Mark Havens
Computer Scientist/Engineer
Current Positions
Since 2020
CTO
Start-up
Ongoing development of SaaS control panel platform for general business automation and control.
Since 2020
Technical Writer
Start-up
Writing long-form technical tutorials and articles on trending issues in containerization technology and DevOps.
Since 2019
Embedded Systems Designer
Start-up
Developing prototype for wireless network enabled electronic business card.
Since 2019
Principal & Virtual CTO
Start-up
A consultancy that also offers professional managed services specializing in DevOps centered engineering research, implementation, tool development, and executive management.
Since 2019
Principal
Start-up
A Software as a Service (SaaS) company focused on developing AI-based APIs for web developers, graphics artists, game developers, illustrators, and virtually anyone else looking for low cost, original artwork and photography.
Since 2010
Principal Founder & Leadership Advisor
Dallas Makerspace
Began what has become one of the largest and most successful makerspaces in the world. Served as founding director, de facto president, secretary, and treasurer during the first year of operation. Recruited most of the founding members. Wrote the bylaws. Created most of the initial policy. Mentored most of the elected executive leadership after the first year.
Education
Graduate
Since 2016
Ph.D. Computer Science
UT Arlington
Ongoing affective computing research focused on using data science and machine learning to computationally guess what other people are thinking and feeling by processing images of their faces and body language.
2009 - 2013
M.S. Management-Information Systems Security
Colorado Technical University
Received a supplementary Graduate Certificate in Project Management.
Undergraduate
2002 - 2005
B.S. Computer Science
UT Rio Grande Valley
Final project involved source detection of IP packets across NAT devices to allow improved reporting accuracy of intrusion detection systems.
1994 - 1998
A.A.S. Computer Science Technology
Texas State Technical College in Harlingen
Courses included: MSDOS, UNIX, Advanced Basic, C, Advanced COBOL, Dbase, Assembler, HTML, Local Area Networking, Computer Maintenance, Program Maintenance & Conversion, and Project Design & Development.
About Me
I am a life-long innovator, entrepreneur, management consultant, and tech writer who has been classically trained as an academic research scientist. Awarded a Ph.D. fellowship in 2016, my research is focused on using data science and machine learning to decode the hidden emotions of the human face. Since 1995, I have founded a number of small tech startups - one of which has grown into a million dollar company. Today, I help other tech startups that intersect within my fields of interest. I especially love working with people who have not quite gotten things off the ground yet. In addition to management consulting, I conduct paid technical research in DevOps, Information Security, Machine Learning, IoT, and emerging industry trends.
Leadership
Past Experience
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
2020
Community Leader
Online Group
Created a 500+ member online community for coordinating PPE production. Efforts included logistical coordination of equipment, workspace, volunteers, and distribution during the onset of the pandemic.
2015 - 2016
Principal
Start-up
A managed services provider for creating and maintaining content management systems for small companies.
2011 - 2016
Principal
Start-up
A SaaS company focused on Amazon Marketplace intelligent repricing automation. Created crude machine learning algorithms that were sold as a service to Amazon vendors to automate the repricing of their Amazon inventory.
2008 - 2012
Principal
Start-up
A reboot of an earlier company that used reverse engineering, bots, and machine learning to mine MMO game assets for distribution to internet retailers.
2004 - 2006
Principal
Start-up
First iteration of a new venture that pioneered the independent monetization of virtual economies in popular online games. Managed system that supported tracking system of online assets. Developed and maintained scripts to automate system functions and common administrative tasks. Responded to incidents to avoid system outages and restored availability to meet operational level objectives. Conducted performance tuning, implemented security, and conducted account administration. Designed, configured, and tested all network routers, switches, and firewall configurations.
1995 - 1998
Partner
Start-up
Competitive provider of business-to-business technical services that leveraged relationships with business leaders and key members of the economic development community of Brownsville, Texas. Implemented and maintained Solaris, HP-UX, Linux, Windows, and Novell NetWare systems for businesses throughout the region. Forged strategic relationships that contributed to the company's viability. Secured partnerships with several ISP start-up companies that led to an avalanche of new service contracts; a second office was later opened to accommodate new business. Spearheaded initial migration contract with the Brownsville Economic Development Council, which produced future revenues from city and corporate members. Leveraged relationships in the medical community that led to a large service contract with Columbia Valley Regional Medical Center, which contributed to future contracts with healthcare companies throughout the region that tripled service revenues within a year.
1995 - 1996
CTO
South Texas Internet
Provided initial service calls, troubleshooting, and software installations to a vast array of customers during the start-up phase. Hired and trained technical staff. Maintained phone-bank, leased lines, and servers.
Data Scientist & Engineer
2016 - 2019
Data Scientist & Engineer
UT Arlington
Primary research focused on prototyping models for detecting facial affects and developing methods for creating viable computer-generated training data using Generative Adversarial Networks.
2018
REU Site Research Mentor
UT Arlington
Mentored undergraduate research assistants in my affective computing research. Devised research objectives to build an assistive emotion recognition technology for people with autism and blindness. Supervised work. Funded by the NSF.
2018
Research Associate
UT Arlington
Summer appointment.
2018
Researcher
U.S. Air Force
Traveled to Rome, New York for a research internship at U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
2017
Research Associate
UT Arlington
Summer appointment.
2016
Space Grant Research Team Leader
UT Arlington
Mentored, organized, and supervised undergraduates while designing a prototype of a wireless mesh network for the International Space Station. Sponsored by NASA.
2004
Lab Assistant
UT Rio Grande Valley
Spring semester; assisted network security research.
2003
Lab Assistant
UT Rio Grande Valley
Fall semester; assisted network security research.
2003
Lab Assistant
UT Rio Grande Valley
Spring semester; assisted computing education research.
2002
Lab Assistant
UT Rio Grande Valley
Fall semester; assisted computing education research.
Communication
2020
Technical Copywriter
Hyperglance
Created technical and marketing web copy for cloud automated documentation platform.
Teaching
2020
Internet of Things (IoT)
Dallas Makerspace
Conducted introductory courses on Raspberry Pi and ESP32 platforms.
2020
Cloud Engineering
Dallas Makerspace
Provided intermediate courses on how to build virtual machines in the cloud using Google Cloud Platform.
2018
CSE 3310 - Fundamentals of Software Engineering
UT Arlington
TA appointment; fall semester.
2018
CSE 3310 - Fundamentals of Software Engineering
UT Arlington
TA appointment; spring semester.
2017
CSE 2312 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
UT Arlington
TA appointment; fall semester.
2017
CSE 2312 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
UT Arlington
TA appointment; spring semester.
2017
CSE 4317 - Computer System Design Project II
UT Arlington
TA appointment; spring semester.
2017
CSE 4317 - Computer System Design Project II
UT Arlington
TA appointment; spring semester.
2016
CSE 4317 - Computer System Design Project II
UT Arlington
TA appointment; spring semester.
2016
CSE 2312 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
UT Arlington
TA appointment; fall semester.
2015
Video Production
Dallas Makerspace
Taught introductory courses on Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) for students to learn how to increase production value of self-published videos and streaming online.
1996 - 1998
Amazon Product Distribution & Pricing Models
Dallas Makerspace
Introductory courses on distribution strategies using Amazon FBA.
1996 - 1998
Candle Making
Dallas Makerspace
Beginner courses in introductory candle making and recycling used candles.
1996 - 1998
Introduction to UNIX
Hands on Computer Training Center
Conducted introductory courses on UNIX.
Programming
2020
2019
2006 - 2010
Problem-Solving
Active Research
Academic
All ongoing academic research intersects with facial affects within the Affective Computing domain. Most work is focused on using data science and machine learning to computationally guess what other people are thinking and feeling just by processing images of their faces and body language.
Informative
1997 - 1998
IT Service Technician
Fonemost Technology
Provided subcontract services including cable runs, software installations, network configurations, troubleshooting, and consulting.
1996 - 1998
IT Service Technician
Whispering Palms Nursing Center
Implemented an Ethernet 10baseT network consisting of 13 new and preexisting systems running Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Windows 95 operating under Windows NT 4.0. Migrated existing DOS accounting and management software to Windows NT. Installed, programmed, and maintained a computerized time clock that automated the payroll process of over 150 employees. Provided upgrades and troubleshooting to all systems. Provided technical support to staff.
1995 - 1996
IT Service Technician
Columbia Valley Regional Medical Center
Installed new computer systems in Administrative and Personal departments and upgraded existing systems to support Windows 95 operating under Novell 3.12. Provided hardware and software support to staff members. Assisted in the migration from Token Ring and Arcnet bus topology to Ethernet 10baseT.
1995
Information Systems Support Specialist
Texas Attorney General
Supported existing Ethernet networks and diagnosed cabling and routing problems. Provided hardware and software support for NetWare 3.12 client systems. Vital part of an information services team responsible for a statewide hardware upgrade for all local and branch office computer systems.
1994 - 1995
Systems Administrator
Price Village Medical Center
Supported existing ARCnet network and implemented Ethernet on all new systems. Implemented and supported new branch office network running Netware 3.12. Supported existing Netware 2.2 network and all workstations.
1992
Computer Technician
Walk's Office Technology
Built and tested over 400+ DOS workstations. Assisted in the network infrastructure buildout of 400+ workstation Novell network for Olmito School System.
1989 - 1994
IT Freelancer
Independent
Provided as-needed technical support to the local business community. Conducted hardware upgrades, system builds, solved hardware and software problems, and resolved networking issues.
Research
Unpublished Papers
Complete
Complete
Ongoing Research
In Preparation
In Preparation
Industry
Ongoing industry research often depends on paid commissioned publications which are not published to academic journals. Other research cannot be disclosed due to non-disclosure agreements. Most research is typically focused on DevOps and prevailing trends.
In Preparation