(Doors open at 5:30 for registration, meeting starts at 6:00PM)
Tom
FultonMentor Communications
Tom Fulton has observed a lot of different software development practices, both as a developer and Project Leader, and also as an instructor in C, C++ and Java. Some were unexpected successes, especially because they appeared to run counter to the prevailing wisdom of the time. Others were abject failures, and some spectacular train wrecks that lodged in the memories of the survivors for all time. Tom will share some of the best and worst things he has seen in over 20 years in software development and training…it should be funny and memorable, and maybe a little painful…especially if the stories sound a little familiar.
Tom’s first development experience was a Dream Job – as a Game Designer for Coleco Industries in West Hartford, developing arcade games for the ColecoVision video game system. As Director of Software Development at Corliss Data Systems he directed the design and development of credit collection software, and later became Director of Computer Services for Corliss Credit Services, using the same software he was responsible for developing. Tom was also involved in a management project doing competitive intelligence for the insurance industry, and learned some revealing lessons about implementing new technologies. In recent years, as an instructor in Object-Oriented topics, Tom has experienced the best and worst the software industry has to offer, from developers that work to establish a true partnership with their customers, to those that have consciously sabotaged projects for political reasons.
Tom served as COOUG Treasurer and SIG Chairman until 1999. Tom was a co-chair of the C++ SIG and taught a series of C++ tutorials. Tom also presented a special "Java for C++ Programmers" tutorial event.
Come and join us for an evening that will be hard to forget…no matter how hard you try!
We'll have several book door prizes courtesy Addison Wesley.