Students and Alumni

2010: Souklanun (Kenny) Homdarack
2006: Adam Benjamin
2005: Adam Berry
2004: Sara Zielinski
2003: Valerie Devine
2002: Brian Nevans
2001: Mary V. "Vicky" Topper
2000: Gregory Grzymala, Gordon Slipko, Mary V. "Vicky" Topper
1999: Jeffrey Witt
1998: Grant Wolcott
1997: David Rowland
1996: Jennifer Cialini
1995: Bernard Kolbmann
1994: Nina Morales
1993: KathyAnne Spence
1992: Mary Joyce
1991: Lynn Niemiec
1990: Patrick Edwards

The CIS faculty were very helpful and always available to answer questions or give advice in reference to CIS related jobs. The program itself is excellent. It provides you with the basic information on operating systems and several different programming languages. The program also gives you the opportunity to experience electives such as networks and artificial intelligence. This gives you a good idea of the different areas involved in CIS.

My current job [as First Lieutenant in the US Army] is system administrator for my unit's tactical computer network and operations officer for communications. What I learned in the CIS program helps immeasurably in my current job. The more you can learn about computers and how they work prior to a job the better it will help you in the long run. The course I took in Networks helped me tremendously when dealing with the tactical computer network at work.

The CIS department at NU has helped me prepare for the career goal that I am working towards. The student-teacher ratio gives students and professors a wonderful opportunity to work with one another. The faculty is always available to help you understand the material in any way that they can. All the faculty that I have encoutered during my years at NU have always been available on a one-to-one basis. They understand that the students are their first priority.

The program's courses, both required and elective, offer the students the opportunity to become well-rounded individuals within the CIS field, as well as prepare you for the work world. My years at NU have proved to be the best years of my educational career.

As a CIS major (with a concentration in Information Systems) I feel very fortunate to have participated in a work co-op experience with Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Inc. While having received both course credit from NU and a weekly check from the company, I strongly feel the biggest payoff has been in the hands-on experience itself. It is no secret that employers find prior experience highly desirable from college graduates. NU's Center for Career Development is very active in matching students with opportunities in their respective major.

I know that my studies at NU have sufficiently prepared me to embark in new directions on my own. For example, my co-op with IVR has introduced me to Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). This experience has included the programming of database, speech recognition, and interactive voice response applications. As an interesting and expanding industry, CTI remains a field of specialty in which I plan to continue after graduation.

Nancy was in the army as Battalion Signal Officer responsible for repair and updating of all automation in the battalion, and was the Primary Network Administrator for the Battalion. She also was responsible for a variety of (non-computerized) communications equipment.

When we last heard from Nancy, she was contemplating returning to civilian life.

MaryAnn has spent most of her career in software development and software quality assurance. Her experience includes the following:

Oxy Systems, Incorporated
Software Quality Assurance Contractor, November 2005 to August 2006

Performed quality assurance for an accessory application for cell phones, and for the company and product Web sites. Ran manual tests. Documented test results. Investigated and reported problems found. Updated manual test scripts

Mercury Computer Systems, Incorporated
Sr. Software Engineer, March 2000 to January 2004

Performed quality assurance for a multi computer operating system and its tools. Performed quality assurance for a GUI product that monitored and provided information about a multi-computer system. Reviewed functional and design specifications, and user documentation. Wrote test plans and test specifications/instructions. Programmed test scripts in SilkTest. Ran manual and automated tests. Investigated and reported problems found. Documented test results. Worked closely with the development engineers and user documentation writers in the software tools development group. Reviewed other software test group engineer's test documents and test code. Learned writing testable requirements and requirements based testing (RBT). Presented RBT to my own group (the software test group). Presented SilkTest to the software tools development group and assisted them in their use of it

Digital Equipment Corporation (Compaq Computer Corporation after mid 1998)
Sr. Software Engineer, February 1998 to February 1999

Performed quality assurance for a transaction processing middleware product. Tested the GUI utility that modified the registry, the error logging utility, samples, and installation procedures on Windows. Investigated and reported problems found. Worked closely with the development engineers

Digital Equipment Corporation (continued)
Sr. Software Engineer, November 1992 to August 1994

Served as project leader for the license key generation system. Analyzed, designed and implemented new functionality, enhancements, and bug fixes for the license key generation system software in COBOL and PostScript. Investigated and fixed problems with the development system’s (a VAXstation running VMS) environment. Set up system management procedures for the development system. Organized and managed source code (set up and maintained code management library using VAX CMS). Updated build scripts in DCL. Organized project information online using VAX NOTES. Documented the steps for developing a release of the system. Estimated and evaluated the time to complete releases. Performed a design review of the system along with the product’s sponsor group. Restructured and updated the documentation set written in SDML (specifications and user's manuals)

Digital Equipment Corporation (continued)
Software Engineer January 1988 to November 1992

Analyzed, designed and implemented new functionality, enhancements, and bug fixes for software and firmware components in C, Pascal, DCL and PostScript for Digital's PostScript network printers and for Digital's ANSI compliant printing protocol. Served as project leader for Digital's ANSI to PostScript translator. Worked on functional specifications and interface specifications written in SDML for the existing code base and updates to the existing code base. Maintained and enhanced (and/or re-wrote) build scripts and various development tools in DCL (as well as TPU, CMS, MMS) * evaluated, demonstrated, and applied CASE tools (Cadre's Teamwork). Re-wrote software installation procedures in DCL. Investigated and implemented fixes for problems found during development and testing. Performed software integration and integrated system/acceptance testing prior to release to the internal quality assurance group. Performed acceptance testing of PostScript software upon receipt from vendor. Reviewed user documentation. Investigated problems and provided technical solutions to customer service for customer problems reported to development. Proposed and followed through on setting up a procedure using VAX NOTES to track and share information (within development, and between development and customer service) for problems brought to development through customer service. Interfaced and worked with other groups within Digital and external vendors and development partners

Clarksville-Montgomery County Historical Museum
Software Engineer, January 1987 to June 1987

Analyzed, designed, implemented and documented an inventory, income and expense system for the museum's gift shop using spreadsheet software. Instructed and assisted employees in the use of the spreadsheet software and the customized programs

Marine Midland Bank, N.A.
Systems Analyst, June 1985 to August 1985

Analyzed functions in the bank's financial processing system using data flow analysis techniques. Proposed and followed through to create database queries to reduce the chance of creating redundant data definitions and to find already existing redundant data definitions. Updated data flow and data definition information in the project's database

After a short time with IBM in end user support, Ralph joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1992.

"Currently, I am a Sr. Project Manager and leader of a software development team, primarily focusing in Knowledge Management applications for our Market Leadership team.  Our goal is to make information as easily accessible and re-usable as possible to help ensure PwC maintains its lead status in all our various industries and service lines."

Kevin is a Software Specialist IV at Digital Equipment Corporation in Colorado Springs, CO. Kevin's expertise is in technologies such as FRAME RELAY, X.25, ISDN, ATM, FDDI, 100 MB Ethernet, GIGAbit Ethernet.

Mr. Culp has worked for BFGoodrich Inc. and the Small Business Administration Disaster Unit.

e-mail: Kevin.Culp@digital.com

Alexa double-majored in Management and CIS at Niagara. She earned her MBA degree in MIS at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) in 1999. She is employed by the First Union National Bank in Charlotte.

e-mail: alexa.curtis@firstunion.com

After several years at the William S. Hein Company, a law publishing company servicing law schools, law firms, and government agencies, Greg has moved up to Support Analyst II at Curbell, Inc., a leading distributor of industrial plastics and manufacturer of medical communications equipment, in Orchard Park, NY. Greg does network administration and help desk work.

Greg has also achieved several Microsoft Certifications.

e-mail: gregoryg@Curbell.com

Paula is an NT/Novell Network Engineer with Computer and Information Technology at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

e-mail: hendp@buffalo.edu

When I left NU, I was working in Niagara Falls for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Niagara Plant. There I was the facility Electrical/Instrumentation/Computer Engineer.  In 1998 I transferred to Goodyear's Akron headquarters as a Senior Engineer in the Automated Material Handling and Logistics Team. I eventually became Technical Team Leader of that group, moved on to another Technical Team Leader position and am currently the Manager for Global Engineering and Manufacturing Technology, Goodyear Luxembourg. I still have a hand in computer science as I have engineers reporting to me who have responsibility for plant floor IT, along with integration into ERP Systems such as SAP.  My other responsibilities include the design of various manufacturing systems (automated tire building, etc) for Goodyear on a Global basis.

e-mail: edkamphuis@goodyear.com

Steve Knox worked as an Executive Protection Agent after Niagara University, and retired in the spring of 1997 after completing a Master's Degree in Computer and Information Security.

Steve is NSA certified in risk assessment methodology, and certified as a business continuity planner from Disaster Recovery Institute, International.

As a risk management consultant, Steve has authored several books ranging from risk assessment procedure to corporate information security policy. He recently directed a risk assessment and disaster recovery plan project for the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill. Other clients have included CIA, DIA, NASA, ATF, U.S. Federal Courts, DOT, NRC, and numerous corporations including Toyota Motor Corporation and MCI.

Steve is now working for Fannie Mae in their Information Security Management Office in Washington, DC. His current responsibilities include the development of a corporate risk assessment methodology standard, conducting risk assessments on corporate offices, data centers, and information system environments and applications.

e-mail: stephen_r_knox@fanniemae.com

Bernie Kolbmann is a New York State Investigator for the Department of Taxation and Finance, in the Buffalo Region.  His specialty is with Petroleum, Alcohol and Tobacco Retail sales. Previously, he was a 911 operator for Niagara Falls Police, and simultaneously was the New York State Director of Hospital Coordinators for Disabled American Veterans, Inc., NY.  He was stationed at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Buffalo. Bernie does data base analysis as an important tool for his investigations.

e-mail: MarjorieKolbmann@msn.com

Jim is a Software Engineer with Raytheon Systems Company (formerly Hughes Defense Communications, formerly Magnavox) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has been working on the AFATDS (Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System) program since 1991. AFATDS is a Command and Control Fire Support System for the U.S. Army & Marines. Jim was the Technical Lead for the Mission Integrated Product Team (MIPT) on AFATDS from 1995 to 2001. In June 2001, Jim accepted a position as the Deputy System Software Engineering Manager. In this position, he is responsible for defining the software development processes and procedures that the Software Developers follow to produce high quality software systems. Jim has been a Software Engineer since starting his career at Bell Aerospace Textron in 1984, and has been with Raytheon since 1991. He works primarily on Department of Defense contracts and uses the Ada programming language.

Contact Data

• snail-mail: Raytheon Systems Company 1010 Production Road Mail Stop C2-03 Fort Wayne, IN 46808
• voice: 219-429-6446
• e-mail: James_A_Krzyzanowski@raytheon.com (work), jakrzy@ftw.rsc.raytheon.com (work)
• www: http://www.krzyzanowski.com/jim/

At work: Lotus Notes Hub Administrator, Americas Luvata Buffalo, Inc. PO Box 981, Buffalo, NY 14240

e-mail: Mary.Ann.May@luvata.com

Brendan is a Lotus Notes Administrator/Analyst for Danka in Rochester, NY.

e-mail: Brendan_McCabe@Danka.com

VP of Global IT Operations
World Fuel Services Corporation
9800 NW 41st Street, Suite 400
Miami, FL  33178
O: 305-428-8148
C: 305-798-8009
F: 305-392-5648
Email: bribaudo@wfscorp.com
web: www.wfscorp.com

Former position: Vice President, IT Operations for Alliance Entertainment Corporation

After working at Cornell University for 13 years and commuting 100 miles a day, I change jobs and I am now working in Syracuse, NY (where I live) at Onondaga Community College.  At OCC, I am the Director of Network Computing which entails responsibility for the network infrastructure, all campus servers and PC's as well as the Help Desk.  Being a supervisor is still hard, even with a Master's Degree in Management!

email: robinsos@sunyocc.edu

I'm currently the lead developer in the Automated Voice Solutions (AVS) dept. of ClientLogic Corp., based in Amherst, NY. Our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system typically handles over 800,000 calls per month. Our clients include the high-tech breed, e.g.: Microsoft, Logitech, Juno, Dell, Iomega, Buy.Com, E-trade, and dozens more.

email: davrow@adelphia.net

Pauline received a BBA in Accounting and a BS in CIS from Niagara in 1996 and passed the New York State Uniform CPA examination in 1997. She will complete an MBA in Finance from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 2001. Currently, Pauline works for Xerox Corporation in Rochester, NY.

email: pauline.wells@usa.xerox.com