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Resume

  • Into Games Programming (XNA), BCIT, 2008
  • Software Developers Certificate, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2005
  • Software Project, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2005
  • Advanced Java 2, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2004
  • Advanced Java 1, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2004
  • Intermediate Java, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2003
  • Database & SQL, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2003
  • Real World Software Development, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2001
  • Object Oriented Analysis & Development using UML, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2001
  • Introduction to OOP with C++, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 2001
  • Digital Signal Processing, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 1998
  • Accelerated C++, University of Calgary, Continuing Education, 1994
  • B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 1985

Since 1985 I have had experience in the software, test and manufacturing engineering environments has provided me with the necessary skills to take a project from the initial design phase to the final production release.

Through university courses, work experience and seminars I have gained the necessary problem solving skills to analyze, debug, design, automate, test and repair a variety of electronic circuits, software and firmware designs.

I have written and debugged software programs in a variety of HTML, CSS, Java, JavaScript, jQuery, Perl, Python, Tcl, Tck/Tk, C, C++, C#, XNA, ADA, Visual Basic, LabView, 68020, ColdFire and TMS320C52 Assembly Languages. I have worked in the MS-DOS, Windows, Mac OS/X, Unix, NetBSD and Linux environments.

My hardware experience allows me to work on both digital and analog designs up to the GHz frequencies. The combination of my electrical engineering and computer programming experience and skills gives me a unique ability to analyze, understand and debug both hardware and software problems.

Various projects have allowed me to work as an individual as well as part of a team and some of these assignments have given me the opportunity to function as a supervisor.

Work Experience

Owner/Developer
Wedepohl Engineering, Calgary Alberta and Bowen Island, B.C.
January 1998 to Present

Wedepohl Engineering is my attempt at starting a business that will someday afford me the opportunity to create a living while working for myself. Currently it is still just a very enjoyable hobby that I work at as much as possible whenever my real job will let me. Wedepohl Engineering started in 2002 in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Bowen Island B.C. in 2007.

Most of my projects have involved custom website design/modification/debugging. Almost all of them have involved joining the project when the website had crashed or needed major upgrades to bring it to the latest versions.

Through those projects I have developed a good knowledge in WordPress (themes/plugins/custom post types/shortcodes), PHP, CSS, HTML, Javascript, jQuery and MySQL. This has given me the ability to work with custom built sites and ones using WordPress.

Lately I have been using the Raspberry PI to develop stand alone kiosk applications, sensors and automation using C and Python code.


IT Supervisor
Orchard Recovery Center, Bowen Island, B.C.
June 2014 to Present

Development of Orchard Recovery Center website using WordPress, built in theme, custom post types and custom plugin allowing users to be able to easily modify the website. Continued development and improvement of custom database/website using PHP, CSS, HTML, Javascript, jQuery and MySQL. This custom site is used for staff to provide care for clients, scheduling and administration of staff, maintenance of the facility.

In addition to my primary responsibilities I also perform the role of an Intake Specialist helping prospective clients / loved ones make a decision on coming to treatment and continue working as a 12 step coach providing direction to clients on the initial steps in recovery when required by management.


Support Staff Supervisor / Sober Living Manager
Orchard Recovery Center, Bowen Island, B.C.
February 2009 to June 2014

Responsible for a team of 10 people who provide care and assistance to clients in early recovery during non-business hours, this includes scheduling, developing procedures and providing support to the team members. Responsible for scheduling and assignment for 12 step staff members to help clients understand the initial steps of recovery. Responsible for both the male and female sober living houses providing direction and assistance to clients during 2nd stage recovery. Member of the Orchard management team which provides direction and protocol for the center. Teach a weekly 12 Step Seminar to the primary clients. Development of a web based database system for providing electronic assessments for clients. Fill in for any of the team member who are sick and/or on vacation.


Support Staff / Step Coach
Orchard Recovery Center, Bowen Island, B.C.
November 2007 to February 2009

Working as overnight and afternoon support staff providing care and assistance to clients in early recovery during non-business hours of the center. Working as a 12 step coach providing direction to clients on the initial steps in recovery.


Senior Firmware Engineer
General Dynamics Canada, Communications Division, Calgary, Alberta
May 2004 to September 2007

Design and development of Gigabit Ethernet and DTMF SLIC embedded device drivers written under NetBSD using Wasabi Systems embedded NetBSD for the MeshNet TNG project. This project uses the Virtex-II FPGA with the PowerPC 405 processor on a custom circuit card assembly as the basic hardware platform for all circuit cards in the project. Circuit card assemblies are customized by adding PCI daughter cards to the base hardware for additional functionality.

Design and development of embedded device drivers written under embedded Linux for the Bowman project. This project uses the Motorola MPC5200B processor on a custom circuit card assembly to provide the required hardware functions.


Adult Care Worker
September 2007 to April 2007

Helped organize volunteers and clients during the feeding in excess of 1000 clients. Supplied rudimentary First Aid to clients in distress. Cleaned and organized various areas of the Drop-In Centre. Helped other staff organize sleeping arrangements for over 150 intoxicated clients.


Adult Care Volunteer
April 2007 to September 2007

Helped staff feed in excess of 1000 clients. Looked after in excess of 100 clients helping them get ready for the evening (providing towels, soap, and other items) until regular staff came on shift.


Team Lead Runtime & Digital Signal Processor Group
General Dynamics Canada, Communications Division, Calgary, Alberta
January 2003 to May 2004

In addition to continuing my tasks as a Senior Firmware Engineer I headed the Runtime, Board Support Package and Digital Signal Processing Firmware Development Group. This group is responsible for moving the embedded firmware development platform for all future board level operating systems to embedded Linux.

Responsible for bringing up the Virtex-II FPGA with the PowerPC 405 processor board to an operational state using U-Boot and integrating it with the existing PC Flash Loader application. This project would eventually be moved to NetBSD using Wasabi Systems embedded NetBSD for the MeshNet TNG project.


Senior Firmware Engineer
General Dynamics Canada, Communications Division, Calgary, Alberta
October 2001 to January 2003

Participating as a member of the Bowman Firmware Development Team, designing the Firmware Flash Device Loader for the hardware. This code is written in C and ADA for the ColdFire 5407 and 5272 processors and would burn code into the embedded flash devices on the circuit board.


Senior Test Development Engineer
Sanmina Canada, Systems Assembly, Calgary, Alberta
May 2001 to October 2001

Responsible for the development of the prototype programs using National Instruments LabView in the testing of a variety of radio sub assemblies.

Wrote prototype reports analyzing the results of the prototype build and recommending changes to the process for the transition from engineering prototype into production.


Senior Test Engineer
Sanmina Canada, Printed Circuit Assembly, Calgary, Alberta
January 2000 to May 2001

Participating as a member of the Developmental Engineering Team responsible for providing direction for Sanmina in the function of RF testing, test automation and design for testability. This included support for all other Sanmina facilities around the world in RF test capabilities.

Responsible for the design of an automated test station to perform production testing of a Nokia GSM Receiver Multicoupler at Sanmina Ireland (Dublin facility), Sanmina Finland (Äänekoski facility) and Sanmina China (Xin Qiao Xiang Shajiin facility).

Wrote automated calibration, calibration verification and test routines to allow people who were not familiar with RF testing to be able to fully perform all the necessary functions. Participated in the customer witness tests in the Sanmina Ireland (Dublin) and Finland (Äänekoski) facilities.

Automated the processing of test results using Visual Basic Macros in Excel to provide quick graphical representation of the test and process capability and stability.

Responsible for the day to day maintenance and debugging of the Nortel DMT-300 and FMT-150 automated test stations. Provided assistance and support to other members of the team and to the junior test engineers in C/C++, Perl, Perl/Tk, Visual Basic programming and test methodology.


Senior Software Engineer
June 1997 to January 2000

Participating as a member of a large software development team responsible for the design and implementation of the firmware portion of a revolutionary communications system for the Canadian Department of Defense. This project called IRIS started the initial fielding trials in the second half of 1999 at CFB Petawawa in Ontario.

Took responsibility for optimizing the Kernel of the real time operating system and in the process increased the amount of free Flash and RAM available for the system.

Debugged the software design on the target hardware using software simulators and In-Circuit Emulators for the 68020 processor.

As a member for the Physical Layer Radio Group I have designed and debugged C programs written for the TMS320C52 DSP as an analog/digital voice/data controller for various HF, VHF, UHF radios and modems. Debugged the DSP firmware and hardware using the Tektronix TLA510 Logic Analyzer.

Senior programmer in a team responsible for the redesign and improvement of the flash download program to increase reliability and reduce programming time.


Group Leader – Test Engineering and Computer Integrated Manufacturing
February 1997 to June 1997

In addition to my responsibilities as a Senior Test Engineer and group leader of Test Engineering, I assumed the responsibility for the Computer Integrated Manufacturing group. This group was responsible for all computer related systems and applications required for the successful automated production of cellular phones.

System Administrator for Sun UNIX Network. Debugged an EDI project to work with multiple partners and to become fully automated. Worked with a consulting company to setup an HTTP server to work as the JRC Canada’s web page on the Internet. Wrote a sample web page to debug the HTTP server installation.


Group Leader – Test Engineering
July 1996 to June 1997

In addition to my responsibilities as a Senior Test Engineer, I assumed the responsibility for the Test Engineering group. This group was responsible for all manual and automated test for the Lethbridge facility. Held group meetings, planned test strategy and resources to ensure that all the projects assigned to the group reached a successful conclusion. Responsible for the test calibration budget for the entire Lethbridge facility.


Senior Test Engineer
Japan Radio Company Canada Inc., Lethbridge, Alberta
April 1994 to June 1997

Wrote several UNIX C programs using CodeBase to interface the automated test stations to Computer Integrated Manufacturing dBase database files. Performed testing and debugging to help the CIM Department convert the Engineering Department from Windows 3.11 running PC-NFS to Windows 95 running SAMBA. Worked with the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Department to interface the test programs to a database server running on a UNIX Sparc station through RPC calls. This allowed fully automated quality control of products in the Lethbridge facility.

Used SPC and Cpk analysis to ensure test process and product design stability.

As the senior test engineer I provided software and hardware guidance as well as support to the junior members of the team.

Interfaced with the Applied Manufacturing Group to provide test engineering quotation and support services.

Participated in an engineering trip to JRC Canada’s parent company in Tokyo, Japan that eventually saw the production of the PTR870 cellular phones move from Japan to Canada. Analyzed the specifications of the HP8920A RF Communications Test Set to ensure it was an adequate and cheaper alternative to the existing test stations. Responsible for converting the existing test software from a HP Rack and Stack Test Station to one that used the 8920A. The resulting test line was capable of testing up to 2800 cellular radios per day a substantial increase from the previous level of about 500 radios per day.

Instrumental in converting the Test Engineering Department from writing test programs in Basic into ones written in C++. Wrote most of the test utility functions in an object-oriented style that allows easy re-use and integration by other test engineers. This decreased test development time while increasing program reliability.

Authored several ISO compliant documents to help the company achieve and maintain an ISO 9002 certification.


Test Engineer
Northern Telecom Canada Ltd. (now Nortel Networks), Wireless Systems, Calgary, Alberta
June 1992 to April 1994

Responsible for setting up the Analog Base Station Production line when the process moved from NovAtel Communications. Worked as the main software engineer converting the Analog Base Station Software from HP Basic to C running under HP UNIX resulting in a 40 percent decrease in test time.

Responsible for moving the CT2 Base Station test lines from Ottawa to Calgary. Designed and debugged Built In Self Test code for a CT2+ Base Station controller module. The code was written in C and compiled to 68302 Assembly Language for debugging. Worked on the automated test of the three-board set used in the CT2+ Base Station.


Test Engineer
NovAtel Communications Ltd., Lethbridge, Alberta
May 1990 to June 1992

Design and assembly of automatic and manual test jigs used in testing a variety of analog, digital and RF cellular products. Programming HP-9000 workstations in HP BASIC and C to control IEEE-488 and RS232 test equipment to perform automatic testing.

Analysis of test results to help improve yields, and to solve manufacturing and test problems.


Project Engineer
Westronic Inc., Calgary, Alberta
January 1990 to May 1990

Design, administration and management of several SCADA projects from initial order to the final shipment. Responsible for scheduling and ensuring that milestones are completed while meeting the initial project budget.

In charge of all customer contact from initial design consultation to final product documentation.


Test Engineer
Glenayre Electronics Ltd., Burnaby, British Columbia
December 1985 to December 1989

Design and assembly of automatic and manual test jigs used in testing a variety of analog, digital and RF communications equipment.

Extensive use of IBM PC and HP-3060 ICT computers to control IEEE-488 test equipment to perform automatic testing.

Experience in worst-case test limit analysis calculation in both analog and digital circuits.

Responsibility for solving production and assembly related problems in a manufacturing environment.

December 1990 to Present

Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

July 1996 to July 1997

Responsible Professional Engineer designated on JRC Canada’s APEGA Engineering Permit.