Joseph M. Alba

joealba [at] joealba.com

OBJECTIVE

Use and expand my strong, tested skillset and experience as an IT Director, Manager of Web Development and Systems Analyst in a way which will increase usability and profitability for a Web-based service and positively impact the experience of its consumers.

EMPLOYMENT

February, 2004 to Present
RI.gov - Rhode Island Interactive - NIC Inc.
Providence, RI
Director of Development

Information technology director and Web development manager for the official Rhode Island state government portal.

Awards:

  • Center for Digital Government Best of the Web finalist - 2009
  • Best Fit Integrator Award - 2008
  • ec3 Award - Innovative Use of the Web in Government
  • Achievement Awards: 4th place in the Government to Government category for the REX Portal (Rhode Island eGovernment Exchange) -- a portal-based repository of information, guidelines, policies and technical resources to aid in the rapid deployment of shared data using XML.
  • More award information available at http://www.ri.gov/about/awards.php
November, 1999 to February, 2004
The Providence Journal - Belo Interactive
Providence, RI
Web Programmer / Systems Analyst

Designed, built, and optimized the information architecture for the Rhode Island news Web site - projo.com. Used advanced Perl techniques (object orientation, modules, dynamic page templating) to efficiently create fast, intuitive CGI applications for projo.com and the 20 other Web sites operated by Belo Interactive. Created advanced parsers to automatically flow legacy system data into standard XML formats. Created internal applications to aid production workflow in maintaining a 100,000+ page Web site.

Examples:

Awards:

  • July 2004: Batten Award for Tribute to the Troops -- "An effortless, interactive database that allows readers to create a Web page for an individual soldier or troop and post messages or photos."
  • July 2002: Digital Edge award (from the Newspaper Association of America's New Media Federation) for the special section entitled "Poisoned: A Providence Journal Series" about the devastating effects of lead poisoning on children. This feature also won an award from the New England Associated Press News Executives Association.
  • July 2001: Digital Edge awards: "Best Classifieds Use of New Media" and "Best Innovative Use of Digital Media, News Event Coverage" categories for Wheels (automobile classifieds) and Rescuing the Right Whale.

Other responsibilities:

  • Training, support, and quality assurance for Perl programming efforts at other Belo newspapers and television stations
  • Programming for rimonthly.com. Developing interactive features, including an online ballot for the Best of Rhode Island annual reader's poll.

EDUCATION

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Worcester, MA - 1995-1999
B.S. in Computer Science - Graduated with Distinction

Major Qualifying Project (Senior Thesis): Triple Tier Web Accessible Database with Java GUI

Interactive Qualifying Project: Technological Education for Inner City Elementary Schools. Set the trend for an after-school Computer Education Club at the Elm Park Community School in Worcester, MA; Taught a diverse group of children from grades 3 through 6 about computers and the Internet

Member of Alpha Psi Omega Honor Fraternity

SKILLS

Programming: Ruby on Rails, Perl, PHP, SQL, C++, JavaScript.