[{"content":"I\u0026rsquo;m a software developer and project manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. I\u0026rsquo;ve spent more than three decades building software, leading projects, teaching developers, and writing about technology.\nProfessional Life # I started my career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in 1988, fresh out of DeVry Institute of Technology with a degree in Computer Information Systems. The Fed was a great place to learn — rigorous, stable, and full of smart people — but after seven years I wanted to be challenged more.\nI moved into technical training at Empower Trainers \u0026amp; Consultants, where I discovered how much I loved teaching. Helping people genuinely understand a concept, rather than just follow steps, is one of the most satisfying things I\u0026rsquo;ve done professionally. My student reviews confirmed I was doing something right.\nFrom there I moved into consulting, working with a range of clients on SQL Server and Visual Basic projects. Eventually I landed as a Project Manager at KCX Inc., where I\u0026rsquo;ve combined my technical depth with my later graduate work in project management.\nI hold a Master\u0026rsquo;s Degree in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management (2001, GPA 3.85), a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from DeVry (1988, GPA 3.97), and 57 additional graduate hours in Psychology and Economics from UMKC (GPA 3.97). I\u0026rsquo;m also a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT).\nI\u0026rsquo;ve co-authored three published books — two on Microsoft SQL Server 7 and one on network security. See the Books page for details.\nWhat I Write About # This blog covers the topics I find most interesting:\nSoftware Development — architecture, testing, project management, tooling, and the craft of building software well Economics — how markets work, incentives, public policy, and why economic thinking is useful for everyday life Science — scientific literacy, how we know what we know, and interesting ideas from across the disciplines Philosophy — ethics, meaning, epistemology, and the big questions that don\u0026rsquo;t have easy answers Politics — policy analysis and thinking clearly about political questions without losing perspective Background # I grew up in Deerfield, Kansas — a small town in the southwest corner of the state — where I first got hooked on computers through an Apple II+. I\u0026rsquo;ve been chasing that fascination ever since.\nResume — work history, education, and skills Books — books I\u0026rsquo;ve co-authored ","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/about/","section":"Rob Kraft","summary":"I’m a software developer and project manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve spent more than three decades building software, leading projects, teaching developers, and writing about technology.\nProfessional Life # I started my career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in 1988, fresh out of DeVry Institute of Technology with a degree in Computer Information Systems. The Fed was a great place to learn — rigorous, stable, and full of smart people — but after seven years I wanted to be challenged more.\n","title":"About Rob Kraft","type":"page"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/posts/","section":"Blog","summary":"","title":"Blog","type":"posts"},{"content":"I have co-authored three published books. Two cover Microsoft SQL Server 7, and one covers network security hardening.\nHardening Network Security # Publisher: McGraw-Hill / Osborne\nISBN: 0-07-225703-2\nA comprehensive guide to securing network infrastructure, covering firewalls, intrusion detection, VPNs, wireless security, and security policy. Written for network administrators and security professionals.\nView on Amazon\nUsing Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 # Publisher: Que\nISBN: 0-7897-1628-3\nAn in-depth reference covering SQL Server 7 installation, configuration, administration, query optimization, and application development. Part of Que\u0026rsquo;s Special Edition Using series.\nView on Amazon\nPractical Microsoft SQL Server 7 # Publisher: Que\nISBN: 0-7897-2147-3\nA hands-on guide to SQL Server 7 focusing on practical tasks for developers and DBAs — backup and recovery, replication, performance tuning, and building data-driven applications.\nView on Amazon\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/books/","section":"Rob Kraft","summary":"I have co-authored three published books. Two cover Microsoft SQL Server 7, and one covers network security hardening.\nHardening Network Security # Publisher: McGraw-Hill / Osborne\nISBN: 0-07-225703-2\n","title":"Books","type":"page"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/categories/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Categories","type":"categories"},{"content":"The best ways to reach me:\nEmail # rob@robkraft.org\nLinkedIn # linkedin.com/in/robkraft\nFacebook # facebook.com/RobKraft\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/contact/","section":"Rob Kraft","summary":"The best ways to reach me:\nEmail # rob@robkraft.org\nLinkedIn # linkedin.com/in/robkraft\n","title":"Contact","type":"page"},{"content":" Summary # Software developer and project manager with more than 35 years of experience in application development, database design, technical training, and project leadership. Strong background in Microsoft technologies. Experienced author and instructor.\nCore strengths: SQL Server · Visual Basic / VB.NET · C# · Project Management · Application Architecture · Database Design\nEducation # Degree Institution Year GPA Master of Science, Project Management Keller Graduate School of Management 2001 3.85 / 4.00 57 graduate hours, Psychology \u0026amp; Economics University of Missouri – Kansas City — 3.97 / 4.00 B.S., Computer Information Systems DeVry Institute of Technology 1988 3.97 / 4.00 Certifications # Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Certified Netware Administrator (CNA) 3.x See the full certifications list for all exams passed and courses authorized to instruct.\nEmployment History # KCX Inc. — Project Manager # May 2000 – Present · Lee\u0026rsquo;s Summit, Missouri\nProject management and technical leadership for software development engagements.\nAdvanced Technology Solutions — Consultant # June 1997 – May 2000\nSQL Server and Visual Basic consulting. Contributed to web development and worked extensively with GBA on the Master Series project.\nEmpower Trainers \u0026amp; Consultants, Inc. — Technical Trainer \u0026amp; Consultant # July 1995 – June 1997\nDelivered Microsoft-authorized training in Visual Basic and SQL Server. Consistently earned outstanding student evaluations. Presented VB 5 and VB 6 at Microsoft Developer\u0026rsquo;s Days. Also taught SDLC at DeVry Institute.\nFederal Reserve Bank of Kansas City — Analyst # July 1988 – June 1995\nApplication development and analysis at one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks. Strong foundation in enterprise systems and rigorous development practices.\nSkills # Level Languages \u0026amp; Tools Expert SQL Server, Visual Basic, SQL, Project Management, Database Design, Client/Server Architecture Proficient VB.NET, C#, ASP.NET, HTML, XML, MSOffice/VBA Familiar Java, COBOL, Oracle, DB2, Linux ","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/resume/","section":"Rob Kraft","summary":"Summary # Software developer and project manager with more than 35 years of experience in application development, database design, technical training, and project leadership. Strong background in Microsoft technologies. Experienced author and instructor.\n","title":"Resume","type":"page"},{"content":"I\u0026rsquo;m a software developer and project manager with more than 35 years of experience building software and leading teams, based in Kansas City. I\u0026rsquo;ve also been a technical trainer, a co-author of three published books, and a lifelong student of economics, psychology, and philosophy. This site is where I write about all of it — the craft of software, the logic of markets, the hard questions about how to live, and whatever else I find worth thinking through carefully.\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/","section":"Rob Kraft","summary":"I’m a software developer and project manager with more than 35 years of experience building software and leading teams, based in Kansas City. I’ve also been a technical trainer, a co-author of three published books, and a lifelong student of economics, psychology, and philosophy. This site is where I write about all of it — the craft of software, the logic of markets, the hard questions about how to live, and whatever else I find worth thinking through carefully.\n","title":"Rob Kraft","type":"page"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/series/","section":"Series","summary":"","title":"Series","type":"series"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/tags/","section":"Tags","summary":"","title":"Tags","type":"tags"}]