Chandra Vella

The Florida Department of Children and Families’ Refugee Services Program is federally funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services to assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment within the shortest possible time after their arrival in the United States. As a Data unit manager, performed the below duties to bring the web system that hosts refugee client data to conform to the industry best practices and standards per DCF IT governance guidelines.

• Introduced process improvements that led to faster resolution times for customer issues without sacrificing quality or attention to detail.
• Acted as a liaison between clients and internal teams during project execution phases guaranteeing clear communication lines were open throughout entire project lifecycles.
• Implemented best practices in workflow management to ensure timely completion of tasks without compromising quality or client satisfaction levels.
• Implemented Azure DevOps integration to mange workflow and project management
• Trained a staff of 4 full stack Oracle Apex developers to help integrate the source code to Azure DevOps platform

• ACCESS FLORIDA System – As technical manager, my tasks include the balancing act of managing technical processes and teams along with using my technical skills to provide the necessary environment for project success. The job of a technical manager requires efficiency in both technical as well as management fields.
• Core Competencies:
• Technical Expertise
• Proficient in overseeing the most complex of technical development concepts, latest software tools and technologies, strong database concepts and designing techniques.
• Understands different programming languages and ability to solve problems in coding, testing and deployment.
• Possesses good knowledge of different software systems, client/server architectures and various compatibility requirements.
• Experience in troubleshooting, software development processes and ability to understand and implement client requirements.
• Management Skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with teams and clients.
• Understand project requirements, coordinate with resources, and direct the projects in the right direction in a timely manner.
• Ability to manage change and effectively pass on the information down the line to concerned teams for smoother execution.
• Delegate and allocate responsibilities efficiently to manage projects end to end.
• Leadership
• Effectively lead teams and inspire others to achieve goals through innovation, quality, and excellence
• Ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of team members and suitably make changes if required.
• Resource management skills and ability to manage complex / sensitive issues.
• Encourage team interaction, boost employee motivation, and appreciate team contribution.
• Ability to match project tasks with opportunities for development so that employee potential is utilized to the maximum.
• Responsibilities:
• Technical
• Must ensure teams follow the correct procedures, policies, and documentation requirements across project phases.
• Able to guide the team through the development, testing and implementation stages and review the completed work effectively.
• Provide direction and technical expertise in design, development, and systems integration.
• Able to make quick decisions and solve technical problems to provide an efficient environment for project implementation.
• Identify resource and equipment requirements, efficient capacity planning and manage software and hardware availability.
• Must provide technical training to teams when required and serve as a technical mentor to team members.
• Management
• Ensure standard operating procedures and project guidelines are in place.
• Task allocation and performance evaluation of team members
• Project scheduling and resource management
• Planning, budgeting, and reporting on projects
• Make presentations on project status, present monthly and annual reports to senior management.
• Meet with client teams and gather requirements, conduct regular team meetings, and track project progress.
• Interview candidates and hire resources.
• Conduct performance reviews of team members and identify areas of improvement, give feedback, and recommend for promotions.
• Estimate project budgets, coordinate with finance department for funds and plan for purchasing of equipment and hardware in a cost-effective way.
• Provide an efficient working atmosphere to project teams to meet objectives within stipulated time.
• Environment:
• Java, JSF, Web Service, SOA, XML, JDBC, WebLogic 9.2, Oracle 11g, ANT, Eclipse, ClearCase, Windows XP, UNIX.
• Coordinated with other departments effectively, integrating technical requirements into broader organizational goals seamlessly.
• Managed implementation of new technological improvements resulting in increased efficiency.

• MES System – As part of ACA (Affordable Care Act) requirements, the department of Children and Families implemented the MES (Medicaid Eligibility System) project in December 2013. The MES system supports the enrollment and administration of Family Track Medicaid for the citizens of Florida based on MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rules. Some of the key highlights of the project are:
• Replaced the existing ACCESS WEBAPP system with Self Service Portal. Approximately four hundred new screens developed.
• Created interfaces with FEDERAL HUB and State Agencies to collect verifications real time.
• Created real-time eligibility functionality using WODM rules engine so that the customer will know upfront whether he is eligible for MAGI Medicaid or Not.
• Also implemented WODM rules engine integration on FLORIDA Mainframe
• Modified FLORIDA Application Entry driver to include new data collection screens.
• Created a new No Touch process which will automatically enter data into FLORIDA mainframe screens and authorize the MAGI benefits without worker's intervention.
• In addition to the maintenance of the No Touch track during the warranty period, also led Phased I of the Child in Care project and implemented in July 2014. Also, gathering requirements for the Phase II of the CIC project which is a two-way interface between DCF and FSFN.
• Responsibilities:
• Involved in requirements analysis, design, implementation, and testing of MES No Touch project.
• Led a team of new Java developers hired for the No Touch track and successfully implemented No Touch system.
• Helped other tracks on the MES project especially Worker Portal in designing and developing the Client Notices modifications for the MES project.
• Interacted with State staff during the system and UAT testing phases of the MES project.
• Interacted with different teams on regular basis to identify the impact analysis on other applications for major enhancements.
• Currently leading the Phase I of the Child in Care project
• Working on gathering requirements for the Phase II of the Child in Care project
• Environment:
• Java, JSF, Web Service, SOA, XML, JDBC, WebLogic 9.2, Oracle 11g, ANT, Eclipse, ClearCase, Windows XP, UNIX.

• DCF's ACCESS program serves the citizens of Florida by providing Public Assistance programs like Medicaid, Food Stamps. CN-Online project is to modernize the creation and delivery of DCF's Client Correspondence for its customers to provide improved access to information for customers. It will allow DCF ACCESS Field staff to access and process client correspondence as well as the customers to access their correspondence in the My ACCESS Account system. At the center of this project is a custom developed Web Service that utilizes the Exstream Software formatting for correspondence involved in multiple online and batch processes.
• Responsibilities:
• Involved in requirements analysis, design, implementation, and testing of Client Notices project.
• Involved in Java/J2EE development using Java, JSF to build highly interactive front end web framework using Web Services with standard design patterns.
• Developed Web pages using JSF framework for loose coupling and scalable.
• Created adapters to interact with Florida mainframes through IMS Connect.
• Developed web service using SOAP on Axis2 to communicate with Exstream server within the system to format notices into pdf.
• Implemented J2EE Design Patterns DAO (Data Access Object), DTO (Data Transfer Object), Adapter, Service Locator and MVC design patterns.
• Created and utilized multiple JDBC stored procedures for data persistence with Oracle11g.
• Interacted with different teams on regular basis to identify the impact analysis on other applications for major enhancements.
• Eclipse used as IDE tool to develop, and unit testing.
• Utilized ANT to build the application and Clear Case for version controlling.
• Environment:
• Java, JSF, Web Service, SOA, XML, JDBC, WebLogic 9.2, Oracle 11g, ANT, Eclipse, ClearCase, Windows XP, UNIX.

• CAMS is the State of Florida's automated system supporting child support activities for over one million families. CAMS replaced a mainframe system and a stand-alone, outdated database management systems implemented over the past 15 years to attain desired functionality and management reporting capabilities. CAMS is the only child support automated system in the nation built using an off-the-shelf suite of products, referred to as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, where a customer configures the software to meet specific business requirements. CAMS built using the Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) product.
• Responsibilities:
• Involved in the design and development of Data Dictionary for DOR
• Involved in the initial research of setting up S3 test region replicating production environment for eventual CAMS phase 2 testing.
• Involved in the research and identifying sensible production data to for eventual replicating of production data in S3 test region by scrambling sensitive information.
• Periodic meetings with DOR users on the progress of various projects currently involved in.
• Actively involved in all aspects of CAMS phase II conversion effort.
• Environment:
• IBM-9672-RX6, IBM-9672-R36, IBM PC, COBOL, TELON, IMS-DB/DC, MFS, IMS-XPERT for File Aid, XPEDITER 6.3, EZYTRIEVE, ENDEVOR, STROBEIMS

• Client Notices module is one of the critical areas of Public Assistance program of DCF. Involved in projects such as Kid Care Medicaid Involved in projects such as Kid Care Medicaid Eligibility Review, Voter Registration Application process, Passive Re-determination of Food Stamps, Sun cap, SSI Denial Notice remediation etc. along with regular maintenance of the module. Implemented Periodic Eligibility and Income Report (PEIR) project where current PEIR Self-mailer process changed to create PEIR notices. This would result in a considerable cost savings to FLORIDA. Also actively involved in design and implementation of Hurricane related Emergency Food Stamps EFS program.
• Responsibilities:
• Involved in the Analysis, design, and development.
• Documentation or Updates to Existing Documentation
• Interacting with several Governmental Organizations for information exchange
• Developed many PMN's (Process Model Narrative) for many data exchanges and BLD's (Business logic Diagrams) using Visio Tool.
• Supported production support and cycle monitoring for batch cycles.