Meet Bob McCrindle
Bob McCrindle is founder and principal of Stallion Technology, an independent consulting firm
with significant expertise across a broad spectrum of computing technologies and multimedia services.
Bob has over 25 years of experience in information systems technologies. Among his
areas of expertise are:
- Internet Web Site, Application and Services Development
- Client-Server Windows Application Development and Implementation
- Relational Database (Access & Microsoft SQL 2005) Development, Data Modeling,
and Database Administration
- Project Management and Systems Integration
- Computing Infrastructure Design, Deployment and Maintenance
- Document Imaging Systems Implementation
- Upscaling Excel-based single user applications to mutli-user database applications
- Business Continuity - Disaster Recovery Planning
- Desktop Data Security - firewall configuration, anti-virus, anti-spyware, malware,
spam control, data backup and restore
- Data Recovery from crashed, ill-behaving computers and servers, and repair and restoration
of the computing environment
- Microsoft Office 1997-2007 training, support and development
- Small office and home networking setup and support
- Multimedia production. DVD creation from movies on other media. Original movie/digital
still photo creation, editing. Conversion of various media formats to web-ready
formats including Windows media and Adobe Flash. Slideshow creation for DVD or
web use.
Bob started his career as a computer operator with Gulf Oil Exploration and Production
in Houston.
In 1985, he took a position as communications programmer
for JFL Communications, developing software to monitor and control satellite communications between land
and sea based stations for clients in the oil and gas industry.
In 1991, Bob was hired by American General Life Insurance Company as Systems Programmer. In addition to his responsibility for
the Windows application development framework (for insurance policy illustrations) for a staff of 12 programmers, he assumed the role of
network administrator, and was charged with configuration and maintenance of workstation and server computers in the network environment.
In 1992, after serving as a laison support resource for the previous 2 years, Bob
officially took over in a full-time position as Information Systems Administrator
for American General Secrurities, Incorporated (AGSI), a broker/dealer servicing
American General Life Insurance Company's licensed agents and their clients. For
the next 9 years, Bob assumed an extremely heavy load as he served as Network Administrator,
Database Administrator, Back Office Systems Manager and Programmer/Analyst. He was
project lead on Business Continuity Planning, Document Imaging Systems Integration,
Year 2000 systems preparation and planning, as well as having a significant role
in the company's Web Site Development and Deployment. During this period, American General
acquired U.S. Life and Franklin, compelling AGSI to assimilate the back office data from the
associated broker/dealers. Bob oversaw and successfully implemented
a seemless integration of the data from the back office operations of the acquired
broker/dealers into the AGSI back office system database. In additon,
he lead the project to identify and implement the conversion of AGSI's back office
system to a more capable, SQL database-driven application. AGSI document imaging
system: Bob identified the appropriate vendor, wrote Windows applications that automated
the process of populating the document imaging database from data in the AGSI back
office system, deployed the system and trained operators and end users. A busy time.
A heavy load. Lots of various technologies incorporated. Successful results across
the board.
In 2000, Bob left American General to assume the position of Director of Information
Systems with First Financial Group of America. In this role, Bob managed the overhaul
of the computing infrastructure, standardized the computing environment, upgraded
systems, and implemented a review and overhaul of existing 3rd party vendor agreements,
saving the company tens of thousands of dollars.
In 2002, Bob founded Stallion Technology, bringing all of his prior experience to
an independent consulting service. His clients have included entities from
large financial services companies to small independent concerns and people with
home offices. Web sites have been developed for Ken Merin Associates, Deborah
Drumm APN, Innovus Financial Solutions, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, and more.
A separate project for Innovus Financial Solutions in Houston involved the successful conversion
of an Excel workbook to a multi-user database application utilizing Access as the
data repository.
However, the pre-eminent undertaking in the last 5 years has been an ongoing Windows
database-driven application project named REX, developed for Economic Concepts
Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona. The program facilitates the generation and delivery of
investment proposals. Utilized both by home office employees in Scottsdale and branch office employees
in Houston, all accessing the data repository on a server in Scottsdale,
the Windows application wrapper integrates the following
technologies and capabilities:
- Automated remote control of Microsoft Excel workbooks from selected carriers (Hartford
Life, Pacific Life, American General, etc.), the program automatically opens the Excel workbook
and feeds data from the Windows user interface into appropriate Excel workbook sheets
and cells for proposal calculations and output, allows the users
to play "What if" by modifying values of various inputs in the workbook, then when
the user is finished with the workbook, a click within REX commands Excel to generate
the appropriate output for this part of the master proposal to an Adobe PDF file. Also from within REX,
a click to instruct the program to close the workbook saves all pertinent workbook cell values back to the REX
user interface and commands Excel to close the workbook. Once the values are saved to the user interface in REX, they may
be permanently saved to the database to allow for future re-opening of the case and possible tweaking of case parameters.
- Automated control from within the Windows application front-end of Excel workbook
printing to Adobe PDF format (user selects Create Workbook PDF from within the Windows
application and it intelligently prints the
correct range from the correct worksheet within the workbook to an Adobe pdf output
file which will ultimately be incorporated into the master proposal pdf file delivered
to the field force agent for presentation to the prospective client)
- Automated creation of a single consolidated master proposal request document in
Adobe PDF format
from a host of inputs, including an appropriate cover page, a proposal
text file with general information, the carrier workbook output with specifics related
to the case, output from insurance illustration programs, etc.
- Automated remote control of Outlook email capability
to send the finished consolidated proposal to selected recipients (typically one but optionally more than one licensed
agents) for presentation
to the client, with point and click
ability to attach pertinent informational Word document and various other support
documents and forms to the email. All functions along the way are time-stamped and stored in the database.
As financial services carriers constantly update and add to their product offerings,
REX has to be flexible and accomodate and integrate new Excel workbooks (and updates
to existing Excel workbooks) to the user interface and underlying code. Thanks to
an effective initial database and application design, this ongoing mission has been
greatly simplified. In fact, the REX application has been quoted as having created
such efficiency of operations that the company has avoided the need to add personnel.
The application was developed in Microsoft Visual Studio.NET Professional 2005 using
Visual basic as the source language, with several 3rd party plug-ins for support,
including Infragistics NetAdvantage and OS2 Solutions PDF management program.
Increased efficiencies. Significant cost savings. In developing REX, the solution is above average in complexity. Nevertheless, with
the right people to work with inside the client company to effectively communicate the business need and project
objectives, and with Bob's abilities, a good result has been achieved that will sustain
for years to come.
In addition to the aforementioned, Bob has provided clients with
small office support - networking, computer configuration, printer sharing, etc.,
as well as home office setups: for internet connectivity, in some cases file and
printer sharing, repair and recovery of ill-behaving computers, virus, spyware and
malware cleanup, elimination and prevention, and router & firewall configuration.
Bob's background, education and experience in a broad array of critical technological
skills is of a very high level. You'll note as you read through the Testimonials
section of the web site that Bob is also appreciated by clients for his ability
to communicate with them, be they corporate or individual, in an easy and effective
manner that promotes a good result.
Bob's office is located in Sparta, NJ. For further information, call 973.534.4275.