Resume of DEBRA ORTON
4037 River Road
Schaghticoke, NY 12154
Days (518) 473-6202
Nights (518) 664-8558
4037 River Road
Schaghticoke, NY 12154
Days (518) 473-6202
Nights (518) 664-8558
June 1980 through Present - NYS Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER)
January, 1986 to Present - Manager of Information Technology, Division for Administration
Responsible for guiding the agency through three major stages in the implementation of technology. The first phase (1986) consisted of installing a Data General minicomputer servicing 75 users in three locations for word processing, electronic mail, calendaring, spreadsheets and database management using a 4GL (Cognos Corporation's Powerhouse).
The second phase (1989)included installing a second Data General minicomputer linked with the first and servicing an additional 65 users in the three locations, and developing smaller scale network plans for several Statewide Joint Labor-Management Committees (LMCs).
The third phase (1994) migrated all functions except large-scale database management from the Data General minicomputers to several interconnected Novell Netware LANs.
Other duties include:
Daily management of agency network and computer systems, Internet sites and agency Internet access supervision of staff (programmers, data communications specialists and help desk support technicians)
Systems analysis and assistance in developing/maintaining database management applications
Keeping abreast of trends and developments in the technology industry, product research, selection and acquisition
Consulting with members of the agency management team on a regular basis to determine whether application of technology will result in productivity gains or cost reductions
Preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), soliciting bids, negotiation, establishment and maintenance of vendor contracts for software, training and hardware support services
Design and management of data communication networks, preparing and executingimplementation plans
Developing short- and long-range plans for technology services in support of agency's goals and objectives
Developing technology-related training curricula, occasionally assist in the delivery of training
Writing for publication, editing agency publications as a member of the Document Improvement Team and contributing to an in-house newsletter of technology-related information
Installing the very first agency-wide Data General minicomputer system in 1986 and watching the agency's technological sophistication and that computer system grow; developing a migration strategy and installing agency-wide LAN as a successor to the original minicomputer systems. Also responsible for starting the agency's website (www.goer.state.ny.us) and subsequent redesigns. For a complete list of the websites I've developed for GOER, please see my Portfolio.
I am a member of the agency's Document Improvement Team, a group which serves as an internal editorial board for agency publications.
I have also been involved in planning the annual ICEDP conference for the past two years, and last year I also designed the group's 30th anniversary program cover. The conference was so well attended that I had difficulty finding a copy to scan to add to my portfolio, but I am still searching!
I have been a member of the Access to Information Technology Workgroup since it began in 1998. The Workgroup's most significant achievement so far has been the implementation of Technology Policy 99-3, Universal Accessibility for NYS Web Sites. I have also served on that group's steering committee, and chaired the Assistive Technology sub-group. The Workgroup has recently undergone a reorganization, and I have become the co-chair of the Marketing and Public Relations sub-group. As a member of this workgroup, I have assisted in an number of initiatives, including a recent panel discussion on Accessible Web Design for the NYS Webmasters' Guild. In addition, I am frequently called upon to consult with other State agencies on how to implement accessible web design for their websites, and have consulted with trainers on how to integrate the principles of accessible web design into mainstream HTML training.
In the fall of 1999, I joined an OFT Web Design Workgroup, which began as an exploratory committee to gauge the feasibility of including advertising on State websites. That work evolved into a project to "brand" State web sites by the use of a common web banner and the development of a "Citizen Guide" to State government. These two projects have now been rolled into the State's "e-Commerce/e-Government" initiative.
June, 1980 - January, 1986 - Employee Relations Assistant, Research Division
Responsible for computerizing many of the forecasts and projections used in support of collective bargaining, designed PC-based database application to track and report on employee contract grievances statewide. Other duties included:
Responding to requests for information from agency negotiators and professional staff on a full range of labor relations issues, usually with very short deadlines
Assisting OER and the Northeast Directors of Employee Relations (NEDER, now NASDER) in the development of a joint database management capacity
Working on the development of a uniform ranking system to assess the relative comparability of job titles across jurisdictions to enhance the viability of salary and benefit data collected on those titles as a research tool
Selection, installation and support of the agency's first microcomputer system (PC), developing applications and training staff in their use
Redesign of the statewide Grievance Tracking System from mainframe-based application requiring an outside consultant to a more responsive and flexible PC-based application operated and maintained by in-house staff
Worked on the development of the Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedules (VRWS) program
Active participant in the 1985 CSEA Institutional Services Unit and CSEA Coalition negotiations, with concentration in costing proposed compensation packages
Networking with research staff from Employee Relations offices in other NEDER jurisdictions in the development of a common data bank of salary, title and wage information; participating in the 1985 CSEA negotiations.
Involved in the formation of the State Employees Microcomputer Users Group(SEMUG), and served as vice president from September, 1985 to 1989.
Featured speaker for the 1987 ICEDP (Interdepartmental Committee on Electronic Data Processing) Conference, represented OER in panel discussion of "Information Centers in State Government.."
Received Management/Confidential Special Achievement Award for implementing office automation in OER in 1988; received a Certificate of Appreciation for implementation of an agencywide LAN/WAN in 1994.
Transferred the NYS Statewide Grievance Tracking System to the New York State Archives. This application became the very first automated database to be granted archival status in New York.
Work history from 1965 through 1969 consisted of a number of non-skilled jobs. Further information can be supplied if required.
Website design, programming, web graphics
Novell Netware 3.12-4.11 Network Administration (CNA certification)
Novell Netware 4.11 Certified Netware Engineer Training (4 of 7 certificationexams passed)
Novell Groupwise System Administration (Certification pending)
Oracle System Administration & Oracle Application Development
Delphi (1-4) Developer
HTML Programming/Website Design and Management/Cold Fusion 3.0
Database programming: Powerhouse (4GL), dBase II-IV, Paradox for Windows, some Oracle
Traditional programming languages: COBOL, RPG II, Basic
MS-DOS (vers. 3-6.22) and MS Windows 3.1/95/NT support
x86 PC Troubleshooting and Repair; frequently build/rebuild machinesfrom scratch
WordPerfect (MS-DOS and Windows versions through 8)
Quattro Pro (MS-DOS and Windows versions)
dBase (MS-DOS versions II-IV and Windows version)
Adobe Photoshop/Image Ready, Dreamweaver 3.0
Technical Writing/Editing
Albany Business College - Graduated 1982
Associate's Degree in Data Processing and Business Administration
Empire State College - Enrolled from June of 1989 through April of 1991
Received credit for work experience, including 12 credits for Database Management Systems, Advanced Database Management Systems, Managing Automation and Managing Personal Computers. (Withdrew because of conflicts with overtime required for work).
In addition, GOER has sponsored my attendance at a wide variety of third party training sessions, such as "Data Model Development with Oracle,"
