Please see the PDF version  for a printable copy - Last Updated on: March 28, 2005

THOMAS VOLLARO

Email: t_vo at yahoo.com Website: www.vollaro.com/folio

Expertise [click below for work samples]:

• Information Architecture & User Interface Design: Requirements gathering, task analysis, site diagrams, navigation design, wire-frames, Paper and interactive prototyping, contextual inquiry, use cases, personas and scenarios
• Usability: heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthroughs, user testing, quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Graphics & Animation: Freehand sketching, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier and InDesign, Visio, Flash, 3D Studio MAX / VIZ, AutoCAD.
• Web Design: Dreamweaver, Apache, IIS, HTML, ASP, PHP, SQL, VRML/X3D, XML, Java and Javascript

Education:

• University of Michigan, School of Information – Master of Science in Information with a specialization in Human-Computer Interaction. Graduated Spring 2003.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Architecture. Graduated with Honors, Spring 1997.

Relevant Coursework and Projects:

• Principles of Virtual Reality: Development of a VR training application for Habitat for Humanity.
• Evaluation of Systems and Services: Usability evaluations of an information kiosk.
• Information Visualization: Re-design of Proquest topic-finder.
• User Interface Design: Design of a family-friendly graphical user interface for email.

Public Service

• Habitat for Humanity: Volunteered for over seven years in Newark , Paterson , NJ , and Ann Arbor , MI
• Michigan Mentorship Program: Provided technology mentorship to Ann Arbor , MI teens in 2002

Image Publication Credits:

• Anders, Peter. Envisioning Cyberspace. McGraw-Hill, 1999. pp. 96-97.
• Dodge, Martin and Rob Kitchin. Atlas of Cyberspace. Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 2001. p. 190.
• Mappa Mundi Magazine - Map of the Month Oct. 1999:

Work Experience:

Community Connect, Inc. - New York
Information Architect, September 2004 - Present

• Contributed to brainstorming, strategy, requirements gathering and design meetings throughout the entire product lifecycle.
• Wrote use cases, personas, and detailed scenarios.
• Developed detailed sitemaps, wireframes, and interaction flows using Visio.
• Wrote a UI style guide and created a set of corresponding templates, custom stencils, and macros in Visio to facilitate wireframing process.
• Planned, created, and led usability tests process.

Rockwell Group, LLC - New York
IT Strategy Consultant, September 2003 - April 2004

• Researched, planned and implemented software and hardware solutions including LAN switches, server racks, and database solutions 
• Streamlined and documented a variety of existing  processes to make digital information easier to access

Soar Technology, Inc. - Ann Arbor, MI
Intranet Administrator, May 2002 - August 2003

• Conducted task analyses and developed information architecture documents
• Ran comparative analyses on a variety of commercial and open-source technologies
• Designed paper mockups and interactive HTML wire-frames and tested them on users
• Wrote, tested and debugged source code
• Conducted research and contributed content for government proposals

Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, LLP - New York, NY
Lead Technologist, Spring 1997 - Fall 2001

• Designed and implemented a web-based knowledge management application that allows access to up-to-date accounting data, drawing standards, historic project data, photography, and many other resources
• Planned and implemented new software and hardware solutions
• Created 3D models and renderings of architectural projects
• Managed local and wide-area networks for over 120 employees on two coasts