Zachary Telschow

In order to increase the efficiency of claims handling, I was one of hundreds of developers working on an Allstate initiative called NextGen.The program streamlined the claim handling process, allowing each customer to be served more quickly and effectively.My team, financials, wrote code that allowed the system to pay customers who had filed a claim within the business logic required.For the last several months, I was working on a small team that had been processing stuck medical bills.

While working at BigMachines, I've implemented our custom sales software solution for a variety of clients.I've been involved in every facet of the process, from building configurators to integrating to CRM backend software to fine tuning pricing logic.Aside from technical work, I’ve also engaged in numerous projects where I’ve had additional requirements gathering responsibility, allowing me to grow my skills in design and project management.The job has been an invaluable experience across a variety of software and business subject matters.

As head tour guide, my primary responsibility was to arrange an ambassador for every individual and group tour throughout the course of the school year.  In addition, I helped run monthly meetings and replaced my direct superior at events on occasion.  Due to the heavy travel required by my supervisor (Ashley Schmidtke), I was often solely responsible for the tours at the college.  I also implemented an Access database to ease scheduling of tours and events.

While at Snap-on tools, I used geographic information systems software in order to create deliverable maps which were used to optimize the routes traveled by Snap-on franchisees.  I also queried databases for information on potential customers, produced a series of online surveys for use at the national franchisee convention in Las Vegas, and used basic functions in the statistical software SPSS to analyze long term tracking studies.

Education has always been emphasized as important in my family, and as a result of that upbringing and generous employer reimbursement I began attending DePaul University in pursuit of my master's degree in computer science in fall, 2008. After this current trimester, completing just one class each ensuing trimester will allow me to complete my degree in spring of 2011.

Carthage College is a small liberal arts school located along the Lake Michigan shoreline just north of Kenosha, WI.  Throughout my sophmore through senior years at Carthage, I served as a small group Bible study leader for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, was the head tour guide for the admissions office, and contributed sparingly to the school newspaper.  I was also a founding member of the Carthage Entrepreneurs Organization.

Although I received my degree in computer science, the most enjoyable and rewarding series of courses I took were for the entrepreneurial studies in the natural sciences (ESNS) minor.  This series of courses begins with two semesters of topical work and a semester of product development.  During the beginning of my senior year, without taking any other business related courses, I scored in the top 10% nation wide in a standardized exit exam for college business majors. 

The last two courses of the ESNS minor require that students write a complete business plan.  Through a partnership with the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation (CATI), students gain access to a  portfolio of ~350 patents in order to develop a unique and original product.  The results of my senior project are attached below my portfolio as "Thermix Business Plan."

I spent my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, but decided not to complete my degree there.  After playing varsity soccer, I played several intramural sports and was an active member of a small group Bible study.

Professor Mahoney serves as the only dedicated computer science professor at Carthage College.  In addition to being my advisor, he was my professor for approximately a half dozen computer science courses.  Professor Mahoney also takes an interest in the ESNS minor and often frequents the biannual meetings.

Andy and I have worked together extensively at BigMachines.

Ms. Schmidtke served as my advisor and boss in my role as head tour guide for Carthage College.

Dr. Arion serves as the primary professor in the ESNS minor as well as a professor of physics at Carthage College.  He has spent countless hours with my classmates and I as we polished our business plans.