Gene Balsamo

That's me at the Desert Of Maine. Yes, there really is a Desert in Maine. It's in Freeport, Maine, the home of L.L.Bean

What I do at IBI

I have been with Information Builders for what will be five years next March. I began working as a QA Analyst in the IBM Mainframe Division. I would analyze the automated QCS runs. As years went on, I was responsible for the entire QCS processes and I automated more than 65% of the IBM regression tests.

In April 1997, I came to the Cactus Division as a QA Automation Specialist working first for Mark Derwin and now for Dan Carotenuto. I create and run all the GUI automation suites, run the cross-platform tests for mainframe, UNIX and NT, take care of the WEB390 and CACTUS servers on MVS, and perform other all-purpose QA duties.

Before IBI, I worked for NYNEX (now Bell Atlantic) for 15 years as a Programmer Analyst working in the Service Order Division. It was at NYNEX where I learned FOCUS having built many interactive FOCUS applications.

What I do in my spare time

At home, I am very active in my local church. I am a born-again Christian and I attend the Bay Shore Assembly of God Church. I am a trustee of the church and I sing in the choir each Sunday. Each year, our choir performs both Easter and Christmas musicals which brings the gospel message of salvation to all who hope and have faith in Jesus Christ.

I enjoy golf and fishing. I love watching NFL football and I have been a New York Giants season ticket holder for the past 20 years. Despite this fact, I rarely attend games anymore. I'll go to one or two games each year. I have a full-view satellite dish (not one of those wimpy 18" DSS dishes) and have enjoyed the NFL Sunday Ticket where I get to watch EVERY game. And, believe me, I DO WATCH EVERY GAME. Maybe not every play but, I don't miss much with my picture-in-picture big screen TV.

I also enjoy the world wide web and I have created a Web site dedicated to my Family. Here is a list of some of my favorite sites:

  1. Balsamo Family Web Site - Balsamo Family Pictures and Stories.
  2. Gene-o Web Site - My other site with pictures and stories.
  3. Tim Downing Invitational - Tim's August Tournament at Pebble Creek.
  4. Stand in the Gap - A wonderful site of pictures from the Promise Keepers rally in Washington on October 4. Even if you are not a believer or are not in favor of the Promise Keeper's movement, you will still enjoy the pictures of Washington. The pictures of the Korean and Vietnam memorials are very moving.
  5. Berean University - A great place for Bible Study material.
  6. Online Bibles - Seven different Bible versions each in six different languages.
  7. Big Blue Interactive - A Website no Giant fan should be without.
  8. ESPN - Sports Information galore including Health and Fitness.