Item O06
Revised 3/99
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Mav 19. 2004
Bulk Item: Yes X No 0
Division: County Administrator
Department: County Administrator
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Confirmation of the aooointment of James F. Van Tassel as
Director of Technical Service.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The orevious director of Technical Service resianed in October
2003. After exolorina ootions for manaaina this deoartment. the best interests of the county
are served bv emolovina a new director.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: Confirmation of orevious Director
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES - NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Aooroval.
TOTAL COST: $62.618.54 +benefits
COST TO COUNTY: $62.618.54 +benefits
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes 0 No 0
BUDGETED: Yes X No 0
AMOUNT PER MONTH_
YEAR_
APPROVED BY: COUNTY ATTY 0 OMB/PURCHASING 0 RISK MANAGEMENT 0
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: =- / ~ -<.. ~ (
DIVISION DIRECTOR NAME: James L. Roberts
DOCUMENTATION: INCLUDED: X TO FOllOW: 0 NOT REQUIRED: 0
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #: ~
Confirmation of Administrator's Appointment of
Director of Technical Services
James F. Van Tassel
In October 2003, the previous Director resigned his position during a disciplinary action and an
internal audit of his actions as Director.
The Administrator and the Division Director of
Management Services undertook an investigation of the best way to manage that department.
Discussions were held with the Sheriff and his staff as to their ability to handle the Technical
Services of Monroe County. Although that possibility could have been brought to fruition, there
was considerable apprehension expressed by the employees involved. Noting this concern, the
Administration undertook a thorough review of all applicants for the position, in excess of seventy
(70) applicants. During that review, we focused not only upon technical ability, but a history of
management and leadership positions.
We narrowed the number of applicants to eight (8) that were interviewed by Sheila Barker,
Division Director of Technical Services and Ken Perryman, Network Administrator. Those
interviews decreased the field to two finalists. The County Administrator interviewed both
candidates and is pleased to recommend for confirmation Mr. James F. Van Tassel for the
position of Director of Technical Services.
Mr. Van Tassel has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science along with more than twenty
years of technical experience with Florida Power & Light. His history shows a strong leadership
and problem solving background. He also has a very broad background in teChnology. He
brings a background of voice and audio-visual systems.
Mr. Van Tassel considers his greatest accomplishments are those business assignments that
have had problematic histories.
He has been a resident of the Keys for several years and is aware of the dynamics of the Florida
Keys. He is looking forward to relocating to the lower keys from Key Largo.
The Administrator respectfully requests that the Board of County Commissioners confirm the
appointment of Mr. James F. Van Tassel as Director of the Department of Technical Services.
James L. Roberts
County Administrator
Date: November 10th, 2003
To: Monroe County Human Resources
1 100 Simonton Street, 2nd Floor
Key West, Florida 33041
From: James F. Van Tassel
301 Little Miss Muffet Lane
Key Largo, Florida 33037
(305) 852-0692
HI "C.
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I would like to request your consideratinn of my application for the county's open position for
Director of Technical Services.
As an expert Infonnation Systems IIUUIager and technologist with over 30 years of experience, I
have a great deal to offer the county, its' m8Dagement, and the COmmission. I enclose for your
review, my resume, a completed application, and associated documentation as a first step in
exploring these possibilities.
My current position is Director of Infurmation Technology at Holiday Isle Resort in lslamorada.
Prior to that posting, Manager of the Data Center(s} for Florida Power and Light (FPL) in Miami
My responsibilities have included server I mainframe operations, maintaining systems
availability, ID8Daging all associated plant filcilities, netwodring, telephony, power systems,
environmental systems, and associated infrastructure.
Other responsibilities included, negotiating, awarding. and Dl8Daging vendor contracts fur
equipment and services, Planning and overseeing all actions necessary for disaster and storm
contingeocies. In addition, I lD8Daged a staff of OVer twenty proressionals and oversaw OPerating
and capital budgets in excess of twenty million dollars.
Although my technology expertise and ID8Dagement backgrOund is impressive, I consider my
greatest accomplishments to be those business assignments that had problematic histories. Those
areas where executive m8Dagement felt some improvement were needed. I excel at reorganizing
redesigning. and recreating Organizations and/or projects that have not been Jlerfornting in stellar
filshion. In SOme cases, they were just not COst effective and management Wanted improvement.
My communication, team building. presentation, and other non-technology_based skills are all
excellent as well.
I appreciate your consideration of my qualifications fur the position of Director of Technical
Services.
Sincerely,
James F. Van Tassel
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PrOfaWlllal Resume
James F. Van Tassel
301 Little Miss MI/ffit Lane
Key Largo. Florida 33037
Phone 305-852-0692
Cell 305-731-9138
E-Mail JimTTrq;EarthlinkNet
Career Objective
Apply my expertise, knowledge, and experience to improve overa1l service stability, availability, and
provide technological support, while remaining very cost effective and in most cases saving the
sponsoring organization(s) implementation, support, and ongoing operating dollars.
Positions Held
· Director of Information Technology (Holiday Isle Resort) - 200 room resort positioned on two properties in
the upper keys. Overall responsibility for all data, voice, and audio-visual systems. Including systems
availability, operations, and support, facilities management, vendor I supplier contract negotiations, budget
management, disaster and contingency planning, personnel and resource management.
· Data Center Manager (Florida Power & Light (FPL)) - two sites, three mainframes, over 1200 servers (Unix,
Win2000, Novell, etc), and in excess of 10,000 connected workstations. Ovemll responsibility for operations,
systems availability, facilities management, vendor I supplier contract negotiations, budget management,
disaster I contingency planning, storm and other emergency operations, personnel and resource scheduling.
· Technical Services Supervisor I Specialist (FPL) - Enterprise Server I Internet Support - Included complete
responsibility for the support of server hanlware, software, operating systems, infrastructure, and their respective
connectivity and their ultimate availabilityas well as a1J. corporate Internet capabilities.
· Technical Services Planner (FPL) - Hardware and Technology Planning for the growth, support, and
implementation of evolving technologies to support enterprise wide systems and availability for a six billion dollar
a year utility's systems base.
· Application Areas Project Manager (FPL) - Technical Supervisor, Database Administration, Prognunmer, and
Technical Guidance on a number of projects that included Customer Services, Accounting, Purchasing, Inventoty,
Power Facilities Construction, and other Power Management systems.
· Project Management (FPL) - E-Mail, Internet, Collaborative Systems, and other technology implementations and
associated conversions.
· Other commercial systems work outside FPL that included the design, implementation, and ongoing support of the
most advances systems and network technologies available.
Anlas of Technology Expertise
· Data Networking - TCPIIP, IFX, SPX. most protocols, plus DNS, Domain Controllers, DHCP, Novell's NOS, as
well as most associated hantware (NICs, Switches, Hubs, and Gateways, etc.).
· Voice and Data Networking Topologies using Ethernet and Token Ring Frame Relay, FOOl, 10/100-Base- T,
Thin-Net, and others.
· Disaster Recovery and Contingency technologies and planning.
· MS Windows 3.x, 9S, 98, NT, ME, 2000 (SeIver and WoIkstation versions).
· Unix OS and Utilities (Not an expert, but well versed)
· NoveIl3.x, 4.x, S.x plus all related utilities, clients, and support.
· DOS 3.x, 4.x, S.x, 6.x, plus all related utilities and support.
· MS Back Office including Exchange S.S and 2000, including Outlook.
· MS Office (Word., Excel, Power Point, Publisher, etc)
· Data Center I Server Room planning, facilities, their management and associated support infrastructure.
· Numerous programming languages such as Assembler, C, VlSWll basic, FoxPro, COBOL and many others.
Resume - James F. Van Tassel (Continued)
Employment
· 2003 - Present Holiday Isle Resort, Islamorada Florida
· 1981 - 2002 Florida Power and Light Company Miami / Juno Beach Florida
· 1971 - 1981 Eastern Airlines, IDc Miami, Florida
· 1969 - 1971 Stoddard Office Supply, Inc. Miami, Florida
Education
· 1974 - Florida International University, Bachelor of Science, Computer Sciences
· 1965 - Varied Military Training courses
· 1964 - Miami Edison High School, Graduate, General Education
Military
· United States Marine Corps 1965 - 1969
· Automotive Mechanic and Forward Observer (Artillery)
· Two combat toun - Republic of South Vietnam
· Ranks held - Private (E-l) through Sergeant (E-5)
· Honorably discharged
Civic. Social, Other
· Co-founder and Past President - Ronald McDonald House of South Florida, University of Miami - Jackson
Memorial Medical Center, Miami, Florida
· Active member of varied Home Owner Associations
· Active Civic volunteer
· Hobbies include - History studies and research involving the Florida Keys, Golf, Fishing, and Snorkeling.
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