VTLS Continues to Grow, Welcomes New Employees

VTLS Inc. (Visionary Technology in Library Solutions) proudly announces fifteen new employees hired over the past six months. As VTLS continues to grow, the expertise that these new employees bring in software development, customer support, and at our international offices is invaluable. VTLS is confident that they will assist in providing ever-better products and customer service to its customers around the world.

Matt Brown – Matt joins VTLS as a testing analyst in VITAL development. He has a B.S. degree in Computer Science from West Virginia University. He has experience with C/C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic, UNIX, Linux and Windows.

Summer Batton - Summer joins VTLS as a Librarian in Customer Support while finishing her Master of Library & Information Studies degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her MLIS is focused in the areas of library technology as well as library administration and management. Previously, Summer interned as a College Information Specialist at the College Foundation of North Carolina and work for several years as an Assistant Librarian and Serials Specialist at Newman Library on the campus of Virginia Tech. She also graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a minor in Literature.

Aparna Belhe – Aparna is a Database Analyst in Development. She joins VTLS as a Database Developer/Analyst after completing her Masters in Computer Science from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. Prior to joining VTLS, she worked as a Contract Database Developer for Welligent Software Solutions for 1 year. She also has worked as a Developer for Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd, India.

Bruce Flinchum – Bruce is a Technical Analyst in Customer Service. He got his BSBA with a concentration in Computer Information Systems from Longwood University in Farmville, VA in May 2008. He worked for 3 years in college as a Resident Technology Associate, making house calls to troubleshoot student computer issues regarding networking, software, and hardware. He also worked at the Longwood University IT Help Desk call center, troubleshooting both faculty/staff and additional student issues. Bruce has studied several programming languages such as HTML, SQL, Java, VB, and C++.

Andy Roberts – Andy came to VTLS after graduating from Radford University in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science and Systems with a concentration in Web Development and a Minor in Business Administration. He has many software and programming language proficiencies.

Matthew Ward - Matthew has been with us part-time for over a year, but recently accepted an offer to become a full-time member of the team. Matthew is our in-house Graphic Designer and Webmaster, responsible for the design of all our print publications and the implementation of our corporate website. Before coming to VTLS, Matt was working as a Quality and User Interface specialist in the public sector. Matthew is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with minors in Russian, Business Leadership and Computer Science.

Philip Frangipane – Philip is a Software Engineer (part-time) in Development. He is a senior Computer Science major at Virginia Tech. He has experience in Java, HTML, Javascript, C++, Assembly, Linux, MS Visual Studio.NET, Netbeans, VMWare, Eclipse, CVS and Adobe Photoshop.

Hengzhong Ding - Hengzhong joins VTLS as Managing Director of APAC Operations with an immediate mission to set up the Company’s Australia Office. Hengzhong has over 9 years’ experience working in the ILS industry; prior to joining VTLS he managed multiple offices as the Director of the Greater China Area for SirsiDynix. Hengzhong is a Monash University graduate with a master’s degree in Librarianship, and has 6 years working as librarian in cataloguing, serials, acquisitions and information services. He also has much experience in marketing/sales, project management, system implementation and technical support.

Keith Battleson - Keith joins VTLS as a Technical Analyst in Customer Support after working 16 years in the Glass Fabrication Industry as an Application Developer, Systems Administrator, DBA, and Six Sigma Black Belt. Prior to this Keith worked in the Defense Industry designing circuit cards for Automatic Test Equipment for Air Force and Navy systems. Keith graduated from U.C. Davis with a Masters in Electrical Engineering, a California Teaching Credential in Life, Math, and Physical Sciences, and a B.S. in Genetics.

Erickson Mendoza – Erickson joins VTLS as a Technical Analyst (Fastrac) in Customer Support after working for almost three years at Virginia Tech Services, Inc as a Computer Technician. Here he consulted with different computer vendors and customers (mostly students and Faculty/Staff of Virginia Tech) in the repair process. He is COMPTIA A+ certified together with Apple, Dell, Fujitsu and Toshiba certifications. Erickson moved to the United States in 2004 from the Philippines where he was a Licensed Electronics and Communications Engineer and worked as a Repair Engineer with Acer Phils., and as a System Sales Engineer with Trends and Technologies—working with major companies with ICT needs. He is a graduate of the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Prashant Pandey – Prashant is a Technical Analyst at VTLS’ new office in Australia. Some of his past experience includes working in the field of computer science and technology in a wide variety of roles distributed across project management, software design, software quality control, coding, testing and Support. For the last three years he has been working with the University of South Australia’s Library to establish their Digital Institutional Repository along with developing supporting software for the open access initiative of UniSA. He has a Bachelor of Engineering from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University in Agra, India and a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from the University of South Australia.

Jonathan Dixon - Jonathan has been with us part-time for over six months, but recently accepted an offer to become a full-time member of the VITAL develoment team. Jonathan is a recent graduate from Radford University with a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics. He has experience with Java, Javascript, Oracle, SQL, C/C++, HTML, CSS, Perl, Ada and Assembly.

Samantha Hristova – Samantha joins VTLS as a Librarian in Customer Support. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. She has worked as an Archival Assistant for the University of Kentucky for the past year. She has experience in collection development, reference and circulation.

Mary Beth Holm – Mary Beth joins VTLS as a Librarian in Customer Support. She is a recent Drexel University graduate with a Master’s degree in Library Science. She has worked as a reference librarian in a public library in Ohio for three years. Her expertise is in interlibrary loans, homebound services, circulation and on-line databases.

James Lanter – James joins VTLS as a Business Analyst on the VITAL team. James has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Virginia Tech. He has more than ten years of experience performing technical consulting and application development for academic institutions and government agencies. James has technical expertise with designing and developing web and Peoplesoft applications using technologies like Javascript, PHP, SQL and Perl.

"We are very pleased to have the financial stability to continue to grow the organization to meet the needs of our expanding customer base,” says Cece Yourshaw, Vice President of Operations for VTLS Inc.