermore, I advised students on effective writing, critical analysis, and class subject matter. I held open office hours and met with students upon request.
Condor Earth Technologies, Columbia, CA
GIS/GPS Surveyor, 2004
My duties included driving to new locations every day—and sometimes many locations in one day—at a precise time to set up a GPS receiver, taking detailed notes, and coordinating with five co-workers at separate locations.
Self-Employed, Sonora, CA
Web Designer, 2004
I designed, developed content, and maintained several websites for commercial and non-profit organizations.
Columbia Community College, Columbia, CA
Tutor, 2003
As a tutor in Columbia College’s Academic Achievement Center, I aided students in relevant subjects in which I had received a B or better (approx. 20 classes). These diverse students ranged from learning disabled to gifted, and from 17 year-olds to senior citizens.
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Teaching Assistant – Biological Basis of Behavior, 2003
Graded exams and developed a course web page, notes, and glossary.
Research Assistant – Modeling Unsupervised Category Learning, 2002
Aided in original research for the modeling of unsupervised category learning with Bayesian methods, especially in translating a computer model from Fortran to C++.
Co-Instructor (with Professor John Powell) – How the Mind Works, 2001
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and co-led the class.
Logic Grader, 2001-2002
As a logic grader, for a year and a half, I evaluated student proofs, proctored tests, and graded final exams.
EDUCATION
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
M.S. in Logic and Computation (incomplete) 2005
Thesis: “Truth, Simplicity and Ockham’s Razor”
Areas of Specialization: Philosophy of Science, Formal Epistemology, and Philosophy of Mind
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
B.A. in Philosophy, 2003
B.A. in Psychology, 2003
Minor: Computer Information Systems, 2003
CERTIFICATIONS
- Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist: SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Development, Microsoft Corporation, 2009
- Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist: SQL Server 2005, Microsoft Corporation, 2009
- Certified Quality Process Analyst, American Society for Quality, 2008
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Taylor, J.L. and Burgess, S.A. (2004). “Steve Austin Versus the Symbol Grounding Problem”. In Proc. Selected Papers from the Computers and Philosophy Conference (CAP2003), Canberra, Australia. Conferences in Research and Practice in Information Technology, 37. Weckert, J. and Al-Saggaf, Y., Eds., ACS. 21-25.
- Taylor, J. L. “The Computational Stance” at CAP North America 2004, Pittsburgh, PA
- Taylor, J. L. “Experimentally Informed Tutoring” in a session on Defining Tutor Pedagogy; 2004 NCWCA Conference, Stanford CA
- Taylor, J. L. & Scott Burgess “Steve Austin Versus the Symbol Grounding Problem” at CAP Australia 2003 Conference, Canberra, AU
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE/MEMBERSHIPS
- Referee, Journal of Philosophical Logic (Summer 2005)
- Student Track Referee, North American-Computing and Philosophy 2005 Conference
- Student Representative, Philosophy Department, Humboldt State University (Fall 2002- Spring 2003; Fall 1999- Spring 2000).
OTHER ACTIVITIES (Memberships, Volunteer Work, Etc.)
- Contributor at Meta-Optimize Q+A and Statistical Analysis – Stack Exchange
- Contributor to Logic and Rational Interaction
- Member, American Society for Quality (2007-Present)
- Student Member of American Philosophical Association (2001-2004)