Dale L Karsten
Permanent Address:
PO BOX 3491 Mankato, MN 56002
Home: 507-345-7905 Work: 507-389-6919
dale(at)karsten.net
Work Experience:
Information Technology Specialist 4 - Minnesota State University, Mankato
01/1994 to present
Networking - analyze network performance; provide technical support to other
MSU ITS staff, other MnSCU ITS Staff and State of Minnesota WAN Networking
Staff; define and implement equipment configurations; create configuration
documentation; test and evaluate new services and network equipment. Design
work on multi-protocol networks. Plan and design network configurations and
manage network performance for multiple network services including but not
limited to: TCP/IP, ethernet switches, multiprotocol routers, firewalls,
802.11b wireless, Appletalk, Novell IPX, Microsoft Windows Networking,
Operating systems (Linux, Apple MacOS, Digital VMS, Digital Unix, Microsoft
Windows 3.1, 95, 98, ME, 2000, NT, XP, Sun OS), hardware platforms (Intel
Pentium, Intel 80x86, Digital VAX, Digital Alpha, Apple 68000, Apple Power
PC, Sun Sparc systems), dial-up access and video. Develop implementation
plans for new network services, establish performance objectives, design
systems, research and select equipment and software. Develop and direct
network naming protocols (i.e. IP DNS, Appletalk, Novell Netware NDS trees,
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, etc.). I've work with State and Federal
law enforcement officials regarding legal complaints for and against the
computer and network users of the campus.
Cofounder and Owner - Internet Connections, Inc.
07/1993 to 12/2000
Established one of the first full service Internet Service Providers in the
state of Minnesota. The company grew to over 4800 customers in six southern
Minnesota cities plus the Twin Cities Metro area. Sold the internet access
portion of the business in 2000 for a very sizable return on investment to
the shareholders. As the principal cofounder, I was responsible for all
aspects of the company from the initial business plan to development of
services offered by the company. This included filing incorporation
documents with the State, gathering investors, obtaining legal services,
obtaining accounting services, procuring office space and equipment, setting
up accounting systems, design and implementations of a customer database
systems, setting up all customer services (initially: dial-up servers,
dedicated connections, e-mail server, news server, information servers, DNS
servers, etc.), determine break even points and establishing product pricing,
determined operational policies and procedures, writing job descriptions,
hiring staff, research and development of new products, conducting
presentations and more.
EDP Programmer/Analyst - Mankato State University
11/1983 to 01/1994
Oversaw the operation of the wide area network for the central academic
computing center. This included working with telecommunicationss companies,
analog and digital leased lines, statistical multiplexers, Channel Services
Units (CSU), Digital Services Units (DSU), high speed analog modems, main
frame front end processors, X.25 switches, Async data terminal switching
equipment, synchronous data terminal equipment, multi-protocol routers,
TCP/IP, BITNET, Internet and dialin modems. Coded system and user level
software in machine language, Fortran, Pascal and PL/M. Analyzed systems
failures and determined actions to correct the problem. Provided support and
consultation for all users regarding questions or concerns about
microcomputers, Digital VAX minicomputers, Unisys 1100 series computer, local
area networks and wide area networks.
EDP Senior Programmer - Mankato State University
10/1981 to 11/1983
Provided consultation for all users regarding questions or concerns about the
Univac processors and the user program library. Coded system and user level
software in machine language, Fortran and Cobol. Provided support and
operation of the communications network of the central academic computing
center. Found and corrected system failures.
Adjunct Instructor - Mankato State University
03/1982 to 06/1983
Microcomputers II 484(4) senior-level course. This advanced course provided the students skills in
assembly language programming for microcomputers.
EDP Computer Programmer - Mankato State University
08/1980 to 03/1981
Consultation for all users regarding the computing resources available to the
State University System. Worked with system utilities and assisted in the
operation of the communications network for the central academic computing
center. Coded system and user level software in machine language, Fortran
and cobol. Found and diagnosed system failures and analyzed action to be
taken to correct the problems.
EDP Operator Tech I - Mankato State University
05/1979 to 03/1980
System console operator for academic Univac 1100 series computer and ran nightly
administrative batch processes.
Medical Orderly - St. Joseph's Hospital, Mankato, MN
08/1977 to 05/1979
Assisted nurses in patient care.
Student Computer Center Supervisor - Mankato State University
1977 to 1978
Monitored operation of student computing center and answered user questions.
Computer Science Tutor - Mankato State University
1977 to 1978
I assisted computer science students with a variety of programming problems
which included Fortran, Cobol, and Hiasm.
Security Orderly - St. Olaf Hospital, Austin, MN
11/1976 to 08/1977
Monitored physical security of hospital facilities, assisted emergency room
doctors and nurses, assisted nurses in general patient care.
Assistant Computer Coordinator - Austin Community College
12/1975 to 06/1977
Assisted the computer coordinator in running the academic computer center.
Duties included helping faculty and students in the use of the MECC
timesharing system and operating the optical mark reader for test
scoring.
Education:
Mankato State University,
B.S., Computer Science
December 1980
Minor: Chemistry
Austin Community College, Austin, MN
Certificate, Physics
June 1977
Austin Central High School, Austin, MN
High School Diploma
June 1975
Training:
Microsoft Active Directory - 1 week 2001
Computer Networking, University of Michigan - 1 week 1992
Honors, Awards, and Special Accomplishments:
Computer Science Club President 1979-1980
Featured in MacWeek, a nationally published periodical April 26, 1988
Other Information:
I'm an expert (some would say guru) in all aspects of information technology,
computer hardware, software, networking and telecommunications. This
expertise comes from a thorough understanding of the physics of electronic
systems to the theories of computer and information sciences. I have studied
and utilized Meyers-Briggs Type Indicators and Keirsey Temperament
assessments to help manage staff and improve productivity. For example, my
Meyers-Briggs personality type is INTP. You can read about this type at
http://www.personalitypage.com/INTP_car.html, which I think is a fairly
accurate description of myself. I am proficient in the following computer
languages: Perl, Pascal, Fortran, C, C+, PL/M and assembler language (Unisys
1100, VAX, Intel X86 and Motorola 68000). I have extensively used the job
control languages of VAX/VMS systems, Unix shell, and Unisys 1100 series
systems. Systems I have worked on include: Digital PDP 8, CDC Cyber, Unisys
1100/2200 series, Digital VAX/VMS systems, Digital Alpha (VMS and Unix)
systems, Data General, Apple II, Apple Macintosh, Microsoft Windows (3.1, 95,
98, ME, 2000, NT, XP), Linux systems and Sun Unix systems.