Senior Software Development

Howard Bowers

Peoria, AZ ***** 602-***-**** ********@***.***

https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-bowers-jr

SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

Highly proficient Senior Software Development & Engineering Specialist adept at analyzing, designing, and developing .NET applications. Recognized for effectively facilitating product training and demonstrations that improve overall product features and functionality. Known for mentoring, leading, and motivating team members to higher levels of performance. Passionate about collaborating with geologically diverse and cross-functional teams to accomplish targeted goals and address issues related to our products and services.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Change Management Team Leadership Innovation Management Root Cause Analysis Quality Assurance Maintenance & Repair Process Improvement Analytical Thinking Issue Research Improvement Plan Knowledge Idea Development & Brainstorming Data Analysis Training & Development Drives Execution

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Charles Schwab

Full-time · May 1992 – Jan 2024 · 31 yrs 9 mos

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Senior Software Development Engineer

Apr 2009 - Jan 2024 · 14 yrs 10 mos

Remote

Operational Workforce Technology (OWT) team provided customized software solutions and support, tailored to meet the needs of Operational Services business community. This included Client/Server and Web Applications, process and workflow automation, and business contingency support.

OWT maintained & supported a wide variety of windows & web applications and macros that provided the reconciliation platform for Trading, Charitable Trust & Mutual Funds business teams.

The project scope included maintenance, production support and provided build engineering services for numerous business teams/departments.

This work included application maintenance – enhancements to the applications and code fixes, provided round the clock production support and performed build engineering activities. It entailed requirement analysis, technical design, build testing, implementation, bug fixes and scheduling/monitoring of the SQL Jobs. The enhancements were developed using agile and waterfall methodologies.

Skills: Dispute Resolution · Time Management · Team Management · Unit Testing · Software Development · Technical Requirements · Servers · Database Development · Software Requirements · Collaborative Problem Solving · Project Planning · Communication · Persistence · Relational Databases · Microsoft Products · MySQL · Troubleshooting · Programming · Backlog Management · Business Logic · .NET Framework · Business Requirements · Computer Science · Software Solutions · Constructive Feedback · Analytical Skills · Computer Engineering · Requirements Gathering · Requirements Analysis · Open-Source Software · DevOps · SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) · Team Leadership · Code Review · XML · Documentation Practices · Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) · Front-End Development · Microsoft SQL Server · SQL · Agile Methodologies · Software Testing · Application Development · Agile Development · Agile Project Management · HTML · Timelines · Performance Oriented · Team Mentoring · Technical Specs · Visio · Interpersonal Skills · Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Trading Operations Manager/Project Manager lll

Jun 2004 - Mar 2009 · 4 yrs 10 mos

Monitored exchange connections and maintained the viability of Schwab's trained systems.

Assisted in the process of ensuring the integrity of the Schwab Trading Systems through the application of my business and technical expertise to design, test, implement and certify software, hardware and data circuit enhancements.

Worked in a fast paced, high risk environment, adjusted my roles as needed during market hours or system crisis.

Responsible for downtime resolution, system install certification, MacroHomePage management for EOR applications.

Regularly called upon to create/amend applications at a moment’s notice to remedy immediate system issues.

Skills: Software Solutions · Collaborative Problem Solving · Software Development · Unit Testing · Collaborative Leadership · Software Documentation

EOR Senior Trading Analyst AND After-Hours Trading Specialist

Dec 2002 - May 2004 · 1 yr 6 mos

Ensured orderly After-Hours Trading experience at Schwab, Monitored in/outbound trading lines, resolving exceptions and trading calls from ARCA and Schwab employees; process improvement; and Host-Fallback testing/After-Hours point person.

Review of highly complex orders placed via Schwab Electronic Products with respect to risk to Schwab, risk to the customer and compliance with Schwab and Industry trading polices.

Ensured transactions were completed within required time frames to ensure customer satisfaction while maintaining adherence to Risk Management policies and procedures.

Decisions required the exercise of initiative and judgement, at times going beyond established procedural guidelines.

Developed/Improved applications; ran various tests to ensure the reliability of the applications.

Trained Restricted Stock representatives to review/Boat the Restricted Stock segment.

Skills: Software Development · Proactive Monitoring · Risk Assessment · Risk Management · Project Management

EOR Trade Support Desk Supervisor

Oct 2001 - Nov 2002 · 1 yr 2 mos

Team of 8 provided debt resolutions services to reduce Schwab's exposure to financial losses.

Supported Debt Resolution & Statistical Analysis Reports Teams by reducing Schwab's exposure to financial loss.

Recommended, developed, implemented and maintained procedural/system improvements that assisted in debt prevention and reduction.

Developed methods to track, monitor and report the team's actual reduction efforts vs. goals.

Analyzed and reported electronic trading issues and their financial impact on the firm and communicated those results to upper management.

Skills: Problem Management · Financial Analysis · Executive Management · Debt Settlement · Statistical Data Analysis · Personnel Management

EOR Nights & Active Trader Manager/Director (5 teams of 25 plus supervisors…130 members)

Jun 1999 - Sep 2001 · 2 yrs 4 mos

Liaison to Schwab on electronic trading and risk issues.

Developed methods to track, monitor and report errors; research root cause and develop solutions.

Managed and approved risk on highly complex customer orders and accounts using sound and ethical business judgment.

Instrumental in the rollout of both Pre and After Market electronic trading programs at Schwab.

Trained, mentored new and current members into the Schwab team.

Was sole support group for electronic trading in employee accounts at Schwab including upper management trades.

Won 2 Excellence in Service awards which were the only ones receved by these teams in 7 years.

Skills: Risk Management · Peer Mentoring · Executive Management · Risk Assessment · Proactive Monitoring

Schwab 500 Manager (High valued client and active traders)

Jul 1998 - Jun 1999 · 1 yr

Responsible for all aspects of client satisfaction/development.

Regularly ranked in the top teams across Schwab for Business Development.

Utilized strengths of team members to increase the overall strength of the team by having the members mentor each other.

My team and I were technical and BD resources cross training other teams regularly.

Skills: Cross-team Collaboration · Customer Retention · Peer Mentoring · Business Development · Time Management

Retail Manager (Nights and 3x12 team)

Jul 1997 - Jun 1998 · 1 yr

Responsible for traffic management; Floor escalation calls; Team Development; Customer Satisfaction Scores.

Utilized strengths of team members to increase the overall development of the team by having the members mentor each other.

Working evening hours and weekends we had to rely on ourselves to find solutions for our issues when supporting departments were not available.

Worked with team to win the Business Development Regatta trophy. (Typically, within the top 5 BD teams)

Skills: Business Development · Organization Skills · Human Resource Development · Time Management · Cross-team Collaboration

Trade Support Desk Manager (Rotational team started with 8 members grew to 25 in 12 months)

Apr 1996 - Nov 1997 · 1 yr 8 mos

Reviewed/Resolved client trade disputes determining at fault party and resolution needed. (Reduced dispute backlog from 1.5 months backlog to daily resolution in 2 weeks’ time)

Reviewed daily trade logs of 25 teams to provide regulatory evidence of supervision (Reduced 18-month backlog to daily review in 2 months’ time)

Supervised/Mentored/Provided Performance reviews for rotating team of employees. (25 reviews provided quarterly)

Created/Instructed Trade Error Reduction class for new hires and existing employees. (Reduced employee trade errors 50% from 800+/yr to less than 400/yr)

Instructed new hire Margins/Options trading classes for 60 new hires on the Phoenix Campus one week per month.

Many members of the team went on to become Managers, Directors and VPs at Schwab.

Skills: Dispute Resolution · Problem Management · Employee Training · Cross-training · Personnel Management

Manager in Training

Jan 1996 - Mar 1996 · 3 mos

Further developed manager skills while mentoring with existing managers; directors and VPs.

Trained new hires.

Skills: Team Management · Time Management · Collaborative Problem Solving · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Human Resource Development

Schwab 500 Broker (High valued client and active traders)

Jan 1994 - Dec 1995 · 2 yrs

Built Relationships with high value clients increasing team's year over year assets 30+%.

Assist clients with placing securities trades accurately and quickly (Fixed Income, Equities, Options, Mutual Funds)

Discuss trading strategies with client to match their investment goals.

Mentored new colleagues.

Supervised team while manager was not available.

Skills: Customer Retention · Information Gathering · Collaborative Problem Solving · Peer Mentoring · Product Knowledge · Account Management

Retail Broker

May 1992 - Dec 1993 · 1 yr 8 mos

Accurately placed securities trades (Fixed Income, Equities, Options, Mutual Funds)

Resolved account questions.

Helped set up new accounts.

Regularly in the top 20 brokers for business development.

General account help.

Skills: Event Management · Customer Relationship Management (CRM) · Engaging People · Collaborative Problem Solving · Customer Satisfaction · New Business Development

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Administration, Finance

Computer Science & Business Information Systems (minor)

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

FINRA LICENSES

Series 7; Series 63; Series 8, 9 (Series 10); Series 55

SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY

Languages used: C# using .NET 4.5, 4.6.1, 4.7.1, 4.8 & .NET Core frameworks, VBScript, VBA

Database used: MS SQL Server 2016, 2012, 2008, 2008R2, 2005. T-SQL, XML, Oracle, MS SQL

Operating Systems: Windows Server 2016, 2012, 2008, Win XP, Win 8 & 8.1

Web/Windows Related: Web API, ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5, CSS3, XML, ADO.NET, Web Services and IIS

Performance Tuning/Optimizations: SSIS, SQL Server Jobs

Tools: SQL Server Management Studio 2018, 2016, 2012, 2008R2, Visual Studio 2022, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012 & 2010 and Team Foundation Server 2015, 2013 & 2012, Splunk, Visual Source Safe, Remedy, Visio, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Beyond Compare, Fiddler

CI/CD Tools (Atlassian): Bamboo, Bit Bucket, JIRA, and Confluence. Harness

Cloud: Pivotal Cloud Foundry, Google Cloud (Cloud Data Warehouse)

Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

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