Manager Customer Service
Resume:
James Saldana
*****@********.***
OBJECTIVES
Digital Media Manager (Macintosh expert): manager, supervisor, technician, digital video producer, multimedia
and new media solutions consultant with an arts and education preference.
As an experienced manager, supervisor, and artist, I seek to build programs and services that support educational
and artistic initiatives. Utilizing the latest computer technologies and methodologies, I facilitate learning and
creative production through the effective development and deployment of technology and training. I stress the
importance of strategic planning and research in a collaborative environment to accomplish well-defined goals in
accordance with the mission of the organization.
I have a broad background in the use of the technologies that facilitate learning and creative production. With a
preference for a Macintosh based environment, I have the ability to deploy a wide range of computing services
and support using the latest hardware and software for digital imaging, desktop publishing, digital video
production, web publishing, internet media streaming, data and document services, office applications, and
eLearning using Apple Final Studio, Adobe CS3, Microsoft Office, Filemmaker Pro, and WebCT.
In addition, I have the backend knowledge to deploy, maintain, and support a small to medium sized LAN
network of computers, (large format) printers, routers, switches, wireless access points, firewalls and web serving;
using OS X Server and XServe and network gear from common vendors like Cisco, Linksys, Asante, and D-Link.
It is this expertise in computer technology combined with my active participation in creative projects that gives
me the ability to bridge the gap between technology and creative production. As a manager these skills enable me
to facilitate effective computing solutions and training in the use of technology.
EDUCATION
2008: M.A. Interactive Multimedia (August 2008)* GPA 3.7 (68 credit/hrs.)
College of Mass Comm & Media Arts, Southern Illinois Univ. - Carbondale
*Courses completed. Thesis defense scheduled for June 2008.
2000: B.F.A Photography, Film, and Electronic Media (Honors) GPA 3.6 (75 credit/hrs.)
School of Art & Design, University of Illinois - Chicago
1996: Certificate of Programming [C Language] (Deans List) GPA 3.27 (90 credit/hrs.)
Department of Computer Information Systems, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
EMPLOYMENT * I can provide additional references on request.
Project Assistant, Quanta Renewable Energy Services (2008) Mapping and graphic design.
Computer Support Supervisor, Departments of Art & Design, University of Kansas (2006-2007)
Managed all aspects of 12 multimedia computer labs, similar in nature to but more expansive than the New Media
Center I supported at SIU (see below). My responsibilities included the management of a digital imaging lab with
student workers and accounting for print lab sales transactions.
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Producer, IDC Films (1999-2007): [1] [2]
As a self-employed documentary filmmaker and video artist, I produced and participated in the production of
several independently funded digital films and video art projects. I served in the role of Director, Associate
Director, Cinematographer, Multimedia Producer, and Production Artist. Production tools included the Final Cut
Pro Studio and the Adobe Creative Suite. Several of these films, most notably, Daughters of Abraham and Our
Road To Kosovo, received numerous awards and screenings at film festivals (see pg.4). Other productions include
Iraqi-Drive-By (Iraq), Despacho (Peru), Protective Force (Macedonia), KU Design (promotional), Texas Toast
and Fight Back! (USA).
[1] Daughters of Abraham* (Filmed in the Palestinian West-Bank and Israel)
Role: Associate Director & Cinematographer [I directed all filming in the Palestinian West-Bank]
It was an indelible Newsweek cover photograph: two teenage girls who looked so alike they could have been
sisters. Instead, one was a Palestinian bomber who blew herself up in a Jerusalem grocery store, the other her 17-
year-old Israeli Jewish victim. Daughters of Abraham is an unblinking portrait of two lives on a fateful collision
course. *Later remade for HBO Films as To Die In Jerusalem (November 07).
[2] Our Road To Kosovo (Filmed in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia)
Role: Producer & Director
Chronicles the struggle of an ethnic Albanian family during the conflict in Kosovo. Our Road to Kosovo is a
personal story of tragedy and hope for the Kelmendi family, as you learn of their harrowing exodus from Kosovo,
and the process of reclamation that these refugees must go through when they return home to find that their once
familiar society has become livable only under constant military occupation.
Graduate Lab Manager, New Media Center, Southern Illinois Univ. (2000-2004)
Reporting directly to the Associate Dean of the College of Mass Communications and Media Arts, I performed a
wide range of duties throughout the college and New Media Center including: customer service and assistance
with software applications from Apple, Adobe, etc.; deploying, configuring, troubleshooting, and repairing
computer hardware, software, and peripherals; checkout of equipment to students, faculty, and staff; issuing
regular reports on the status of inventory; management of software licenses and warranty repairs; negotiating
purchases from vendors; drafting annual purchase recommendations and reports; maintaining NMC website;
deploying, configuring, and upgrading college-wide server services, to include user accounts, file sharing,
printing, mail, web hosting, video streaming, and workgroups, as well as network configuration. I was assigned an
assistant and provided supervision of student workers.
* The New Media Center is a state-of-the-art multimedia production facility that is equipped with 100 then state-
of-the-art G5 and G4 Apple PowerMacs (OS X) and 15 Dell PCs (XP) desktops, laptops, and peripherals for
interactive multimedia, digital photo, digital video shooting & editing, audio recording and mixing, and color
printing (small and large format), using the latest suite of software from Apple, Adobe, Macromedia, Microsoft,
FileMaker and other leading companies used for graphic design, desktop publishing, web design, media
authoring, as well as digital video and audio production and distribution. The computers are networked through
Cisco switches on a fiber optic network connection. The lab is also equipped with an Apple Xserve and Xserve
RAID units that provide college-wide server services.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Southern Illinois Univ. (2000-2004)
Served as a graduate teaching assistant for various media courses of up to 300 students over a period of four
years. I was also primarily responsible for the administration of WebCT (online course tools).
SIT Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Chicago (1998-2000)
Managed a university-wide teacher evaluation program used by the Office of Academic Affairs for faculty
promotion and tenure. As Coordinator of the program I was solely responsible for the administration of the
program including the collection, processing, and distribution of the official evaluation data and summary reports
to all colleges, departments and faculty. The administration of the program required the use of Adobe software
applications for design and website development. Reports were distributed in print and accessible on the web
from a server that I set up and maintained using FileMaker Pro, and OS X Server. The program was later
transferred from the auspices of Student Affairs to the Office of Academic Affairs (CETL).
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Election Campaign Coordinator of SUBBs, Carbondale, Illinois (1997)
Designed and directed the distribution of campaign materials through the use of radio, newspaper, and web
advertisements, using of Adobe software applications for design and website development. My duties included
the recruitment and deployment of canvassing teams of up to 100 volunteers. As a direct result of our efforts, we
garnered a significant turnout for a city election, which resulted in the election of our two candidates.
Military Experience: US Army, Worldwide (1984-1997): [1] [2] [3]
My extensive professional military career concluded with an honorable discharge from the US Army and US
Army Reserves. As a former Infantry Team Leader, Squad Leader, NBC NCO, and Drill Sergeant in elite units
such as the 101st Airborne, I was stationed in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. During that time I had the
unique opportunity to serve as a United Nations Peacekeeper on the Egyptian-Israeli border.
[1] Nuclear-Biological-Chemical NCO
Assigned to headquarters platoon and served as an advisor to the commander on NBC operations. As a company
level NBC NCO, I lead a team of soldiers to maintain facilities with an extensive inventory of equipment and
supplies for NBC operations and training. As a supervisor, I conducted company and battalion level NBC training
through the development of lesson plans and the execution of coordinated training operations for up to 800
soldiers and over 100 vehicles.
[2] Staff Sergeant
As a first-line supervisor I directed the utilization of personnel and equipment, coordinated unit actions with
adjacent and supporting elements, insured the proper collection and reporting of intelligence data, supervised
maintenance and construction, and trained subordinate personnel.
[3] Drill Sergeant
Prepared a platoon of individuals for military service by training them in infantry operations, combat techniques
and tactics, battlefield survival, common tasks, weapons and maintenance, drill and ceremonies, and provided
tactical and technical guidance as necessary.
OTHER MEDIA PROJECTS & EXPERIENCE
Author of UIC RADIO
Developed and submitted a proposal to university officials for a campus Internet radio station. This proposal was
accompanied by a working demonstration of the media streaming technology necessary to operate an Internet
radio station broadcast, using a very early version of OS X streaming server (UNIX) that I configured from
scratch. Based on my proposal, the university purchased the specified equipment and deployed an internet radio
station, UIC Radio. Startup costs during the first two years exceeded $100,000 for staffing, equipment, and
renovations.
Editor-in-Chief of the Student Survival Guide, College of DuPage
Served as Editor-in-Chief of the annual Student Survival Guide . This paid student position required me to have
a working knowledge of traditional printing methods and practices, and to produce a printer specification sheet to
be submitted for public bids. The guide was produced on Macs & PCs using Adobe software. I was required to
hire and oversee a staff of three (3) paid students workers, coordinate with all college departments and units, and
work directly with the contracted printer to insure all bid specifications were met. The 80-page guide was printed
each Fall Semester in quantities exceeding 10,000-12,000 (distributed to 36,000 students), with a production
budget in excess of $20,000.
Creative Computing Enthusiast
Starting in 1980, I taught myself three programming languages: Basic, Assembler, and C Language. Platforms
include PC (Windows/DOS), Apple (Apple II & Macintosh), and Commodore (PET, VIC-20, Commodore 64,
and Amiga 500).
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AWARDS, ACHIEVEMENTS, & APPOINTMENTS
Film Screenings and Awards [1] [2]
[1] Daughters of Abraham *Later remade for HBO Films as To Die In Jerusalem (November 07)
Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, CA (2005); DC Independent Film Festival (2005); Angelus
Awards Outstanding [Best] Documentary Award (2004); San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (2004); WIDC
International Film and Video Festival (2004); BEA Festival of Media Arts Competition Winner (2004);
University Film and Video Association Carole Fielding Grant Winner (2003); Screened at Stanford
University (2003); Screening by the Southern Illinois Council of the United Nations (2003).
[2] Our Road To Kosovo
George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, Florence, AL (2006); Temecula Valley International Film Festival Best
Short Documentary Temecula, CA (2005); Bay St. Film Festival, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (2005);
DOCNZ International Film Festival, New Zealand (2005); Orinda Film Festival (Sponsor Sundance Channel),
Orinda, CA (2005); Sacramento Film & Music Festival, Sacramento, CA (2005); BestFest America Best
Documentary 2nd Place Award, San Diego, CA (2005); Bronx Independent Film Festival Honorable
Mention, Bronx, NY (2005); Planet Ant Film & Video Festival Best Documentary Award, Detroit, MI
(2005); Artsfest Film Festival, Harrisburg, PA (2005); fest-EYE-ful (sponsor - Independent Film Channel),
Texarkana, TX (2005); Amnesty International Human Rights Film Festival, St. Johns, NF, Canada (2004);
Broadcast WSIU PBS, Carbondale, IL (2003); Detroit Docs [Film Festival], Detroit, MI (2002); Angelus
Awards Documentary Film Finalist Award*, Hollywood, CA. (2002) *[Award presented at the Directors
Guild].
Academic Awards, Achievements, and Appointments (paid positions in italics)
Public University Sector Chair for the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee; Vice-
Chair of the Non-Academic Affairs Committee for the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory
Committee; Chancellor's Student Service Award (x2); USG Chief-of-Staff; USG Office Manager; USG
Webmaster; Phi Theta Kappa International Scholastic Order of the Two Year College; Certificate of
Appreciation - For Dedication and Service to the College; Who's Who Among Students in American Community
Colleges (x2); SGA Student Body President; SGA Student Body Vice-President; Vice-President of the
Environmental Action Group.
Community Achievements and Appointments
Project Director of the Save Mayslake Project (county referendum); Project Director of Project Planet Earth
fundraiser.
Military Awards and Achievements
Drill Sergeant Badge; Air Assault Badge; Army Achievement Medal (RA) (x3); Army Achievement Medal
(USAR); Good Conduct Medal (RA); Non-Commission Officers Ribbon; Multi-National Force and Observers
Ribbon; Overseas Medal; Service Ribbon; Rifle Expert Badge; Grenade Sharpshooters Badge; Physical Fitness
Badge (x2); Combat Life Savers Certificate; Certificate of Achievement (RA); Letter of Commendation from the
Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (RA); Honorable Discharge (RA); Honorable
Discharge (USAR). [RA = Regular Army, USAR = United States Army Reserves]
FILM / MEDIA PROJECT WEBSITES
Our Road To Kosovo http://www.idcfilms.com/
Daughters of Abraham http://doa.idcfilms.com/
Despacho http://despacho.idcfilms.com/
Pepsi-iTunes Parody http://pepsi.idcfilms.com/
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