Mr. Comstock, My use of IBM-MAIN is to present peer systems programmers with challenges and solutions in our field. Your exploitation of this forum is inappropriate. If we were to allow Vendors to exploit this forum for marketing purposes I believe many of us would stop using the forum. Regards, Steven Bott
-----Original Message----- From: Steve Comstock [mailto:st...@trainersfriend.com] Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 9:17 PM To: Bott, Steven Subject: Training Steve, I saw your recent note on ibm-main and I wanted to contact you off-list to see if you could help me out a little. In particular, could you point me to the right person to talk to at CSX regarding applications programmer training. In case you can't pass on names and contact information to me directly, I'm including some introductory info about us that perhaps you would be kind enough to pass on to the right people so they could contact us if they think we could be of service... My name is Steve Comstock and I am the founder of The Trainer's Friend, Inc., a corporation dedicated to training z/OS applications programmers. We train all over the US and around the world. Although I am an ex-IBM systems engineer, instructor, and course developer, I left IBM in 1975 to work for myself, and have been doing so ever since. Over time I've built up a small collection of like minded course developers and instructors and we primarily do instructor led training on customer site. Included in this email: + Content: an overview of courses we offer + Delivery: onsite, of course, but there are other options + Other resources: toolkits, free papers, more + Pricing approach: simple, competitive + SHARE in Denver: we'll be presenting + The players: link to photos and short bios -------------- Content --------------------------- We provide training in all the classic topic areas: * TSO, ISPF, Dialog Manager, CLIST, REXX * JCL, Utilities (new course on DFSORT) * Assembler, COBOL, PL/I, C * VSAM, DB2 * CICS, IMS * Debugging with this unusual hook: we are always current! Our courses support the latest versions of products at the time we teach a course, for example: * Our COBOL curriculum includes Unicode and XML support * Our Assembler curriculum includes HLASM 1.6 and the instructions introduced with the z10 machines In addition, we provide training on topics a little different from what you'll find anywhere else: * Language Environment (IBM recommends our LE courses, see this link: http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/zos/le/assist/education/ed ucate.html * InterLanguage Communication (how to work with applications that combine programs written in many languages) * z/OS UNIX, including hosting a web site on your mainframe using the free web server that comes with z/OS * We are the only company providing training for DFSORT / ICETOOL and IBM recommends our course for this (see http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=isg3T7000082 and go down to the bullet on Training * Linux on z * Our most recent courses: + DB2: Greatest Hits - V8 and V9 highlights for applications programmers + Coding z/OS CGIs in COBOL - use your COBOL programmers to do web stuff on z/OS, without WebSphere ------------------- Delivery ----------------------------- We offer a variety of training delivery methods: * Instructor led on your site * Self study with a mentor (Remote Contact Training) * Road shows (lecture only, labs optional; faster and cheaper) * Half day scheduling tricks (ties up students for just half time each day, allowing them to keep up with work) * License our materials for use by your instructors * Development of courses to meet your specs ----------------- Other Resources ------------------------ We provide a variety of _free technical papers_ on our website (no registration, no strings) We also have available _programmer toolkits_, which are collections of working programs along with the procedures to set up libraries, compile, and run, programs written in Assembler, COBOL, PL/I, and C, along with sample data to test with. A small collection of Very Short Presentations (8 pages or less each) on a variety of current topics) ----------------- Pricing approach --------------------- Our quality is top notch and our prices are very competitive, even to local sources (we _include_ instructor travel and living expenses in our instructor led course prices). Our pricing structure is simple, and the same for all courses. ----------------- SHARE in Denver ----------------------- The next SHARE conference is in Denver - and so are we! SHARE is IBM's premier mainframe user event, held twice annually. This August the conference is in on our home ground, and we'll be there. Specifically, two of our instructors and course authors are presenting sessions: Steve Comstock Session 2238: "z/OS Control Blocks for Beginners" Thursday August 27, 09:30 Session 1214: "Doing Packed Decimal Arithmetic in Assembler" Thursday August 27, 15:00 Hunter Cobb Session 6142: "DB2 LOBs - A Practical Application" Thursday August 27, 13:30 Session 6152: "XML in DB2 9 for z/OS: Overview" Friday August 28, 11:00 If any of your people will be attending SHARE in Denver, suggest they attend one or more of our sessions; come by and meet us. Check out our presentation style. Learn new skills. Ask them to introduce themselves so we don't miss them. ----------------- The Players --------------------------- Here are the major players at The Trainer's Friend: http://www.trainersfriend.com/ThePlayers.htm --------------------------------------------------------- We can train new hires as well as upgrade skills of your experienced people. We love being creative and responsive, so toss some suggestions at us, or let us know your needs and we will see how we can meet them. Kind regards, -Steve Comstock The Trainer's Friend, Inc. 303-393-8716 http://www.trainersfriend.com z/OS Application development made easier * Our classes include + How things work + Programming examples with realistic applications + Starter / skeleton code + Complete working programs + Useful utilities and subroutines + Tips and techniques ==> Ask about being added to our opt-in list: <== ==> * Early announcement of new courses <== ==> * Early announcement of new techincal papers <== ==> * Early announcement of new promotions <== ----------------------------------------- This email transmission and any accompanying attachments may contain CSX privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the intended addressee. Any dissemination, distribution, copying or action taken in reliance on the contents of this email by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please immediately delete it and notify sender at the above CSX email address. Sender and CSX accept no liability for any damage caused directly or indirectly by receipt of this email. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@bama.ua.edu with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
