John Gaarsoe
About John Gaarsoe
John Gaarsoe is a Senior Oracle Database Engineer at Overstock.com, where he has worked since 2017. He has extensive experience in database administration and engineering, having previously held positions at HealthCare Insight, Anthem, Inc., and Convergys.
Work at Overstock
John Gaarsoe has been employed at Overstock.com as a Senior Oracle Database Engineer since 2017. In this role, he is responsible for managing and optimizing Oracle databases, ensuring high availability and performance. His work contributes to the overall efficiency of Overstock's database systems, supporting the company's e-commerce platform. Gaarsoe's expertise in database engineering plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and reliability of data across various applications within the organization.
Education and Expertise
John Gaarsoe studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Brigham Young University. He also pursued a Bachelor of Science in Accounting at the University of Utah. His educational background provides a strong foundation in both technical and analytical skills, which he applies in his role as a Senior Oracle Database Engineer. Gaarsoe's expertise includes database administration, performance tuning, and scripting for automation, making him proficient in managing complex database environments.
Background in Database Administration
Before joining Overstock, John Gaarsoe held several positions in database administration. He worked at HealthCare Insight as a Senior Oracle DBA from 2007 to 2010, followed by a role at Anthem, Inc. as an Oracle Database Administrator Senior Advisor from 2010 to 2017. His experience includes managing Exadata Database Machines and leading significant upgrades of database systems. Gaarsoe also worked at Convergys as a Senior Oracle DBA for one year, further solidifying his expertise in the field.
Technical Contributions and Projects
John Gaarsoe has developed a web-based scripting tool using Java and HTML to automate database monitoring and management tasks. This tool enhances SQL performance tuning by generating SQL baselines and profiles. He has also authored shell scripts and Java programs to process operating system logs and database metrics for audit report generation. Additionally, Gaarsoe led the upgrade of all test, development, and production servers from Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.5 to 7.8, ensuring comprehensive system documentation throughout the process.
Support for Cloud Environments
In his previous roles, John Gaarsoe supported a complex internal cloud environment that allowed developers to access fully replicated copies of production databases, refreshed weekly. This support was essential for maintaining development workflows and ensuring that developers had access to up-to-date data for testing and application development. His contributions to cloud database management demonstrate his ability to enhance operational efficiency within database systems.