Karen Layton
5 Last Chance Ct
St. Peters, Mo 63376
(home)  [Send email to request phone number] 44-3875
(cell)  [Send email to request phone number] 75-2273

Professional Summary:  

Experienced Data Analyst and MS Access database developer with over twenty years
of experience working with the development of large and medium-sized database
applications using MS Access front ends; Access and SQL Server back ends.
Experience includes analyzing customer data requirements, designing, coding (VBA,
ADO, DAO), testing, installing, and maintaining complex Access databases, Access
generated reports, and reports in Excel. Designed and coded screen layouts,
graphic user interfaces (GUI), printed outputs and interfaces with other systems.
 Assisted with the preparation of monthly financial reports for various
departments and management, maintained database dictionaries, ensured database
performance and system integration and wrote user-friendly documentation for
installation and operating procedures. Possesses the proven ability to quickly
assimilate new technologies and environments.  Possesses very effective written
and verbal communication skills, with the ability to function independently or as
part of a team. Also possesses the ability to effectively interact with
professionals at every level of the organization.


GE Small Business Finance							6/95 – 2/09
Senior Data Analyst
Designed and developed several Microsoft Access applications to support a
variety of business functions. Applications varied from single user to multi user
and one was designed with a SQL Server back-end. All applications included
extensive VBA programming, SQL programming, and relational database design.

•	Worked closely marketing manager to develop a  Call Center Application to
support a pilot telemarketing group. Application was developed with an MS Access
front end and SQL Server back end. The application dialed the phones, tracked
marketing campaigns, allowed users to add comments to track cold calls and future
follow up dates. It also allowed the entry of more detailed customer information
used to classify and route the lead to the appropriate salesperson. Also
supervised another developer hired to develop the reports for this system. – walk
me through the technologies, what the application did, etc.
•	Developed an MS Access application that regularly polled a MS Outlook inbox
for Sales lead email generated by a marketing website. The application parsed the
formatted body of those emails for specific data elements used to record the
potential client  and also in order to determine the appropriate salesperson to
which to forward the lead via MS Outlook email. -- Bullet about developing the
Access DB that pulled info for sales reps from the email box – again please walk
me through the technologies, etc.
•	Worked closely with payment processing personnel to develop an MS Access
application to automate an intensely manual process of tracking the receipt of
and validating the accuracy of  on third party loans.  This application
automatically imported Excel spreadsheets containing payment information
submitted by the Banks servicing the loans. It then processes the spreadsheet
data checking for payment accuracy.  The application generated reports for the
Finance, Delinquency, and Marketing departments. Bullet about the Access
application that handled the 3rd party loans, automated reports, etc.
•	Developed and MS Access Application for the payment processing center to track
checks received in-house rather than thru the LockBox.  The application moved 
scanned images of the checks from the designated scanner output folder to the
appropriate check folder .  Scanned images were linked to a database record for
the check where users entered other pertinent information. The application linked
to the enterprise data to look up account number information based on the name on
the check. From within the application users could generate emails containing
information about and links to the check data. Users tracked the action taken on
checks… some were immediately logged and sent to the Lockbox, and some where held
until a designated date and then sent to the lockbox. The application also
generated letters that were used when a check was to be returned to the sender
for any reason. 
•	Advanced SQL experience in MS Access and MS SQL Server.  Proven ability to
write complex SQL Queries using inner and outer Joins, and nested Selects. Also
experienced in writing complex Stored Procedures and Triggers. 
•	Used Business Objects to extract data from the enterprise system and load into
an MS Access application I developed for the Finance department to forecast
cashflows on securitized loans. Bullet about reporting – using Business Objects,
using MS Access/Excel, etc.  What kind of reports, who for, how much data, etc.
•	Provided Business Analyst support of the primary loan management system.
Provided help desk support, worked with users to identify and document system
problems and system enhancements and communicated requirements to offshore
programming group.  Also responsible for testing system enhancements prior to
production deployment.
•	Supported a documentation tracking and letter generation system that I
designed and developed prior to GE’s acquisition of ITT Small Business Finance.
This was a two tier client/server system with the front-end developed in Advanced
Revelation, and the back-end database utilizing Microsoft SQL Server version 1.1.

•	Supported and maintained a DOS based Loan Management system developed in
Revelation G.
•	Responsible for the conversion of data from the Revelation G system, and data
from assorted Access and Excel sources to GE’s mainframe system.  Developed a
process using Advanced Revelation to pull together this data from various sources
and produced text files to be loaded into the mainframe system.
•	Responsible for the production of ad-hoc and monthly financial reporting for
all departments and Management utilizing FOCUS to extract data from the mainframe
and importing that data into Excel or MS Access for further manipulation,
summarization, and formatting.
•	Responsible for monthly reporting and payment of fees to the Secondary Market
transfer agent.  Developed a process to validate and aid in the correction of
erroneous reporting from the mainframe system.  Process involved downloading
several data files from the mainframe, including the mainframe reports, and
comparing data.  This process was written in Advanced Revelation.
•	Involved in the development of a new Loan Management System to support this
business.  A consulting firm was hired to develop a three tier Client Server
system to be written using Visual Basic 5.0, Microsoft Transaction Server, and
Oracle.  My role was that of “technical liaison” explaining detailed business
requirements such as payment application and interest calculations.
•	Worked with offshore resources to define and test testing scripts for QA
testing of new enhancement builds for the enterprise application. Also organized
users for QA testing and tracked test results.  Responsible for detailed system
documentation of applications developed, including data dictionaries,
relationship diagrams, and data flow diagrams.  Also produced User-friendly help
documentation and online help text for application users. Facilitated numerous
requirements gathering meetings with various stakeholder user groups. Used MS
Visio in meetings to chart process and data flow as described by the users.
Facilitated negotiations to reach consensus among stakeholders on process
improvements.  
•	Using Advance Relevation (pick Basic), developed a monthly Bank Reconcilation
process to reconcile bank statement data with loan payment data for over 5000
loans. Exceptions were reported via Excel and stored locally in Advance
Revelation for potential inclusion the next month’s reconciliation. 


ITT (purchased by GE)							1/88 – 6/95
Senior Systems Analyst – Commercial Installment Lending Group	2/92 – 6/95
Responsible for the analysis, design and development of a Client Server based
system for the loan processing function of the Small Business Administration
lending unit.  System was being developed using Advanced Revelation and Microsoft
SQL Server 1.1.  Project was canceled when GE acquired this business unit.
•	Development and implementation of two tier Client Server system for
Documentation Tracking and Letter generation using Advanced Revelation and
Microsoft SQL Server.
•	Support of a mainframe COBOL/VSAM/CICS based commercial loan and lease
processing system for the Equipment Funding and Leasing unit.
•	General user support for both business units mentioned above including network
and PC support.

Senior Systems Analyst – ITT Lyndon Insurance Group			6/91 – 2/92
Responsible for the supervision of four programmers.  Supported the XYCOR system
(mainframe COBOL/VSAM/CICS based insurance claim processing system).  Provided
general user support for this business unit including network and PC support.

Senior Programmer, Programmer Analyst – ITT Commercial Finance	1/88 – 6/91
•	Projects included design and COBOL development of several client interfaces to
process transmitted inventory data.
•	Installation of Kirchman Corporation Installment Loan Processing System on the
IBM mainframe.  Supervised five part-time students hired to complete tasks for
this installation.
•	Supported a WANG based inventory management system written in WANG COBOL and
WANG Procedure Language.
•	Prepared an advisability study for the purchase of DATA-XPERT, a mainframe
VSAM utility software package.
•	Supported a mainframe COBOL/VSAM/CICS based loan and lease processing system
supporting the Equipment Funding and Leasing unit.
•	Performed ad-hoc reporting using EZTRIEVE.

Additional Experience Provided On Request

Education:
Purdue University
BS in Computer Science – Information Systems and Database Management