James Howard Upchurch, Jr.
3409 O'Henry Drive
Garland, TX 75042-4846
(972) 272-7826
Mobile (972) 333-6800
Employment History
Laser Perfect 1985 to Present
Garland, Texas
Owner
I have had extensive Macintosh experience since 1984, providing consulting services to both companies and individuals. Specialty areas include system operation, hard disk management, networking, the application of available software to the customer's needs, and the efficient use of that software. Have performed hundreds of Macintosh memory, circuit board and disk drive upgrades and am able to diagnose the source of various hardware problems. Am accomplished in the recovery of files from corrupted hard, removeable, and floppy disks; font management; databases; worksheets; and scanners. Highly experienced in the installation of both LocalTalk and EtherNet networks (daisy-chain and hubs), and can diagnose and correct problems on existing networks. Have introduced many clients to the Internet and educated them on utilizing it to their advantage. Experienced with, but not limited to: CU-SeeMe, Eudora, Fedit, Fontographer, FreeHand, Illustrator, MacDraft, MacDraw, MacWrite, MS Excel, MS Word, NewsWatcher, Netscape, Norton Disk Doctor, PageMaker, Panorama, Photoshop, Quark Xpress, Qued, Quicken, QuicKeys, Resource Editor, SAM, SmartCom, Stuffit, Suitcase, Symantec Utilities, and Type Styler.
Laser Perfect is a Macintosh-only computer consulting business. My purchase of an Apple Macintosh computer in February of 1984 inspired me to become a computer professional. I am proficient with most of the major programs used on the Macintosh, with a heavy emphasis on desktop publishing and the graphic capabilities of the Mac. My work in this area has been more than theoretical: I have produced the galleys for several 80+ page publications, a 200 page catalog, and many newsletters and brochures. As a writer I have produced many technical and non-technical articles, several of which have been published nationally and in Europe.
With my experience on the Macintosh, I have been able to provide extensive computer consulting services to companies and individuals. I am often called upon to recommend hardware, software, and system solutions to meet my clients' demands. I have specialized in system operation, hard disk management, the application of available software to the customer's needs, and the efficient use of that software. In addition, my electronic hardware background has allowed me to perform hundreds of Macintosh memory and disk drive upgrades and to diagnose the source of various hardware problems. I am quite accomplished in the recovery of files from corrupted hard and floppy disks, a skill which has been a benefit to more than a few worried clients. Other areas in which I have had experience are viral protection and removal, font management, databases, worksheets, scanners, networking and telecommunications, use of the Internet and HTML programming. I have created three PostScript fonts, "Chescheir," "Louisville," and "Dickens," which were sold commercially.
Teradyne, Inc. 1982 to 1985
Dallas and Richardson, Texas
Test Programmer / Project Manager
Employed as a Test Programmer, I used Teradyne's LASAR software on a DEC VAX 11/780 computer to develop and simulate tests for electronic circuit boards and then implemented those tests on an L200 automated tester manufactured by Teradyne. I was part, and later placed in charge, of a project which required the development of test programs for 63 analog and digital circuit boards used in a Sperry FA-18 flight simulator built for the U.S. Navy. As Project Manager I travelled frequently to Reston, Virginia, to work with Sperry and representatives of the Navy. In addition to writing several test programs and overseeing the development of tests by others, I was personally responsible for producing all necessary documentation and fixturing to Naval standards. After the project was completed, I coördinated a joint U.S./European effort to develop a library of L200 In-Circuit tests for standard TTL devices, travelling several times to France and England to recruit and work with European subcontractors.
American Coldset Corporation 1981 to 1982
Richardson, Texas
Production Manager
My position was that of managing a production line which built precision dicing saw blades for use in integrated circuit production in the electronics industry. The process was a chemical one, involving plating a nickel-diamond matrix onto an aluminum substrate. During my employment I executed a raise in production volume of 1700%.
Micro Display Systems, Inc. (Commodore Optoelectronics Division) 1973 to 1981
Dallas, Texas
Design Engineer / Production Manager
I was extensively involved in the development and production of a digital thermostat which used a custom VLSI device manufactured for Commodore by AMI. I performed liaison on chip design and testing, travelling several times to AMI's plant in Idaho. I was a team member on the project from conception through production, and performed such diverse duties as circuit board layout and test development. I set up and supervised pilot and high volume (5,000 units/month) production lines for the thermostats, as well as designing and building the necessary test equipment and QA procedures. I supervised a staff of 35.
Senior Electronics Technician
My original task was to perform developmental work on digital wristwatches. Later I was promoted to Test Equipment Engineer, developing production test methods, designing and building all test equipment used in the high volume manufacturing of these watches (50,000 units/month). I designed and built the control portion of an automatic glass scribing machine used to manufacture liquid crystal displays, which utilized an Intel 8748 microprocessor. I wrote the necessary machine language software as well.
Texas Instruments, Inc.
Dallas, Texas 1972 to 1973
Quality Control Technician
As part of the ICQA department, I verified that production line tests of integrated circuits performed to TI device specifications. In the Appliance and Heating Controls Division, I was instrumental in designing and building a prototype digital microwave oven controller. For a brief time I troubleshot circuit boards used in the Kelsey-Hayes Automotive Skid Control System.
Seaco Computer Display, Inc. 1970 to 1972
Garland, Texas
Technician
I tested, troubleshot, and repaired the first digital electronic U.S. desk calculator, comprised of 212 RTL and CMOS devices. I also designed and built in-house test equipment required to produce Computer On-line Microfilmers and performed miscellaneous modification and calibration work on a Bell Helicopter Stability Augmentation System and an FAA Radar Sweep Signal Generator.
Bendix Corporation 1968 to 1970
Fort Worth, Texas
Technical Liaison
Working at the General Dynamics aircraft assembly plant, I was an in-house representative for the Bendix electro-mechanical Central Air Data Computer used on the F-111 aircraft. While there I repaired and calibrated the CADC and regularly calibrated all shop test equipment to National Bureau of Standards criteria, maintaining the required traceability to NBS.
U.S. Air Force 1964 to 1968
Mississippi and Texas
Instructor / Technician
After Basic and Technical training, I taught Basic Electronics at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi. I was transferred to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, where I was an Airborne Electronics Navigation Equipment Repairman, working in-shop and on the flight line repairing and calibrating the UHF radio and electronic navigational systems used on T-37 and T-38 aircraft. These systems included TACAN, VOR, ILS, and IFF.
Education
Honor Student at four High Schools in Washington, Texas, and Kentucky.
Graduated 1961.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1961 - 1962
General course work in Chemistry.
University of Louisville 1962 - 1963
General course work in Chemistry.
U.S.A.F. Technical Schools 1964 - 1965
Basic Electronics, Electronic Navigation Equipment, Principles of Instruction.
Personal
Age 65 --- Married 43 years --- Height: 5' 9" --- Weight: 300 lbs.
1 daughter
Secret clearance while in the Air Force.
Interests have included Macintosh computers, satellite TV, photography, and a study of the JFK assassination.