Chemist, Electrician, Disaster Response
Resume:
Matthew Hellmers
********@*****.*** 504-***-****
linkedin.com/in/mhellmers
Summary
Most of my experience comes from wet chem, probes, and instrumentation to measure different properties of water for drinking, drainage, and sewerage.
I'm also OSHA certified, and have worked in a disaster area with different missions, changing the paradigm of work for each contract.
My lighting experience is honestly pretty rusty at this point, though electrical, especially low voltage is still strong. Contract or full-time work utilizing my degree or previous experience are what I'm looking for. Experience
Water Chemist
Orleans Parish Water Board
May 2018 - Sep 2019 (1 year 5 months)
I collect and run samples in the wet lab, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, alkalinity, pH, ammonia, fluoride, chlorine, chlorides, install and repair equipment, validate, maintain and repair auto-samplers at water towers and filters, order reagents, parts, and make sure our numbers are not out of range. If they are repeatedly after several samples, I call other departments and try to find the issue. The autosamplers we use are HACH CL-17s for chlorination and a mix of HACH laser and light turbidemeters. In addition I must validate and maintain the lab equipment we use to validate our plant equipment. My last major undertaking was rebuilding a Shimadzu TOC with autosampler that had been decommissioned for over 5 years.
The major challenge here is that the budget is limited but the demands are not, as the saying goes, the reward for hard work is more work.
Owner
Capital Logistics and Event Planning
Aug 2014 - Present (7 years 9 months +)
Installation and service of security/surveillance, lighting, electrical, and computer systems. Event planning, logistics and coordination. Invoicing, contracts, and sales. Achieving customer’s desires through prioritization and research
Chemist
Jefferson Parish Water Department
Nov 2016 - May 2018 (1 year 7 months)
I tested total organic and inorganic carbon in water to analyze water processing efficiency. In addition to total phenols and TKN testing on sewerage and drainage samples to analyze waste plant efficiency. Matthew Hellmers - page 1
Installer
Convergint
May 2016 - Jul 2016 (3 months)
I received a promotion at Convergint to Field Installer. This position offers much more responsibility along with unique challenges and self-reliance. Daily I must solve issues of logistics, and figuring out the best way to complete a scope of work with the parts available. Every week is a new client, a new challenge to figure out and overcome. Most installs focus around access control, and cameras. Equipment upkeep was a regular part of the routine.
Warehouse and Vehicle Fleet Manager
Convergint
Nov 2015 - May 2016 (7 months)
Ordering and distributing consumable parts for jobs, organizing data and parts for contracts. Delivering parts when needed, ensuring vehicles have all proper paperwork and are mechanically sound. Time to time going out on jobs and doing what I do for my business, running wire, and fixing problems. I'm constantly learning, evolving the systems we have in place, sometimes the flow I think would work best needs to be modified, adapted to the structures and needs already in place. The best example would be recoding all inventory flow to be used with a laser scanner. The scanner never ended up being used, but the added accountability proved to be a useful tool.
Lighting and Equipment Repair
Rzi Lighting
Mar 2015 - Aug 2015 (6 months)
Quality control and repair of mechanical and lighting equipment including spotlights, moving lights(pan, tilt, gobos, etc.), LED PARs, dimmers, lighting control boards, motors, power distribution systems, and their cables and interfaces.
Logistics and Lighting Specialist
Mardi Gras Productions Inc
Aug 2014 - Apr 2015 (9 months)
My responsibilities are more a time dependent process, I lump it into two groups, one day or less notice, and two days or more notice.
If I'm given two days or more notice the first action is to receive a previous layout, and make modifications if changes have been requested. Next is checking all gear required, and using the two days in advance to pack as slim and comprehensive of a gear pack as possible, then pack it tightly. The goal being to have a one way trip for all lighting, props, and furniture. Downtime for back and forth runs, as well as confusion from missing parts creates more downtime and lack of morale only second to inconsistent payroll.
If one day advance notice or less is given, I must consult my current rolling inventory, and see what can be pulled for the job, bring my notepad, sketch the job, power distros, and available amperage from each feed as lights are being laid out. This is what I like to call one for all, and all for one mode. In the last minute zero hour instances, talking to other contractors and working together can push that hour hand back much farther from its expected time. Confusion and isolation from different elements doing
"their job" leads to frustration, and pushing that clock close to, or into show-time. My process is not perfect, and I am always open to criticism, as sometimes I have to write reports giving criticism on how fat can be trimmed, proposals for jobs, diagrams, layouts, and training. One constant on any job I have worked, and will work that I strive on is problem solving, especially when there is a lack of apparent solutions. I will make the show run, it will be safe, and all clients will get the wow factor, even if I have to buy lamp batteries, resistors, breadboards and LEDs to make my own lights at 2 AM. Once I enter a contract, I will relentlessly pursue it until it is complete to all required, and if possible, desired goals. Generally with enough time to consult with clients if requested. Driver/ Lighting Technician
Omega Production Resource LLC
Dec 2013 - Sep 2014 (10 months)
At Omega I ensure gear packs match inventory for load-ins and load-outs, I then drive gear to or from set, help set-up lighting, and special effects if applicable, and stay for show to fill any holes that require a mechanical technician. Spotlight, house-lights, programming and patterning, mostly lights, and anything that may come up on the job requiring a background in electronics or chemistry. Special effects are sadly rare with live audiences, but being able to get the contract to deploy them is a far more rare commodity. We work safely and efficiently along with other contractors on set to try and deliver the best show and client satisfaction possible.
Lighting Technician
Mardi Gras Productions
Sep 2010 - Jun 2011 (10 months)
I learned to lead without managerial authority, and calm the chaos of every contract to a dull roar so they would be completed. Though my job was lighting, I was also mechanic and driver, responsible for loading all items that would make it to the event, and similarly for returning them to the warehouse at the completion of the event. Rarely were events limited to lighting, myself as personnel, or one event per truck. Whatever I gave this job, I took away from it an ability to zoom out and see the bigger picture, especially where I needed to be in it versus where I might want to be. The biggest challenge I faced at this job was that although there was one contract, one mission, one end result laid out for every job, there were many voices for how that end result could be best accomplished. My solution was to find those who did rather than talked, and ask them how to do their aspect of the job. I listened when they gave me time, valued their advice, and found that if we were working while others were talking, they found themselves at odds, and were soon "doing". Smaller challenges were lack of resources, such as constantly breaking materials(trucks, lights, props, etc.), and having to become very versatile to ensure that contracts were completed. I learned to fabricate from molds, repair equipment, and learned much more about electronics from items that had to be designed for shows.
Working on one project, a 12 foot scaled replica of a gas streetlamp, I got to use trigonometry in my first real world application and contribute to the design and fabrication. An issue early on in the shop was that everyone knew what they wanted it to look like, and an over-all height, just not the exact length of boards and angles needed to keep it symmetrical. This was crucial as it was a piece that would be elevated with someone dancing inside it during an event. We collaborated for a day, completed fabrication within one week, and it deployed successfully. Assistant Electrician
A-1 Electrical Contractors
Oct 2008 - Dec 2008 (3 months)
Electrical work with A-1 was much different than for Key-Lite, A-1 was a much larger company with many more employees and contracts. The first part was being matched with a journeyman or master electrician, then working contracts they received for the day. Each vehicle was relatively new and ran clean, fully stocked and ready for residential or commercial work, new construction, remodelling, or troubleshooting.
Work flow varied depending on who I was working with, as they had a preference, or sometimes better ability for different settings. I got to find that new commercial construction is the best electrical setting I work in when helping with a new car dealership construction. Driver
A-1 Mobile Shredding
Apr 2007 - Oct 2008 (1 year 7 months)
Work can sometimes be really really fun. This job was perfect, my boss was someone whose trust I had earned when we had worked together previously, I got to drive big trucks all day, and help people get rid of burdens.
That's how I always looked at it, whether I was selling a customer a bigger bin for their company, or more discretion had to be exercised in document/material destruction for an individual. Regardless, these items now caused stress, I got to destroy them, recycle their stress(paper at least) into usable products that could help other people, help my boss make money and have less worries, and he was helping me by working around my school schedule. The only thing I would change if I could is the space-time continuum so we could have kept working together when school became 5 days a week. I knew what days, what times I was expected to work, the contracts for that day's work were always crystal clear, and once the contracts were completed I only needed to call to see if there were more contracts, or if that was the day. Payment came at the end of each day, any damage to the work vehicle I was personally responsible for. It gave me a lot of pride, to have so much trust, and be able to show that it was well placed.
Quality Control
All-South Engineering
May 2006 - Mar 2007 (11 months)
60 hour work weeks and the change of scenery to Slidell and Kenner were very relieving. Besides the reduced hours more people were moving back in these areas, so there was more of a feeling that I was helping my community.
An example would be the right of entry forms(ROE) that we were allowed to use for expediting the removal of trees killed by salt-water from their property. This resonated with me as my parents home was destroyed by tree damage. In New Orleans we could not go on anyone's property except in the case of blighted, abandoned properties to demolish them. The ability to help people just coming home, trying to find contractors, and alleviate some of that stress by removing hazards from their property was very satisfying. I can't think of any situations that needed to be "defused" only working out between my chain of command what help was acceptable, and with homeowners if they wanted to sign a right of entry and call the parish hotline so we could remove dead trees.
One unique issue is that as safety became less of a worry coming from other people, with an increase of residents and crew size, it became more of a worry from the work we were doing. Much greater attention had to be paid not only to our surroundings and the crew, but also how we presented ourselves and paced work to prevent injuries and remain welcome in the community.
Quality Control
Cooley, Dennis and Denmon Engineering
Nov 2005 - Apr 2006 (6 months)
Overseeing New Orleans' clean-up efforts after Katrina was quite a harrowing experience. Though it was calming in a way after the rigidity of the Marines, and bustling Miami. This job was an endurance competition of multiple dimensions. The first endurance was 96 hour work weeks with no vacation. The second endurance was indefinite contracts, making connections to find the next contract, or team that might have more longevity. The third was to not let my own frustration or fatigue impact my ability to empathize. I wasn't the only person displaced by that storm, but I did have a warm place to lay my head every night, and a steady paycheck. Many people that I ran into that had threatening dispositions did not have such luxuries. Taking a moment to look at someone and see if they're looking at you hungrily, or with desperation could defuse those situations without anyone getting hurt. Asking something as simple as "Did you know who lived there?" would snap most of the addled ones back for a moment. Opportunistic I wasn't so worried about as it was daytime and we had National Guard, Federal Protective Service, along with a mix of other local, state and federal law enforcement bodies constantly patrolling. In between stress, and rare threats, this job was meticulous logging. Ensuring the crew wore PPE, and that asbestos, white metals, hazardous waste, home demolitions, canal widening, and curbside debris removal were carried out according to contract.
Assistant Electrician
Key-Lite Electric
Sep 2005 - Nov 2005 (3 months)
I worked at my uncle's electrical company following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He helped me get back on my feet, gave me work, and helped me find work back home while services in Southeast Louisiana were non-existant.
I worked for him as an electrician's apprentice, duties included: residential and commercial electrical service calls, residential remodeling, residential and commercial construction, service calls, and learning how to accomplish these tasks while adhering to state and industry standards.
Supply Clerk
Marine Corps
Sep 2004 - Aug 2005 (1 year)
I entered the Marine Corps out of high school as a PFC because of 3 years in MHS' Marine Corps JROTC program. Both experiences taught me that I do indeed have weaknesses, as all humans do. When we work together as a team, and truly want each other to succeed, not only as a unit do the strengths and morale intensify, but the weaknesses fade. This effect is not just as a unit, it is teaching and helping members of your unit to grow and mature. One strength I found I could help other members of my unit with was with computers needed for supply chain. This led first to my reorganizing of a warehouse of radio parts(resistors, transistors, capacitors, etc.) as they were unlabeled. This was a two step process of learning how to identify individual parts, and then look them up in ATLAS to find the appropriate serial number and bin. After I was finished organizing the warehouse I got to work with Combat Media designing motivational posters, video, vinyls, and any other tools that might assist in training. The weakness my unit helped me with was letting go of worries and learning how to live. Whether it was for the moment or moving forwards, to make mistakes, take risks, and follow through to whatever the conclusion may be.
Education
University of New Orleans
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Chemistry
2007 - 2013
I was president of Chemistry club from '09-'10
With LaACES our team designed a sensor payload which we took to NASA's Columbia Research Facility in Palestine, Tx. This was launched by weather balloon to 100,000 feet, successfully collected and stored data which we presented the next day.
See attached presentations for work with LaACES and undergraduate research
Southeastern Louisiana University
Credits Earned, Psychology/Theatre
2002 - 2004
I attended Southeastern while still in High School under the Superior Juniors program, starting before my junior year in high school over the summer. This was merited due to GPA and ACT scores.
Mandeville High School
High School Diploma, Mathematics and Computer Science 2000 - 2004
While attending Mandeville High School I was more interested in extra-curricular activities than the course curriculum.
To that end I attended NOCCA for creative writing, was in the JROTC drill team, as well as taking programming courses.
I spent most of my time at Mandeville High School bouncing between drill team, the computer lab, and designing/performing physical science experiments to pass time. Licenses & Certifications
OSHA 10 - Delgado Community College
My TWIC card needs to be renewed and I have not had the time
Skills
Corporate Events • Microsoft Office • Stage Lighting • Live Events • Event Planning • Lighting Design
• Programming • Lighting Controls • Electrical Engineering • Electronics
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