Ruth T. Hoffman

 

508.620.6457 Res ∙ 508.380.0632 Cell ∙ ruththoffman@msn.com ∙ www.linkedin.com/in/ruththoffman

 

Information Technology Professional

 Troubleshooting ∙ Analysis ∙ Customer Focus

 

Expert at resolving problems with speed and precision. Over 20 years of experience in all phases of project

life cycle, from initial analysis to testing and implementation. Organized, dedicated, take-charge performer with

exceptional follow-through and detail orientation, able to exceed expectations. Excelled at analyzing customer

needs and defining appropriate solutions to ensure efficiency and capability. Results-oriented, striving to deliver error-free code to foster credibility and reduce number of test iterations. Effective as technical team lead and as individual player. Responsible for complete IT Sarbanes-Oxley reporting for two years. Qualified to make immediate contribution to organization.

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Operating Systems:         MVS, z/OS, Windows platforms

Database / File systems: DB2, VSAM

Languages:                      Enterprise COBOL, CICS, JCL, SQL

Software:                         Test Director, Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Access, Project, Visio), Business  

                                         Objects, Quality Center

Tools:                               File-Aid, File-Aid for DB2, SPUFI, Princeton Softech Move for DB2, file compare  

                                         tools, ChangeMan, CA-Intertest, Xpediter, Panvalet, Abend-Aid, IDCAMS

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

MetLife, Boston, MA                                                                                                                             1993–2009                                                                                                                                                                   1981–1988 

         Leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of customers worldwide.

       Systems Consultant (1996–2009)

       Senior Systems Analyst (1993–1996)

 

       Vantage-One system support

    Go-to team member charged with enhancing and maintaining variable annuity administration system.  Provided technical advice, direction and leadership to team members. Relied upon for Production support of over 100 North American users. Quickly prioritized issues and provided timely responses to meet defined Service Level requirements. Ensured that system changes always satisfied customer needs and were consistent with existing processes. Acted as team liaison with in-house and vendor technical support personnel during migration to change management system (ChangeMan), and CICS and system upgrades. Received team and individual awards from business organization. 

  

      Major Contributions

·         Eliminated expense of manual creation of extracts for agents by documenting and developing automated

      process to send extracts on user scheduled basis using Enterprise COBOL, SQL, JCL, and CICS.

·         Achieved $10M in savings by playing key role in integration of policies from affiliate company onto a               common platform within a very tight timeframe using COBOL-II, SQL, JCL, VSAM, ABEND-AID, FileAid,       IDCAMS, and Intertest. 

·         Reduced cost of providing ad-hoc information to business community as hands-on co-leader of team of

      employees and vendor personnel to successfully complete system upgrade from VSAM to DB2 database

      structure.

·         Improved performance and enhanced functionality of system by upgrading to new release. Lead

      and participating member of team of 10, overseeing complete implementation including allocation of

      resources, development of timelines and thorough testing before placing into Production.

 

 

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·         Dramatically cut number of calls to client call center by interfacing with outside vendor contacts, in-house

      technical areas and business representatives to create a Voice Response Unit application. Designed SQL

      server database from which data for Voice Response Unit was retrieved.

 

Fund Administration system support

   Acquired Business Objects and Microsoft Access training by assisting business users with creation of ad-hoc reports and by processing requests for trade adjustments. Oversaw complete Sarbanes-Oxley reporting for annual control period.

 

Life and Annuity administration system support

         Primarily responsible for writing concise specifications and implementing interfaces from policy change and

    supplemental policy systems to client information database. Facilitated real-time update capability by     

    incorporating GMI transactions within legacy CICS COBOL applications. Credited with being chief contributor

    to success of project. Ensured regulatory compliance by supporting client output changes for annuity and life

    products.

    

Sunbelt Systems Concepts, Inc., Orlando, FL                                                                                1992–1993  

       Information management firm for Florida Hospital.

 

       Programmer

       Quickly learned Medicare Billing and Admissions processes. Effected 20% performance improvement by

       eliminating redundant SQL calls and replacing inefficient coding. Self-taught SQL and DB2 programmer.

 

OTHER POSITIONS

 

Phoenix Life Insurance Company - Enfield, CT                                                                                1989–1992

Life and annuity firm.

 

Programmer

 

Hanover Insurance - Worcester, MA                                                                                                   1988–1989

Property/casualty firm.

 

Programmer Analyst

 

MetLife  - Boston, MA                                                                                                                           1981–1988

         Leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of customers worldwide.

 

Lead Programmer Analyst    1987–1988

Programmer Analyst             1985–1987

Programmer                          1984–1985

Actuarial Assistant                 1981–1984

 

EDUCATION

 

BA, Mathematics, Binghamton University – Binghamton, NY

Fellow, Life Management Institute