Welcome

Thanks for stopping by! My name is Rod McLennan and welcome to my home page. Here you will find some information about me as well as a virtual portfolio of my work. With a background in computers, I'm passionate about programming for both the web and desktop applications. I pride myself in my ability to reduce human interaction via software automation of user intensive tasks. I have experience programming in Visual Basic, C++, Java, HTML, PHP, SQL, MySQL, ASP, XML, and various scripting languages including Javascript, VBScript, Scoll, Datasculpt, and others. I have installed and administered networks using Microsoft Advanced Server, Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, IIS. I'm fully competant in all Microsoft Office, Macromedia Studio, Adobe CS2, Quickbooks, and various other standard office software. I also have experience in accounting as far as payroll, cat>agorizing, reporting, and filing all income, assets, liabilities, and expenses.

Thanks again for your interest in my and I welcome you to take a look around. If you are interested in contracting my services or perhaps purchasing a parked domain, please don't hesitate to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I hope to hear from you soon.

Portfolio

One of my passions is website and application programming. My webpages are done primarily in HTML, Javascript, PHP, and ASP. I have a working understanding but limited implementation of XML. Most of my sites are front ends to either SQL or MySQL databases. All the graphic design on my sites were done using Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, or a combination of those software packages. Below you will find a list of Active, Under Construction, and Parked (planned) domains that I own and/or administer.

In addition to web development, I also have done, and continue to do, a great deal of desktop development.  My experience ranges from simple VB programs, to robust .NET applications and complex scripting automation.  I am fluent in VB 6, VB.Net, PHP, and have some experience in C++ and C#.  Below is a list of applications I have developed over the years.If you like what you see and are interested in having me quote a project or wish to purchase a parked domain, please feel free to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bio

Background

I was born in 1977 and raised in Wheeling for the duration of my childhood. My mother is a teacher and my father has been on a roller coaster of jobs originating with owning an asphalt paving company and ending with his current self-owned consulting firm Midwest Pavement Consultants. I was confused throughout high school in regards to what I wanted to do for a living. I was accepted into programs to study aviation, journalism, and engineering at various universities, but opted to attend a local community college and pursue my dream of rock stardom instead. I worked for a couple years in a music store while recording an album and interning as a recording engineer at Nightingale Conent studios. Upon realizing the rock star dream would likely not be realized I threw in the towel and went to work for Dad.

I spent a little over 2 years working for my father as a construction manager for projects in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Illinois; some of which lasted longer than two months. In the off season, I began taking computer classes at a local college and got hooked on them. I couldn’t seem to take enough programming classes, and also began to get my math skill up to speed, all the while earning a 4.0 GPA. I decided at this point that I wanted to pursue a career in computers.

After searching for quite some time, I landed a programming job as a contractor in Motorola. My job was to program various scripting languages and Visual Basic front end software to help with some process automation centered around 3D scanning. After 2 years working in this position, my supervisor and I teamed up and formed CAVLab, Inc. our own 3D scanning, product inspection, and reverse engineering company in 2001 and opened our doors in 2002. It would be another 2 years before I would get my first paycheck.

In the meantime, I worked part-time at a local fitness center to pay the bills and began focusing more on exercise and fitness. I stumbled upon adventure racing due to Mark Burnett’s Eco-Challenge Expedition race and was immediately hooked. I formed Team Fat Otter and began racing as much as possible. I’ve since formed a solid team and began directing races as well.

Currently I continue to focus on the success of CAVLab, Inc. After 6 years in business, we continue to grow at a steady pace. Team Fat Otter continues to race and our inventory of races I direct continues to grow. I own my own home in Mundelein, I’m seeing an amazing woman, I ride a Harley, I have a Chihuahua named Pita, and look at every day as a new day of possibility.

Fitness / Outdoors

I would consider myself a health conscious person. I work out 3-4 days a week either weight lifting, jogging, riding, rollerblading, paddling, swimming, or various other activities. I usually try to get a few camping trips in each summer, one of which is a canoe trip. I am definitely big on the outdoors. I have a passion for adventure racing and am founder and captain of Team Fat Otter as well as a member of the Chicago Area Adventure Racing Association (CAARA) board of directors.

Cooking

I love food. I was a vegetarian (not a real one, I eat fish and dairy) was a vegetarian for nearly a decade, so cooking was one way for me to be sure I was eating something I like. I stopped eating meat because I was bored and wanted to do something different, not because I’m an activist or anything. I began eating meat again in 2007 because it felt like the right thing to do at the time. Since then, I can’t seem to get enough! My favorite foods to cook are usually very spicy and very ethnic. I tend to cook Indian, Mexican, and Asian food most frequently.

Music

When I first graduated high school, I was going to be a rock star. That didn’t really work out for me, but music is still a big part of my life. I mainly play piano and guitar, I try to sing a little to. I like just about any kind of music and I really don’t have a favorite. I would love to play in a band again someday, however, right now I just play with my lonesome.

Goals

My goals are constantly evolving. Since I began running my own business, one goal that has remained is to grow my company CAVLab, Inc. . I want to continue to grow Team Fat Otter . I also have a goal of holding a public office at some point. I feel my perspective on politics and the political system are refreshing, and I’m hoping others will feel the same way.

Professional Resume

Rod McLennan
523 Woodhaven Dr.		Phone: 847-420-3525
Mundelein, IL 60060		Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Accomplished and diverse professional with a wide variety of experience and a proven track record of excellence in business development and management, office managment, network administration, computer programming, and process improvement. Focused on building successfull and efficient business processes.
Qualification Highlights
Web/Computer Programming Marketing Strategic Planning Project Management Network Administration Accounting Office Management Product Development
Professional Experience
CAVLab, Inc. - Mundelein, IL 2002 - Present A leading provider of 3D scanning, reverse engineering, product development, and product inspection. Partner Responsible for company operations including human resources, payroll, IT, marketing, purchasing, accounts payable, business planning and development, process automation, and accounting.   Grew company from zero to $500,000 in 4 years   Developed custom software utilizing .Net, scripting languages, HTML, PHP, MySQL   Installed and Managed network running Windows 2000 Server, Exchange 2000, MySQL, Active Directory   Vision, Inc. - Elgin, IL n/a A leading plastic injection molder involved in tooling, molding, post processing, and 3d inspection. Scanning Technician Responsible for setting up and scanning parts in Motorola for inspection. Automated scanning and processing using scripting languages, Unix shell, Visual Basic, and Framemaker.   Developed scripts to automate more than 50% of the human interaction.   Developed online job tracking system for Motorola engineers using HTML and ASP.   Impletemented a database backend and visual basic interface to monitor job flow.   Midwest Pavement Consultants, Inc. - Mundelein, IL n/a A family owned asphalt and concrete consulting firm. Provides property evaluation and construction management services. Consultant Responsible for assiting in property evaluations, surveying, ADA complience, traffic logistics, office management, web development, and payroll processing.   Managed construction projects lasting up to 2 months   Managed all office activity   Assisted in solving complex grading problems   Guitar Center, Inc. - Arligton Heights, IL n/a Nationwide musical instrument retailer. Selling drums, guitars, keyboards, pro-audio, dj, lighting, and accessories. Asst. Operations Manager Responsible for daily cash audit, inventory control, computer hardware installation and troubleshooting, processing new and terminated employees, managed warehouse staff.   Managed Warehouse Staff   Identified Potential Asset Control Issues   Offered Operations Manager Position after 1 year
Education
National Louis University - Chicago, IL BS - Management Information Systems (April, 2010) College of Lake County - Grayslake, IL Associates in Science, Emphasis on Computer Science Wheeling High School High School Diploma
Technical Knowledge
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook) Microsoft Server (Windows 2000 Server, Exchange 2000, Active Directory) Visual Studio (Visual Basic 6, Visual Basic .Net, Visual C++) Scripting Languages (Datasculpt, Scoll, Unix Shell, Dos Shell, VB Script) Graphics Software (Fireworks, Photoshop, Illustrator, Gimp) Accounting Software (Quickbooks, Quicken) 3D Software (Imageware, Geomagic, Solidworks) Web (HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, MySQL, ASP) Content Management (CMS Made Simple, Joomla, Drupel, TikiWiki)