I am presently engaged as a Database Architect for an Internet registry management company. Their Java software runs on Unix , mostly Linux and Solaris , with intense use of relational databases, mostly PostgreSQL .
I have been involved, as database administrator, with data conversions for the same company; they have taken on management of numerous TLDs, and the process has involved using a combination of Perl scripts and PostgreSQL stored procedures to transform data from the previous managers into PostgreSQL form. As a result, I regularly load tens of millions of records into PostgreSQL , which, if the DB is suitably tuned, takes place stunningly quickly.
I used to work in Markham for Deloitte Consulting, in their Global Services group which provides SAP support for a variety of clients around North America.
I previously used to work near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport for Sabre Inc, largely owned by AMR- American Airlines.
A reorganization in June 1997 combined Sabre Decision Technologies with its "sister" division Sabre Computing Services to create what was initially called ITS (Information Technology Solutions). They apparently quickly realized that "its" was just going to cause trouble, so it was quickly renamed STS (Sabre Technology Solutions).
I was a Consultant in the FHRS (Financial and Human Resources Solutions) group, involved with the transition between "legacy systems" and several R/3 systems, once with an emphasis on the Asset Management subsystems of the FI system, but of late, with the SHARP HR/Payroll project. (SHARP is a clever conglomeration of the letters in SAP and HR.)
I have been involved with the "general information systems" side of the organization which grew out of (and largely still is) the "IS Department" for American Airlines. At some point, I might have liked to get involved in the Operations Research work. Sabre's OR group is responsible for the development of some of the most advanced yield management, flight and crew scheduling software used in the airline industry.
As a result of my employment at Sabre, I've had some opportunities to travel a little more than I used to, and have built up some Travel Information Links
I have had an interesting time over the last few years working for companies that have been doing significant reorganizations. Mergers, splits, that sort of thing. Stressful stuff, but I have typically been fortunate enough to see at least minor financial benefits from the process. In the most recent iteration, where my portion of Sabre was acquired by EDS, I wound up recompensed not too shabbily for my departure...