colin macdonald's personal blog

Bored

Posted By macdonald on Oct 17, 2008 at 10:29PM

I am now bored with iLike, AtomKeep, Joost, SecondLife, Friendster, MySpace, Flickr, Uber, iGoogle, iTunes, Splice, Ringo, Facebook, Mixx, Twitter, GarageBand, LinkedIn, MyBand, ReverbNation, Esession, Plaxo, POF, ReverbNation, WordPress, eBay, Amazon, Expedia, Orbitz, Monster, Craigslist, Wikipedia, YouTube, AOL, Ning, Reddit,  Session11, CollectiveX, Aralie, Vyew, OnSugar and Blogger.

 

I need a new social network...

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Colin MacDonald - CV

Posted By macdonald on Oct 15, 2008 at 1:24PM

Colin MacDonald
Email: colin@macdonald.com

CONSULTANT | PROJECT MANAGER | ANAYLST

Highlights
•    15 years project experience with budgets ranging from $25,000 to $10,000,000.
•    Accomplished business consultant with excellent communication, documentation, process, facilitation and mentoring skills.
•    Proven ability to manage technical teams in entrepreneurial environments.
•    Highly efficient and well organized. 

Professional Experience
CONTRACTOR – Accenture    April 2008 – July 2008
Software License Management Project
•    Advisor in the area of packaged software license management to BC Hydro.
•    Gathered requirements specifications involving packaged software assets in excess of $10 million.
•    Presented best practices for packaged software license management.
•    Supported key stakeholders in the vendor selection process by carrying out research, analyses and vendor surveys.
•    Tracked business needs during development phases.
•    Observed the standards and procedures established by the project office.
•    Developed testing strategies, data conversion activities and verification scenarios.
Technical Environment
•    Microsoft (XP, 2000, Office), BMC Marimba, HP Peregrine

TEAM LEAD – City of Surrey    October 2007 – April 2008
Microsoft Vista Upgrade
•    Responsible for packaged software application remediation and analysis.
•    Provided solution options and recommendations for packaged software applications and hardware in use by the Government that were not compatible with Vista.
•    The Vista project budget was $5 million to upgrade the Microsoft Office & Windows Operating systems on all 1500 city owned and supported client computers across 56 sites.
•    Reported to the Manager of IT and worked closely with the various business units, product vendors (Dell and Microsoft) and the other Vista Project Leads (Inventory of Software Assets, Application & Peripheral Readiness, Software Licensing, Application Packaging, Deployment, Training, Communications and Infrastructure)
Technical Environment
•    Microsoft (XP, 2000, Vista, Office, Sharepoint), Oracle, Citrix, Alteris, HTML dB, ITIL   

MANAGING DIRECTOR – PopJar Music International    September 2006 – October 2007
Social Networking  - USA, CANADA, UK
•    Wrote business plans, investment materials and all technical documentation.
•    Recommended business solutions for a new venture that combined the best elements of the music recording experience with current social networking / shared desktop technologies.
•    Explored online revenue sharing opportunities.
•    Developed overall technology strategy using a 5-year view.
Technical Environment
•    Java, Oracle, Ajax, Subversion, Agile

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER – OLR Services    November 2005 – February 2006
Retek Implementation / Oracle Retail Implementation / Oracle Retail Support – USA
•    Implemented Oracle Retail packaged software products.
•    Provided leadership to both OLR and Client team members.
•    Defined project objectives, scope, timelines, and overall approach.
•    Managed staffing and budget considerations.
•    Assisted in identification of current client business and technical processes.
•    Assisted in defining client reporting, data conversion, interface, and packaged software application enhancement requirements.
•    Facilitate the logging, reporting, and resolution of packaged software application and implementation issues.
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, MS Project, Windows NT, Oracle Retail (RMS, RIB, RDW, DWI, ReSA, RTM, RIM), Oracle ProC, J2EE and swing, XML, UNIX, Linux (shell scripting)

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER – Accenture    February 2005 – November 2005
Siberra Corporation (eCommerce)
•    Reported directly to Best Buy’s VP of IT and CIO.
•    Worked with Siberra Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy on several projects (Oracle Financials {installed packaged software applications and managed data conversion activities}, Infrastructure {IBM Blade Centre}), with budgets from $50,000 to $1.5million.
•    Leveraged the existing Best Buy IT framework for this photo-sharing / social networking start-up.
•    Produced SOP's, Best Practices, SLA's and Operating Plans for technical support services between BBY CHQ and its digital media systems division.
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, MS Project, Windows NT, IBM Blade Center, Linux, J2EE-Java, HTML, XML, Oracle dB Cluster, Firewalls, Disaster Recovery Planning, Network Monitoring & Connectivity, Technical Support, ITIL

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER – Leading Edge Marketing    September 2004 – January 2005
Internet Marketing& Call Centre
•    Participated in the change management of this $23USD million Internet marketing organization.
•    The project involved the consolidation of seven departments into four primary teams.
•    Analysis for the project included a comprehensive demand analysis (3 year projections); corporate culture and structure, vision, performance measurement, change planning, strategic decision analysis, organizational design, labor relations strategy, audience analysis, communication strategy, leadership coaching, process benefits analysis, and knowledge transfer.
•    Evaluated the business processes, including: stakeholder liaison, communications strategy and management (internal as well as external stakeholder and public communications).
•    Consolidated the in-bound Call Center team and telecommunications services producing $100,000USD in realized cost savings.
•    Coached the Process team to complete deliverables including; requirements analysis, detailed process and work flow design, testing, communication material creation, intellectual property documentation, financials and forecasting, and process transition to the sustainment team.
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, MS Project, Windows NT, Disaster Recovery Planning, Network Monitoring & Connectivity, Technical Support

MANAGING DIRECTOR – eteeoff.com Golf Services, Inc.        May 2003 – September 2004
Online Reservation System
•    Together with members of EA Sports, PayPal and Sophos PureMessage Solutions Team, co-founded a comprehensive strategy and network marketing affiliate program to manage a golf booking and tee time reservation service for more than 25,000 facilities across North America.
•    Led a number of process analysis, improvement and design projects providing consulting services to a variety of golf industry clients including; ESPN (teetimewatch.com), GolfBC, Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club, Big Sky Golf, GolfTeeTimes.com, NorthStar Golf, Golf Holidays/West and Ogio.
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, Linux, Java, HTML, XML, Postgres 8.0, Network Monitoring & Connectivity, Technical Support

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER – Accenture    October 2002 – April 2003
BC Hydro
•    Managed a team of 25 designers, copywriters, HTML coders, and JAVA developers.
•    Introduced strategies using Microsoft packaged software application and web development tools as well as best practices methodology.
•    Assisted in the strategy, design, implementation and documentation of the new ABS corporate Intranet.
•    Conducted a market analysis for the adoption of an e-learning management system for the utility.
•    Provided advice and counsel to the office of the CIO as the lead technical director through the vendor selection process. The evaluation mechanism included program quality measures as well as J2EE compliancy issues. The observation part of the project included a presentation to stakeholders of the vendors 508, FDA, AICC, SORM and PeopleSoft integration abilities.
•    Evaluated the services of the E-Solutions Group specifically in the areas of e-learning and usability, which resulted in identifiable business processes with a strategic fit.
•    Reviewed the strategy, goals and organizational value of the Web Development Team leading to budget changes of $200K per month.
•    Closed $500,000USD in new business from Manitoba Hydro (GIS) within first 30 days. 
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, MS Project, Windows NT, J2EE-Java, HTML, XML, PeopleSoft, Technical Support, ITIL

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER – Bazillion Corporation    July 2001 – March 2003
Telecommunications
•    Reported directly to the CEO.
•    Assessed business requirements and successfully implemented new product strategies and concepts for this early-stage DSL and Internet Service Provider start-up.
•    Wrote business plans, marketing and technical documentation, recommended solutions for exploring revenue sharing opportunities in the US through affiliate programs.
•    Documented maintenance tasks for non-core systems.
•    Ensured internal requests were technically feasible developing technology and web strategy for projects using a 5-year view.
Technical Environment
•    MS Office, MS Project, Firewalls, DSL, Disaster Recovery Planning, Network Monitoring & Connectivity, Technical Support, ITIL

Achievements
•    Recognized as Canada’s Youth Entrepreneur in 1989 in the process winning the A.C.E. Award from the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs for opening Canada’s first compact disc stores.
•    Coached and played tennis professionally.
•    Achieved Canadian National ranking in both singles and doubles.
•    Trained high performance athletes across North America.
•    Introduced the National Tennis Rating Program (NRTP) to tournament play in British Columbia.
•    Served as Assistant Director of Tennis at the University of British Columbia.
•    League Program Coordinator for the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
•    Head Tennis Professional at the Stanley Park Tennis Club.
•    Director of Junior Development for Tennis BC.

Education
Supplemented with many seminars and conferences over the years.

1989    MBA    Western
1984    Completed 3rd Year     CGA, Ottawa University
1978    Certificate in Computer Music    Carleton

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Bookmarks

Posted By macdonald on Oct 11, 2008 at 4:16PM

Bookmarks

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Colin MacDonald's Facebook profile

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Unglued

Posted By macdonald on Oct 6, 2008 at 8:47PM

another night just thinking of you
am so tired there's nothing to do
i'd call you up if i had the time
but i only want you on my mind

lately when i think of you
it's so hard to keep it real
been down here so many times before
and i know there's so much more

am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you
am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you

you are the last thing i need tonight
and i know it just ain't right
but the good times that we had
keep me forgetting about the bad

now it's too late to lock the door
i can hear you walking on my floor
i want you to turn around and go away
but i know i'm goin let you stay

am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you
am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you

another drink another round
the spoils of victory can't be found
you see you my dear are my paradise
but honestly you're my only vice

every day is just like the other
i want to run and hide away
i'm so tired of feeling sad n lonely
when i'm in your company

am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you
am about  to come unglued
and it's all because of you

not the best thing i should do
tell me how do i get over you

am about  to come unglued

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About Me

Posted By macdonald on Oct 2, 2008 at 7:58PM

 

 

COLIN MACDONALD, MBA
SENIOR CONSULTANT


Colin MacDonald received his MBA from Western University where he also won the A.C.E. Award from the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs. Colin holds a certificate in Computer Music from Carleton University and completed 3 years of a CGA at the University of Ottawa before beginning his consulting career which started in promotion for record distributors Warner Bros.

Colin moved to San Francisco in 1995 and was a Founding Member of VOST (Video Open Set Top Box Committee) working at Stanford University with KODAK, IBM and famed five-time Academy Award-winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppala on a collaborative venture which involved using the Internet in defining a ‘Cinema of the Future’. In 1997 he returned to Canada as General Manager of Digital Data Networks and within 18 months grew this regional Internet Service Provider (ISP) into a thriving business with over 1500 corporate clients across Canada supplying Internet access, Web Site hosting and ecommerce solutions to firms such as Quebecor, KPMG and Mustang Survival.

Since 1999 Colin has worked throughout North America at Board and Executive levels most notably with Accenture, Best Buy and Oracle. He is a no nonsense professional corporate consultant with an interesting and varied background in organizational development, organizational design and structure, operational and project management, leadership development and change management. He is a Certified Scrum Master familiar with mission critical systems and high volume transaction processing having been a ‘hands on’ project manager to Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart, Yahoo, Rogers and Future Shop on several social network and ecommerce initiatives.

Colin is based in Vancouver, Canada and has one daughter.
He is also a music composer ( http://www.myspace.com/session11 ) whose hobbies include playing guitar, baseball, golf, and attending concerts. Colin has a passion for the sport of tennis and from 1992 to 1995 was involved in the game as a professional coach to several high performance athletes across North America.


Contact Information
email: colin@macdonald.com

0 Comments -- 65 Views

3am

Posted By macdonald on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:28PM

it’s 3am
i’m going home
north wind
got me to the bone
dark skies
all around
i hear the rain
coming down

walking slow
city lights
past the house
it wasn’t right
look inside
you were there
all alone
i didn’t dare

i want to know
will you loose my name
i’m torn apart
and tired of all the games
you were the one
heaven sent to me
but it’s wrong

taxi cab
get inside
drive fast
for the ride
meters off
pay the fare
back to cold
morning air

i want to know
will you loose my name
i’m torn apart
and tired of all the games
you were the one
heaven sent to me
but it’s wrong

i want to know
will you loose my name
i’m torn apart
am tired of all the games
you were the one
heaven sent to me
now your gone

it’s 3am
i’m going home
north wind
got me to the bone

0 Comments -- 23 Views