Smalltalk-to-Java Architect and Tech Lead

Nakhle Kazwah

*******@*****.***

Summary

Full life cycle software development, Solution Architecture with 20 years in Object Oriented Design and development, OOA, OOD, DDD, UML, GUI, RUP, Visualage Smalltalk. Java, Design patterns, java, Agile/Extreme programming, Cloud, Business analysis, Use cases, as well as Data base design for DB2, Oracle, and gemstone. My experience spanned multiple industries including insurance, financial, computer-based training, and utility. Generative/Agentic AI.

Education

MS GSU

Computer Science

BS University of Missouri

Computer Science

Skills & Abilities

Smalltalk development 20 years

Architecture,- Object Oriented Architecture(Smalltalk, Java) 20 years

Java 6 years

Python 2 years

Generative/Agentic AI - 1 year

C++, Cobol 2 years

AWS cloud - 2 years

Design patterns 15

React 1 year

Web development 6 years

Microservices spring boot, API 4 years

Oracle/DB2/SQL 10 years

UML, MVC, RUP, XML, HTML – 10 years

Agile/DevOps, Xtreme Programming XP 10 years

TDD 5 years

Team lead/PM 10 years

Experience

OOPS Architect/Tech lead 03/2026 – Present

Darnasoft at Alaska national – Remote

Fix bugs and design/build new features/enhancements as needed to Alaska national commercial insurance application written in VAST Smalltalk.

Technical Environment: Windows, UML, VAST Smalltalk.

Tech Lead &Architect/Smalltalk – python 5/2023-Dec 2025

IBM – Remote

There are 2 main applications in this modernization project (Smalltalk to java), client applications with user interface and server-side applications that run web services including DB access.

My responsibilities include Design and implement new application components and make enhancements required by users as well trouble shoot product issues as they arise.

Write Linux scripts as needed to support both client and server applications.

Application DMACS is used by electrical/electronic engineers to design Macros and test semiconductor for IBM research lab. It includes all the tools which allow users to visually create microchip device designs, pads, Macros which are then sent to lab for hardwire printing on wafers. Tests are done afterwards on the microchip’s capacity, performance and results are integrated back to the application for examination.

Reverse engineer legacy application and participate in the architecture and development of the new modernization application using Claude .

Technical Environment: Cincom Visual works Smalltalk, DB2, SQL, Windows, Claude AI, python, Linux.

Java Architect -Tech lead 11/2021 – 01/2023

TCS at Cardinal Health – Remote

This is Cardinal Health NPHS order/inventory and medical facility nuclear medicine administration application. The applications are designed and implemented based on AWS cloud microservice architecture. Order and inventory application allows medical facilities to order nuclear medicine products such as ones used for infection discovery where medicine is injected in body and then a cat scan is made to find problem spots. Medicine administration application aids medical staff to accurately administer injections and prevent possible human error by providing step by step instructions to the user.

Responsibilities include meeting with client to discuss required enhancements and Create solutions per client requirements. Lead team with migration from SOAP to REST and DB2 to Postgres.

Meet with team to assign tasks and work with them to understand and resolve/develop application code.

Technical Environment: Microservice, java, Oracle, SQL, maven, JavaScript, UML.

OOPS Architect-tech lead/Smalltalk-java engineer 03/2021 – 11/2021

Prosum at Alaska national – Remote

Fix bugs and add new features/enhancements as needed to Alaska national commercial insurance application written in VAST Smalltalk.

Technical Environment: Windows, UML, VAST Smalltalk.

Java architect/tech lead 07/2019 – 05/2020

Cognizant – Remote

Design and develop Website Integration application. This application is a website which integrates multiple websites into one workspace.

Users can login, view, transport data their websites in one integrated view. i.e. if one have a subscription to slack, pivotal tracker, teams, and so on.

User can login thru this application, enter their credentials to their subscription; now they have access to all of them and able to retrieve subsets of the websites data; transfer data between their websites, share and email information all in one place.

Technical Environment: Windows, UML, Java, MySQL, React, JDBC, TDD, Spring boot, maven, API, xml, Junit.

Darnasoft at Assurant – Atlanta ga 10/2017 – 05/2019

Team lead -OOA java/Smalltalk Architect-

I Lead a team of developers in design and development of a Flood hazard insurance application.

Utilized pair programming between team members and I paired with many team members to help launch their tasks.

The project involved designing and building the different Web microservices needed to create and sell new policies.

Application included services for several categories to assess premium.

oOne is general property information such as type of property (single home, condo, etc.), If home manufactured(y/n), has a flood claim been filed in past 3 year and so on.

oOther service to handle liabilities coverages both general property and individuals damage and belongings coverage. Each calling a specific service to get list of options to choose from.

oAnother services for premium payment options. We used spring suite tool platform with maven. The microservices were very specific to each’s corresponding responsibility. For example, one service to retrieve deductible options for this type of policy, a list which in turn was dependent on choice of coverages amounts. Coverages amounts is also another service that provides a list of coverages for customer to choose from ($100k, $300k, etc.).

Technical Environment: Windows, UML, Java, Oracle SQL, JMS, xml, TDD, Hibernate, Spring boot, Pair programming, API, docker.

RIA advisory at Next era energy – Miami, FL 04/2017 – 08/2017

Gemstone UML OOA, Visualworks Smalltalk

This is the Florida power and light billing application for commercial customers.

It is a multitier/multithreaded application including mainframe, client side, as well as Object Oriented Database Gemstone.

I reversed engineer both the Client-side app logic (Visual works) and Gemstone (Data base) components.

The process was as follows: 1) Quickly learn how the application works from an end user point of view. 2) Starting with main UI window examine/trace the code for each business function in the application from beginning to end including data structures, logic, and statically stored values 3) for each function rewrite in pseudo code detailed code and algorithms. 4) I produced, from data mining, instantiated objects as well as existing accounts information in the application (Gemstone is both a data base and business logic holder).

Technical Environment: Windows, UML, Gemstone, Cincom Visualworks Smalltalk, Gemstone, DB2, TSO/CMS.

Infosys at first data – Coral Springs, FL 12/2015 – 12/2016

Principle OOA Architect – Smalltalk engineer

First Data Transaction Processing Micro-services application. This application processes gift and prepaid cards from different producers. Some are like the ones purchased at retailers such as Sam club or from franchisee locations such as Macys, McDonalds, and subway to name a few.

Transaction processing speed is paramount to the business operation. Delays in daily processing and reconciliation impacts bank transfers and payment scheduling to both corporation and franchisees which accept those cards. Those delays can translate into fines and deductions in payments.

Responsibilities included design and built, utilizing OO and UML, Architectural components such as class hierarchy diagrams, sequence diagrams, object interactions diagrams, use cases, among others.

Other accomplishments, utilizing architectural techniques consistent with best practice OO concepts/design patterns/MVC I built new functionality to accommodate special customer card needs (special discounts, e.g. buy 9 get 10the free). Also, I re-designed some aspects of the application along with code refactoring which made transactions processing significantly faster.

Technical Environment: Windows, OOAD, Visualage Smalltalk, Agile, TDD, API, Tibco, EDA, Web dev., API, UML, Oracle and DB2, xml, Linux scripts.

Chubb insurance, White House Station NJ 07/2015–12/2015

OO Architect – smalltalk developer

Supporting Chubb Insurance Masterpiece Application. This is Chubb’s Auto, Property and Casualty, and Valuables insurance Application. Primary responsibilities are fixing existing defects in production as well as make enhancements. Building supporting tools for the Regulations/coverage models users. Enhancements include, but not limited to, new government regulations as well as tax changes and fees imposed or modified for insurance models per state.

Technical Environment: Windows, VisualAge Smalltalk 8.0.

Collabera at IBM - Remote 09/2014 – 03/2015

OOA Technology Lead – Smalltalk Software Engineer

Supporting NiSource Gas inventory, ordering, and transportation system.

The application is responsible distributing and billing of Natural gas to gas companies. i.e. Clients are gas companies who have residential clients as well as corporate accounts such as factories and big establishments.

Primary responsibilities are fixing existing defects in production as well as make enhancements. Enhancements include, but not limited to, new government regulations as well as tax changes and fees imposed or removed from gas industry.

Technical Environment: Windows, VisualAge, API, Smalltalk 8.0, API, Web services, DB2.

Sempra Energy 01/2012 – 07/2013

Smalltalk Architect/developer

I Lead a team to develop gas inventory and ordering system.

Application included ordering, delivery scheduling, and payments to the company’s gas providers.

Responsibilities was to rebuild a legacy client server system as Web based/microservice architected application.

Services such as viewing available inventory from gas producers (producers placed their inventory offering thru another portal), selecting gas volume, and make purchase offers.

Technical Environment: Web microservices, VAST smalltalk, java spring boot, web Micro services,Oracle.

Invisio at Qwest – minneapolis mn 08/2009 – 03/2011

Lead OO Architect

Daily tasks included adding functionality, modify existing functions and fix defects Qwest’s Commercial DSL Order Management system (integrator).

Orders are received from a TIBCO bus as an XML document. The system parses the XML and creates request messages and other objects to implement the order transaction based on a number of validation rules. Each type of order is processed based on the data/rules associated with it.

An order then either succeeds or goes to fallout which then is processed manually thru the application GUI.

Daily builds are made of the system. Interaction with business users is done on a regular basis. Stake holders are present in all daily meetings. Requirements are built incrementally to satisfy business needs. After QA/business signs off on a milestone delivery, new requirements then are assigned to developers.

Technical Environment: Windows,Cincom Visualworks Smalltalk, Python, TDD, Gemstone,Oracle.

Computer horizon at Prudential 06/2007 – 09/2007

OO Smalltalk Architect/Developer

Meet with business user to gather requirements and create use cases.

Collaborated with team members on creating best practices and approaches to tackle both production issues and system enhancements; many of which encompassed many of the team member’s project specializations.

Add functionality, modify existing functions and fix performance issues in Prudential’s Service Ability system (Call center application for policy inquiries / changes).

Utilized Agile/XP development practices for frequent releases for both production support and system enhancements.

Produced updated project documents and weekly status reports for project manager.

Technical Environment: Windows, IBM’s VisualAge Smalltalk 7.0, API, Oracle, MQ Series.

Collabera at IBM BCBS– Newark, NJ 01/2006 – 05/2007

Lead Architect/Engineer

Lead team working on both IRIS (Blue cross’s legacy group insurance system with gemstone database) and Medicare gold (government retiree medical insurance) with DB2 back end. For both systems I managed the developers’ team on the following:

For both systems I conducted requirements gathering sessions with the various business users and streamlined any conflicts between them.

Worked on production support as well as making required enhancements. Both systems had many errors (including but not limited to: calculations, incorrectly implemented algorithms which determines premiums) and many additional requirements to meet new government insurance regulations and updates.

Created and documented processes to show work flow using rational rose.

Scheduled delivery times for the required modification.

Add functionality, modify existing functions and fix performance issues both in the client application as well as interface to databases; i.e. built interfaces to persist and retrieve new objects.

Frequent/daily meetings with team members to discuss, assign, and develop code for speedy delivery of project changes.

Produced updated project documents and weekly status reports for higher management.

Technical Environment: Windows, VisualAge Smalltalk, Python, Gemstone and DB2.

Toyota Motors – Torrance, CA 02/2003 – 08/2005

Lead OO Architect

Participated in full life cycle development.

Lead Analyst conducting meetings with user groups to establish requirements. The requirements gathered included general description of the legacy system as well as a list of additional functions that users wanted to enhance the system.

Created use cases using UML from requirements that were iteratively refined to meet user needs. Making the modifications and additions was critical to the company's financial bottom line.

From the requirements and use cases created a list of domain objects and a list of system functions. The next step was create class hierarchy and object collaboration diagrams.

Design and maintain Ruby components such as Web UI.

Add functionality and modify existing functions for Toyota's Parts’ Inventory and Distribution System in North America. Every month part shipments come from Japan along with a file listing the parts shipped. The file is read into a DB2 database. Parts are ordered by Toyota and Lexus dealerships from the company's satellite distribution centers throughout North America. The system is utilized to manage all aspects of the part during its life time. One important function is to set part pricing (as they change from time to time), part substitution (e.g. when a dealer calls for a 2002 Camry water pump which the distribution center does not have. The system suggests a water pump from another model and year that is an acceptable substitution). Once design documents were completed construction began using VisualAge Smalltalk.

Attended meetings with other leads to insure smooth integration of application with other enterprise solutions.

Developed project documentation and weekly status reports for higher management.

Technical Environment: Windows, IBM’s VisualAge Smalltalk 5.5, Oracle, UM.

American Century Brokers – Mountain View, CA 10/2000 – 12/2002

Project manager/Architect

Lead Analyst/Architect and Project Manager of a Commission Calculator Project, Managing 30+ developers in 3 cities. The Commission Calculator is a critical application, used to calculate stock broker transaction fees based on a number of criteria such as order type, side of market, on-line or representative assisted, etc. For each set of criteria a certain fee schedule is applied, along with special and periodical discounts. Discount rules include client asset level changes as well joint accounts, family accounts, number of trades per period of time, among others.

Develop and conduct “boot camp” training during the first three months of the project, mentoring a team of Cobol Mainframe programmers in Object Oriented technology, UML, RUP and VisualAge Java.

Lead Analyst gathering the detailed business requirements from users. The iterative process of gathering the requirements resulted in a complete set of functions that the user needed the application to perform. Utilizing UML methodologies, use cases were developed, along with complete class diagrams and object interaction models. The system was then developed using VisualAge Java.

Led the team in gathering requirements, designing and building a simplified commission calculator in a pilot version of the big project.

Combined team effort/collaboration to resolve and develop system iterations.

Developed use cases and domain object diagrams that were later enhanced and refined to encompass all the functions gathered from the users.

?Attended status meeting and reported to higher management and project owners.

Technical Environment: IBM’s VisualAge Smalltalk, Oracle, and Windows, UML, use cases, RUP.

Assurant – Atlanta, GA 05/1996 – 07/2000

OO smalltalk Architect/Engineer

Lead the enhancement, design, and conversion for a Credit Card Insurance System from OS/2 to Windows.

Requirements gathering interfacing with business end users.

Developed use cases with GUI shots as well as sequence diagrams, class hierarchy diagrams, and object models in Visio.

Designed and developed an optical disk backup systems driver in Windows and VisualAge C++. The existing driver had many modifications and fixes which were not properly tested and therefore was unreliable.

Created and executed the conversion plans.

Technical Environment: Object oriented IBM’s VisualAge Smalltalk, OS/2, Cobol, Windows, C++, DB2, and Oracle.

Digitalk at USF&G – Baltimore MD 02/1995 – 02/1996

Smalltalk engineer

Member of team Digitalk team developing USFG insurance tools and applications

Technical Environment: Visual Smalltalk Enterprise (VSE), OS/2 PM, SQL, DB2/2

IBM – Minneapolis, MN 10/1993 – 01/1995

Team Lead/Architect

Team Lead – Member of core Architect team

Lead a team to design and develop a subsystem to create and print a Financial Planning Document utilizing Visual Smalltalk Enterprise. During the financial planning phase, the Planner enters the client goals for the future requests (such as buying a boat after five years or saving $20,000.00 for a child’s education), assets information, etc. In addition, each goal is associated with several observations and recommendations. Each of those items are received by the subsystem and placed in certain arrangement based on a number of legal requirements. When an item is received by the subsystem, it is examined for validity and then either accepted or rejected. Once the planning process is over, a document is created, which serves as the legal binding between the client and American Express.

Worked with American Express’s financial analysts to establish requirements.

Created class and object collaboration diagrams for a printing system. Team Lead for building a Legal Document Building System which took information from financial domain objects and fed it to the printing system where the financial planning agreement is printed.

Technical Environment: VisualAge Smalltalk, OS/2 PM, SQL, DB2/2

Digitalk at IBM – Gary IN 10/1992 – 07/1993

Smalltalk engineer

Member of team designing and building Pilot application for Nipsco

Technical Environment: Visual Smalltalk Enterprise (VSE), OS/2 PM, SQL, DB2/2

IBM – Atlanta 01/1989 – 12/1991

programmer/software engineer

Create educational courses using LS/1

Develop multimedia educational software with Smalltalk/v and VSE on Presentation manager.

Technical Environment: Visual Smalltalk Enterprise (VSE)

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