Val Paliy
 
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RESUME
 
E-mail: valpaliy@gmail.com
Skype: valpaliy
 
EDUCATION: Mykolayiv Branch of Kyiv-Moghyla Academy (the name of the institution has recently been changed to Mykolayiv State Humanitarian University named after Petro Moghyla). Bachelor of Computer Science (2004), Master of Computer Science (2006).
 
EXPERIENCE: Microsoft Windows (v3.11, v95, v98, vME, v2000, XP, Server 2003), Linux (Mandrake 10.0, Ubuntu 10.10, Fedora 14), FreeBSD, HTML, XHTML, CSS, Java Script, PHP, Ruby on Rails, AJAX, MySQL, SEO, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Adobe After Effects, Microsoft Office, GIMP, Scribes, Kompozer; also a little bit of Delphi and C# (as a hobby). Heavy advocate of UNIX, Linux, and Open Source.
 
I specialize in project management/team leading, have great communication skills (as people say), web consulting, web development, outsourcing, script writing, content writing, web design, web site design, search engine optimization, system administration, translation from/to English, Russian, Ukrainian, restoring lost old pages. I can also work as an entrepreneur/translator from English to Russian and Ukrainian and visa-versa.
 
BACKGROUND:
 
1997-1998: Held a position of a web master/library computer class assistant in Biddeford High School, Biddeford, ME, USA. Acted as an aid to the school's main office staff. Helped a number of teachers repair problems with hardware/software.
 
Responsibilities: web master, library computer class assistant.
Helped students of Biddeford High School in finding information they needed either in computerized catalogs or on the Internet. Acted as an administrator to 15 computers in the school's library, which were Windows 98 machines.
 
Created the first web site for the schools library. At that time the school itself didn't have a website, while their library, with my help, did.
 
1998-2003: Took part in various program presentations as an alum of both Freedom Support Act/Future Leaders Exchange (ACTR/ACCELS) and Undergraduate Exchange (IREX) exchange programs, which were held for applicants, as well as in various seminars for alumni in both Ukraine and Washington DC.
 
Responsibilities: As an exchange student, I was delegated the rights and obligations of an ambassador between Ukraine and the United States of America. My main responsibility was to introduce Ukraine to the people of United States, so American people would get to know Ukraine better.
Upon returning home, I was to help our high school students in taking tests to become exchange students. I'd participated in conferences presenting both Freedom Support Act/Future Leaders Exchange (ACTR/ACCELS) and Undergraduate Exchange (IREX) exchange programs.
 
2001-2002: Did an internship in Ashland University's Information Technology Department, Ashland University, Ashland, OH, USA. Among my responsibilities were repairing and installing hardware, installing and configuring software, working on student's computers. Led a Bible study under the supervision of Dr. Michael Gleason Ph.D., who at that time was a director of religious life there. Also participated in various activities organized by International Student Services at AU and those organized by IREX.
 
Responsibilities: While doing an internship in Ashland University's Information Technology Department, Ashland University, Ashland, OH, USA, I was responsible for repairing faculty, staff, and student computers, taking care of the department's help desk database, as well as computers within the department itself.
 
At the same time, while leading a Bible Study, I was responsible for spreading the Word Of God to the students who were interested in what the Bible has to say. We had frequent meeting during which we studied theology and watched theological movies, such as JESUS by Campus Crusade for Christ. While in Ashland University, I'd studied Non-degree American Studies, in an effort to help people with disabilities back home, by adapting the best American practices of working with people with disabilities, helping them be a part of society, and live a normal life.
 
2003-2004-2005: Held a position of a web design project manager, search engine optimization specialist (as well as art director and a coder) in a web design studio called OxygenWorks, Nikolaev, Ukraine. Took part in an International Scientific Conference titled "Higher Education Perspectives: The Role Of Inter University Consortia", presented a later published speech entitled "My Experience In The United States: What Makes A University Better".
 
Responsibilities: As a web design project manager at OxygenWorks I was responsible for managing various projects, which were mainly assignments from clients overseas. My team (and myself as a leader) was responsible for creating web sites from the ground up. This included creating a design mock up, discussing it with clients (I was responsible for all the communication), getting the feedback back to my team, and making sure we, as a team, acted upon it to a 100% of client satisfaction. My team consisted of approximately 10 IT-specialist, administrators, designers, and programmers. Back in 2002 we were the only team in Nikolaev (to my knowledge) that had an organized team that worked for clients overseas. I take personal pride in getting together a group of people that worked as one, utilizing HTML and Flash. Flash, at that time, was something new. The work was a done from home.
 
As a search engine optimization specialist, I personally made sure different modifications to the code were made, in order to make sure the sites we make get a good search engine position. This required HTML coding experience, Photoshop mock ups to HTML transaction, CSS, and DHTML programming, which I had to take on during the course of a few projects.
 
As a participant of an International Scientific Conference titled "Higher Education Perspectives: The Role Of Inter University Consortia", presented a later published speech entitled "My Experience In The United States: What Makes A University Better", wrote an article telling my respected audience about the life of people with disabilities in the United Stated, particularly students, and how Ukrainian Universities can adopt the principles of working with such people here in Ukraine. This was a continuation of my work in the USA, so to speak.
 
2006: Held a position of web consultant, content writer and translator, and HR manager in a web design and development studio called DeepArtDesign, Nikolaev, Ukraine.
 
Responsibilities: As a web consultant I made sure the web sites our team created were easily usable and accessible. This involved all kinds of tests I had to performed, even accessing our web sites with my eyes closed.
 
As a team leader I was to make sure the work flow is optimized, the resources are spread accordingly, and the team itself is interconnected. I had endorsed daily meetings at the office, implementation of new technologies, such as the use of Content Management Systems and Zend Framework for custom PHP development. I consider the use of CMS when there were only a few of them, as well, as well as using a PHP framework to optimize the development process an achievement of my own, and the DeepArtDesign as a whole, as a result.
 
PRESENT: Team/Project Manager of Crown IT Group; enhanced Drupal implementation, theme development, modules tweaking, consulting. I must also mention that I am all into Drupal. I like developing web sites basing them on Drupal, love developing for Drupal, creating themes for it. And I use Open Source Software such as GIMP, Scribes, and Kompozer to aid me in my work. I also act as a technical writer, writing articles on Information Technologies, Linux, and Web Development. The team consisted of 5-6 people at that time.
 
Responsibilities: My main responsibility at Crown IT Group is to manage the team and its projects according to the Agile principles. This invokes fast and efficient decision making, problem solving, and time management. I endorsed the use of Drupal CMS to speed up the development process. I am also responsible for overseeing custom web site development. We use the Code Igniter framework for that. I encourage heavy use of Open Source Software and Solutions during the developing process, to make sure no laws are broken. I myself am a strong believer in an Open Source nature of Information Technologies, and try to bring the same notion to my work. The work is done form home, over the Internet, and the team currently consists of 5 people.
 
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
 
Independent:
http://paliy.biz (theme development, implementation, content writing, administration);
http://buhta.in.ua (theme development, implementation, modules tweaking, content writing, support, forum moderation);
 
Under Crown IT Group (project management + development):
http://crownitgroup.com (content management, re-writing, customer support);
http://urbanhoops.com (project management, testing);
http://evenstrength.com (project management, testing, theme implementation, custom slide-show [no Flash there]);
http://netgainadvisors.com (project management, testing, theme implementation, wiki);
http://cucanada.com (project management, testing, minor fixes, Google API);
 
REFERENCES:
 
Stanislav Trofimchuk (client, employer)
“Top qualities: Personable, Expert, Good Value. Val did a great job for us!” June 14, 2007
 
Andy Anschutz, Helpdesk Specialist (at the time of writing), Ashland University (colleague)
“Val was a hard worker in the times that I interacted with him. His support and ability to learn were exemplary.” March 4, 2008
 
Vlad Romanenko, Project Manager, BMS Consulting  (at the time of writing) (business partner)
 

“I know Val for his work in Web design company OxygenWorks. I should say I was impressed by his desire to contribute all his passion and knowledge to success of his company. Val is diligent worker and eager to learn new technologies. His energy allows him to do different job for the company - from web design and HTML to marketing and management. Actually Val's best talent is building good relationships with clients. I'd like having such a person in my team!” July 1, 2008