About Us - The People:

Technical Team

David B. Cole - Lead Developer

Dave has owned and operated ColeSoft Marketing since 1988. He is the lead developer of the company's core product, the source level assembler debugger, z/XDC, which first came to market as DBC in 1980.

Dave has nearly 40 years of programming experience in MVS (and predecessor) systems. During his career, Dave has earned a reputation as an authority in his field.

In March 2007, Dave was featured in Technical Support Magazine’s “Mainframe Hall of Fame” series in the article "A Conversation with Dave Cole of ColeSoft Marketing", which was authored by Robert Shimizu.

If you have complex technical questions regarding our products, Dave will most likely become directly involved in their resolution.

Michael Lewis, Development Programmer, Technical Support

Michael is a second generation mainframer and literally grew up playing on raised floor. After his early tape-ring-war period, Michael went to college, got a wife, got a job, had kids, and taught himself various computer languages - including IBM assembler. Over the next 30 years, Michael worked for the government (EPA Office of Enforcement and the IRS), and in the private sector (IBM, EDS, Software AG, and several little companies that no longer exist). In that time, Michael designed and authored three commercial software packages that "made it out the door" - a patented IBM facility known as DNET, and Cole Software's own XDC/TFS and XDC/CDF. In his spare time, Michael plays piano (decent ragtime when his fingers were younger), and collects things (coins mostly, but other things too).

Frank Chu, Development Programmer, Technical Support

Frank Chu is a development programmer, one man IT department, and provides technical support to our customers. In addition, he is our head chef (and a talented one at that).

Frank considers his primary responsibilities at ColeSoft Marketing to "do as Dave says and make Dave happy", but he is quite good at taking care of the rest of us and our customers as well. Franks is our "go-to guy". If we need something, we go to Frank.

Robert Shimizu - Sales, Education, Technical Support

Bob has kept ColeSoft Marketing's existing customers happy, and been helping us find new ones, ever since Dave founded the company in 1988. "When ColeSoft Marketing opened formally it was two people, Dave, and I. Since then we've grown over 400%, we have nine (!)" says Bob. "We have a great team who collectively support the world's most sophisticated programmers."

From his Prescott , Arizona office, Bob is your "sales guy" and provides first level technical support, product training, and sets up trials of our product. "While I'm sometimes referred to as the "Director of Sales", I have no clear title here," says Bob. "I do all that I can to ensure that our customer's needs are addressed, and that ColeSoft Marketing's message is clearly transmitted out to the world."

Bob's background is in VM systems programming. That is how he came to understand the pressures under which systems people and software developers operate. He enjoys writing to, and speaking with customers. Being able to communicate with a clear voice is a challenge he enjoys.

If you need sales or training information, or require first level technical support, contact Bob. "I'm your "Ombudsman", he says. "Anything you need from our company, I will help you get." "If you have a usage-related question, or a problem to report, or want to find out what Dave's people are working on, I can get you an answer."

Administrative Team

Tamara Critzer - Comptroller

Tamara is our Comptroller. She works behind the scenes making sure all the bills get paid and all the tax laws get followed. Generally, she makes sure that the company stays solvent and that Dave stays undisturbed. (Dave just hates accounting. All he wants to do is write code!)

Wendie Wyant - Customer Support

If you have received a product package from us, or asked for documentation, or requested a new zap, or questioned an invoice, or inquired about any of a myriad of other details here at ColeSoft Marketing, you have spoken to Wendie. Wendie keep us somewhat organized. If any coding gets done around here, it is because Tamara and Wendie allow Dave the bit of peace and quiet he needs to keep z/XDC growing and improving!