Resume

Davis Ray Sickmon, Jr

Code Wizard For Hire

 “Reasonable Rates”

September 12th, 2014

( 11/15/2020: Currently being updated – beware broken things. 😉 )

Introduction (in-draft)

It’s hard to get a sense of someone just from a bullet point list of skills. For instance, if you only go by the ‘skills’ section of a resume, you might miss the context of those skills. For that, you’ll need to understand more about the candidate.

Hi, I’m Davis Sickmon, and I’ve got very long history in software development and technology in general. My very first software development projects was a macro pre-processor for AmigaBASIC on the Commodore Amiga at age 16. It was only sold locally (this is 1987, well before the Internet era really got going), and only sold a few copies at that. But, that really pushed me in the right direction. By 17, I already was doing my first contract development gig, and moved to full time employment doing Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) HMI and programing work in the field of Industrial Automation.

Industrial Automation exposed me to weird new programming technologies you don’t see elsewhere such as Ladder Logic Programming, along with forcing me to get a good understanding of User Interface Design (at the time, called MMI or HMI development.) Industrial Automation development also gave me a feel for high-uptime systems: during a downtime event, a flour mill could be looking at losses that are measured in hundreds of dollars per minute.

The job also allowed me to explore new technologies, and always expand my skills. I developed and maintained the website in 1996, along with hosting our own email server. That got me into data and system security, and around 2003 I became involved with the SANS Technology Institute’s “Internet Storm Center” as a Handler On Duty, examining and reporting security threats to multiple platforms. I explored how the role of Open Source could affect Industrial Automation, along with building cool in-house tools to simplify the workflow of projects.

Towards the end of my time there, I founded a small video game company, mainly with the goal of having a little fun. When the day job dried up – they terminated the entire engineering department at the end of 2003 – I split the goals of the small video game company: make games to have fun, do serious development projects to pay the bills.

For 20 years I’ve done software development projects of all sorts for myself and contract customers. It’s been wonderful, and I’ve never had to worry that my skills get stale. I’m afforded the opportunity to explore new technologies, methodologies, and API’s pretty much whenever I want or need to. During the rise of cross-platform mobile application development, I landed gigs that required me to learn React.js, Angular.js + Ionic, all built for each platform using PhoneGap (now Cordova) or NW.JS.

Similar projects allowed to learn Docker (such as a startup I worked with, called DuoHealth, that used a cloud-based EHR) or a wild project that required me to leverage Paper.js to write an full fledged vector editor for automotive graphics. Fun projects like these have allowed me to not just keep my skills sharp and my abilities always moving forward.

However, the business of software development isn’t just about software development for me. Often, I’m dealing with startup companies looking to carve a new spot in the industry. For those, I’ve worked on a little of everything – cloud based email and file storage systems, sports-focused community website management systems, online medical services (pre-COVID), and more.

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• Provide good products & services to customers
• Foster growth in new & existing developers
• Be challenged inside & outside of the field
• Continue to expand my knowledge & skills

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[su_box title=”Quick Overview” box_color=”#406da3″ radius=”1″]

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• 32 years of professional software development
• Professional experience on wide variety of platforms
• Strong teambuilding and project management background
• An end to end understanding of networking technology, from physical installation to protocol design to client server architecture
• Heavily experienced in high-uptime fields such as industrial automation
• Experience in multiple software development fields allows a unique understanding of problems from multiple points of view
• Strong design skills for mobile development, online software development, and desktop development

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[su_box title=”Employment History” box_color=”#406da3″ radius=”1″]

Midnight Ryder Technologies		President			1999 to Current
Handle all aspects of a contract development company, including:
[su_list icon=”icon: leaf”] Sales & Marketing Software Design & Implementation Customer Relations Contract Negotiations [/su_list]			[su_list icon=”icon: leaf”] Hiring of 3rd Party Contractors Accounting Business Development [/su_list]
Pixel Time		Instructor			2010 to 2011
Taught classes for Pixel Time, including:
Game development WordPress Development			iOS Development using PhoneGap General iOS education
R & S BBQ #1		Construction Manager			2007
Ran a complete construction job from removal of old retail image package to final stages of restaurant opening. Handled all teams, tradesmen, and interfaced with city inspectors, along with doing physical construction tasks.
Gamer Zone Centers		President			2004 to 2006
Performed duties as president of the company, handling employees, strategic business development decisions, and even from time to time, physical construction projects for expansion or location move.
Creek Electric, Inc		Developer			1991 to 2002
My role slowly grew over time to include:
CAD MMI Development Network Design	Network Design Network Installation			Systems Administration PLC Programming

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Notable Projects

HIPAA Compliance	Various	2014 to Current
As an extension of ongoing desktop support and website development agreements, Midnight Ryder Technologies began offering HIPAA compliance services at the request of a customer. This includes handling all aspects of data security, paperwork, and acting as security officer for as many as 5 different companies.
Jumpman Forever	Midnight Ryder Technologies	2013 to Current
Handled all aspects of design process and budget projections, Licensing, Kickstarter funding, marketing, and development for 2D resurrection of classic Jumpman game from C-64/Atari era. Shipping for Ouya Micro-Console, iOS, Android, PC, Mac.
RetroBeaker	Midnight Ryder Technologies	2013
Handled all aspects of design process and budget projections, Marketing, and development for Mac, iOS, and Android game.
Cloud Based Social File Network	Caprock Custom Software	2013 to 2015
Handled all aspects of design process and budget projections, P&L sheets, 21 page design document for investment grade proposal, and all maintenance and upkeep contracts. Project is currently in discussion with investors for funding, so further information is unavailable at this time.
ToroCloud	Caprock Custom Software	2012 to 2014
Handled all aspects of design process, client and server software design and implementation, marketing website, and maintenance.
iCareING Notebook	Families Together, Inc.	2012 to 2014
Handled all aspects of design process for iOS, Android, and future desktop versions of personal medical tracking software for Families Together, Inc., a non-profit organization. Also designed and implemented marketing website, and am actively involved in further marketing and development efforts.
Network Controlled Vending	Supply Solutions Corp	2012 to 2016
Supply Solutions Corp provides vending of tools and parts for industrial settings automated storage cabinets and vending machines fitted with a touch screen and custom PIC microcontroller based hardware. Provided both hardware and PIC troubleshooting in their warehouse and on-site at end user locations.
My Little Green Book	Caprock Custom Software	2012 to 2014
Brought “My Little Green Book”, a publication of the Oklahoma Defense Lawyer’s Association, to iOS, Android, and Blackberry platforms. This allows defense lawyers to have instant access to relevant law on their mobile devices during discussion or court cases, rather than having to look up relevant information in the print version.
Fruit of the Spirit	Midnight Ryder Technologies	2010
A Biblically based project that allows a user to gage their day based on the “Fruits of the Spirit” presented in Galatians. Built using PhoneGap to experiment with HTML 5’s localStorage functionality, and eventually released as a full product.
Kenosha Milling	Harvest States / Cargill	1993 to 2011
Industrial Automation project on the largest single-construction flourmill in North America. Original work was performed as an employee of Creek Electric, Inc., the customer requested the contract for support and continued development remain with myself after CEI’s engineering department was shut down. Duties included:   HMI Design & Implementation PLC Programming Network Design & Installation CAD for electrical documentation Setting documentation standards for outside contractors
Bang The Keys	Jill Dearman	2011
Designed and implemented iOS product tie-in for Jill Dearman’s “Bang The Key” book on writing. The product allows users to select writing exercises, sets criteria for them, and keeps them after the activity so the writer can look back at them for further inspiration.
Fountain Street	Fountain Street Productions	2008 to 2009
Designed in association with Maha Al-Emam, and implemented a social network for independent music distribution and publication.
DIIO	Diio, LLC / Maha Al-Emam	2009
Diio.net is the world’s largest provider of flight data. In association with Maha Al-Emam, we implemented the graphics-intense front end for their online presence.
Golf Game		2005
Implemented Speex VOIP compression for multi-player games into existing golf title that utilized the Torque 3D engine.
Soccer Game		2005
Designed and implemented Torque Script based AI into work-in-progress soccer game that utilized the Torque 3D engine. Title was never shipped by customer.
Marble Attack	Digital Snow	2005
Designed and implemented all gameplay and AI for low-budget indie single player, kid friendly first-person shooter. This title used the Torque 3D engine and was released for PC and Mac.
Flip Panic!	Midnight Ryder Technologies	2003
Designed and implemented all aspects of game, from UI and graphics to game programming. Released for PC.
Tile Panic!	Midnight Ryder Technologies	2002
Designed and implemented all aspects of game, from UI and graphics to game programming. Released for PC.
Boulder Panic! 1, 2, TC, CB, 2 DX	Midnight Ryder Technologies	1999 to 2001
Designed and implemented all aspects of game, from UI and Graphics to game programming. There were 5 versions in total over three years, and after Boulder Panic! 2 a re-usable game engine was designed and utilized for The Challenge (TC), Christmas Bonus (CB) and 2 DX versions of the game. Released for PC
Credit Card Authorization System	Underware Electronics	1990
My first contract development job was at age 17, developing a credit card authorization system that hooked in with an existing order entry and inventory database. As per customer spec, the project was developed in Microsoft BC 7 with BTrieve for database accessibility.

Contract & In-House Project Stats Since 1999 As of November 15, 2020
Shipped iOS & Android Projects	16	Video Games Shipped	11
Websites Developed	57	Unshipped Video Games	6
Other Application Development Projects	26Â	Industrial Automation Projects	17

Associations
Kansas Authors’ Pavilion	Founder	2009 to Current
Kansas Game Developer’s Association	Founder	2014 to 2016
First Geek Congregation	Minister	Jan 2014 to 2016
The Save Ferris Project	Founder	2012
Butler County Community College	Interactive 3D Degree Steering Advisory Board	2010 to Current
SANS	SANS Handler On Duty Rotation	2003 to 2004
IndieGamesCon	Speaker	2001 to 2003