Benjamin Sarsgard
*********@*****.***
Senior technology solutions architect with over 10 years of experience. Versatile areas of
expertise range from AJAX web application development to core API and data model design.
Skilled in planning, analysis and management of projects from inception to deployment, with a
focus on application architecture, API programming, and systems integration.
Core Competencies
Python/PHP web development & scripting Solutions architecture
Java application & JSP enterprise Team management
AJAX/AJAJ and Javascript web UI development API development (UI and DAL)
MySQL/PostrgeSQL/Oracle/MSSQL 2k & 2k5 Systems analysis
Microsoft .NET & ASP.NET, 1.1 & 2.0 Agile development techniques
Experience IT Professional
Vision Multimedia Technologies, Baltimore, MD (2001-present) Senior Software Architect
Managing a team of 5 full-time programmers and several contractors, acting as a primary
resource for project architecture and direction, as well as hands-on development.
Designed and built a distributed social marketing tool using Python and Django which allows
marketing professionals to post to sites such as Facebook and Twitter as their employees or
partners, with a detailed click tracking and lead capture framework and full reporting suite.
Developed and maintain critical medical & fire incident databases for the state of Maryland,
including an XHTML- and CSS-based accessibility interface and AJAX control library.
Light Industries, Inc, Millersville, MD (2003-2005) Senior Developer
Developed a Data Access Layer for the .NET language, using the abstract factory design pattern,
which was reused company-wide for all .NET development.
Developed a set of reusable data-bound web controls for Rapid Application Development.
Versient, Inc, Hunt Valley, MD (2000-2001) Web Developer
Designed and developed an XML DOM wrapper API, to enhance functionality and usability.
Created a series of server-side XML generation scripts and schemas, accessible by either: XSLT
transformation, client parsing applications, or ASP script processing.
I-Team Resources, Inc, Columbia, MD (1999-2000) Software Developer
Developed proof-of-concept work for traffic.com, using a JSP front-end and proprietary servlet
back-end to control business logic.
Created a cross-platform day trading application, using a Java/Swing front end, and a socket
based server process for fast and efficient performance.
Basys, Inc, Linthicum, MD (1997-1999) Software Developer
Supported and enhanced programming for benefit administration software in the UniBasic and
Java programming languages, both in-house and on-site.
Benjamin Sarsgard
*********@*****.***
Experience Open Source Development
Playa del Fuego, Inc, Silver Spring, MD (2003-present) Online Ticket Sales & Entry Scanner
Wrote and maintain a ticket sales system capable of handling over 1,000 simultaneous reservation
and payment processing requests, and delivering the user a barcoded confirmation.
Emphasis on speed and light-weight architecture to allow heavy volume on a shared host.
Developed a ticket scanning station application in Python, capable of running on any OS and
using a basic HID interface to work via keyboard, touch screen, or barcode scanner.
ATZ OK, Baltimore, MD (2007-present) Personal Projects
Demon Keeper (2009): For a 30-day game programming challenge, created an isometric sprite-
based builder RTS in the vein of Dungeon Keeper. Written with Python and Pygame, supports
fully manipulable terrain and upgradeable combat units. Developed a specialized variation of the
Dijkstra and A* pathfinding algorithms to support multiple layered search nodes.
ZedZed (2008): Created a Zombie survival RPG set in an infinitely expandable world, using
Python and Pygame. Built a full suite of procedural map generation routines for urban and
suburban environments.
jEdit: Open Source Programmer s Text Editor (2001-2003)
Created a 100% Java CVS versioning plugin, independent of any underlying command line
programs or environment, capable of handling commits and updates of open buffers.
Experience Other
Firaxis, Inc, Hunt Valley, MD (2001-2007) Tester, Programmer
Play tester for Sid Meier s Civilization III: Conquests, Civilization III: Play the World,
Civilization IV, Civilization IV: Warlords, and Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword.
Programmed procedural world generation routines in python for Civilization IV: Beyond the
Sword, to simulate an Earth-like hemispherical divide.
Black Rock City, LLC, San Francisco, CA (2005-present) Burning Man Regional Contact
Serving as a year-round contact for Burning Man and related events in the Baltimore area, and a
liaison between the Burning Man staff and regional concerns.
On-site team management and coordination of center-camp facilities, such as Culture Lab: a
collaborative and interactive experience with the Regional Network, Black Rock Arts
Foundation, Burners Without Borders, and Black Rock Solar.
Meet annually at headquarters to develop strategies for how Burning Man can play a role in both
global and local communities.
Playa del Fuego, Inc, Silver Spring, MD (2003-present) Director, Ticket and Gate Manager
Serve on the board of directors for Playa del Fuego, a bi-annual non-profit community event.
Coordinate with other community organizations and events, such as The Art of Change, an
inaugural celebration of DC's creative communities, in 2009.
Participate in long-term planning for the event as a means of promoting art and radical expression
in the Mid-Atlantic region.