About me
Howdy. My name's John Piwowar, recently relocated to Vancouver, BC, Canada, from Pittsburgh, PA, USA. In the last dozen or so years, I've worked as a database administrator (Ingres and Oracle), application server administrator, ad server administrator, and de facto Linux systems administrator. All of that variety aside, much of my work has been has been in the Oracle product space, focussed on the RDBMS, so when I don't have this blog to blather in, I just simplify the list and tell people I'm an Oracle DBA. 
In my most recent full-time position, I simultaneously served as an Oracle DBA, as-needed Oracle Application Server Administrator, and Oracle Applications DBA (11.5.10.x and R12). Needless to say, the last role on that list took up the bulk of my time.
More briefly stated: Hi, I'm John. I make other peoples' software work.
I'm currently working part-time as an independent consultant; this has given an opportunity me to spend more time with my 90%-delightful 4-year-old and has given my wife an opportunity to focus on her PhD thesis. In addition to implementing and troubleshooting a variety of Oracle products, chasing a toddler, doing lots of laundry, and lazing around drinking good beer (okay, there has't really been that much time for lazing around), I decided to complete the work-from-home dad cliché by starting a blog.
Update: Even good things come to an end, though hopefully to be replaced by other good things. It's time to make the switch from part-time back to full-time employment! If you you know of someone looking for an Oracle DBA or Apps DBA in or near Vancouver, BC, please let me know!
Contact me
Blog comments are the reward pellets that keep the hamster spinning the wheel. If you'd prefer not to engage in public conversation, however, I can be reached at jpiwowar@gmail.com. Please note that my willingness to provide an email address does not imply a guaranteed response time.
Other places to find me:
Certified, or just certifiable?
I'm an Oracle 9i OCP DBA, which I think means that I'm allowed to display the following logo:
I've also passed exam 1Z0-233, which in combination with the 9i OCP DBA certification grants the Oracle 11i Applications Database Administrator OCP designation.
I've also upgraded my 9i OCP DBA certification to 10g. Once I get some actual 11g RDBMS work under my belt, instead of mucking around in a personal lab environment, I'll tackle the next upgrade exam.
And finally (for now, anyway), thanks to beta exam 1Z1-238, I'm also a Certified Oracle E-Business Suite R12 Applications Database Administrator.
10 Comments
nice blog and enjoy your break and good luck for your wife.
fadi
Hello Fadi,
Thank you for the visit, and for the kind words.
John
Hi John:
You have a great blog going.
I have started a weekly feature on the OCP blog called "Meet the Experts".
With your permission, I would like to publish a Q&A session with you.
Future candidates would greatly benefit from your advice and be encouraged to pursue a certification path.
Please reply with your approval to: ocp.advisor@gmail.com so that I can send the list of questions for the Q&A to you.
Thanks in advance,
Mohan Dutt, a.k.a. OCP Advisor
Hi Mohan,
Thanks for visiting! I'd be glad to do the Q&A, and will follow up w/ email to that effect.
Cheers,
John P.
I found your page from the .sig on some Oracle page where you were helping someone on Mac library paths. That from a google because I'm found some code from a 10.2 app and am trying to get it to work with Snow Leopard. Sounds like a reasonable few night's work for a retired engineer.
BUT, Why I'm posting this.
One, I found your writing style to be clear, thorough, and at a friendly level. I think that's rare these days.
Two, hovering over one of the links embedded I found the word 'frippery'. Hmm, is this a reference to Robert Fripp?
Its Friday evening, and what's one to do for the evening but get cozy with Xcode 3.0 and figure out why it won't see the Carbon calls.
Cheers,
Tree Limb Jim
Arborist, SMU
Hi Jim,
With respect to the "frippery" link, I probably meant it in the "silly trivia" sense. I've enjoyed King Crimson in the past, but a Robert Fripp reference would imply a level of fandom that I can't really claim.
Thanks for the visit! Glad you like my writing style; I try to maintain a genuine voice. It's a blog, after all, so I might as well be me. Now, if only I were as clear and thorough in face-to-face communications.
Hope you were victorious in wrestling with Snow Leopard and Xcode.
Regards,
John P.
Hi John,
Excellent blog and I enjoy your tongue in cheek style.
Cheers,
Ben Prusinski
Hi Ben,
Thank you for the visit, and for the positive feedback.
I've enjoyed your blog as well.
Regards,
John P.
Hey Jon,
I was really missed this excellent blog, this is one gem of DBA track blog. How come I never get your site. Excellent blog with style.
One of your post http://only4left.jpiwowar.com/2010/03/r12-aol-and-db-object-changes/ have no word to say, how amazaing and how nicly you crafted in one single post. kudos !!
Cheers,
Sanjit
That's a very gracious endorsement, Sanjit. Thank you!
Regards,
John P.
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