I’ve worked with Van on a number of different projects over the years and simply put, his experience and
expertise are always KEY to a project’s success. I am continually impressed by his ability to synthesize
complex problems into a straight-forward plan for success and customer satisfaction. If you need results,
Van produces them. It’s been my pleasure working with Van and I hope to continue our association well
into the future.
Scott Evans
Computer Scientist - Madigan Army Medical Center and owner of Fanbird Technologies LLC
Information systems and their associated technologies are synonymous with the business rules and processes
used to create and support products and/or services. Using technology to automate business activities means
repeatable accurate performance, significant reduction in product or service flow times, as well as adherence
to business rules and audit compliance.
Today many companies purchase off-the-shelf applications that advertise complete fulfillment of their business
needs. The underlying auditable business system rules and processes often become a black hole blocking
business management and improvements without third-party assistance.
The international Fortune 500 Company for which I worked for over 30 years had thousands of in-house developed,
and off-the-shelf applications and systems that spanned a wide variety of proprietary technologies. Policies,
procedures, processes, and business rule compliance were almost impossible to audit.
A large portion of my IT career was spent managing teams of employees and contractors to reverse engineer
and consolidate systems, reducing the number of applications, and providing a common not proprietary infrastructure.
I worked with Van Chesnutt on several major projects where he provided exceptional professional consulting
experience. He worked with us to analyze business needs and requirements, and provided options for business
and technical process improvements. Mr. Chesnutt also worked with us to engineer improved fully documented
processes with auditable business rules.
Mr. Chesnutt has a proven track record in the areas of systems engineering, system and information architecture,
and program and project management. Van also worked with our application development and coding programmers to
deliver auditable, secure, intuitive systems and/or applications.
I highly recommend the professional services of Mr. Chesnutt and his team at Means To An End, Incorporated.
Lynne M. Black Jr.
Manager, Information Systems & Technology
The Boeing Company
I have worked with Van Chesnutt at Means to an End for over a year and a half. My company, NPC Research,
contracted with Van for his skills as web developer on a .net web database and cost tool for a statewide
research project taking place in California. Van has proved to be extremely knowledgeable about web development
and is not only technically proficient but also able to explain it us (people with little to no knowledge of
web development/programming) in ways that we can easily understand. He communicates well, keeps us updated
about his progress and is consistently responsive to our questions, concerns and requests. He is clear about
what tasks are difficult and will take longer and what tasks are quick and easy. He gives solid estimates
about the time specific tasks will take and has always been either on time or early in completing them. He
is honest and straightforward about what he can do, and is quick to find solutions to any new requests.
Van is responsive to feedback and always willing to adjust the product to get us exactly what we want. He
also makes a point of understanding the goal of the project and will take the initiative in discovering
new and better ways to get things done, including putting in the little touches that make the final
deliverable really come together in a clean, professional product.
Van is a true pleasure to work with. He is a professional that produces quality products. He’s also got a
great sense of humor and clearly cares about his work. I look forward to continuing to work with him and
recommend him highly.
Shannon Carey
Senior Research Associate, Project Director
NPC Research
I worked with Mr. Chesnutt on a 5 year systems conversion effort at a major Seattle research institution.
In my role as computer support services manager for a research division, I had ample opportunity to observe
his ability to translate client requirements and expectations into realistic process improvements. I relied
upon Van to dig into the first requirements statement to find the real kernals of process redesign that would
drive the systems re-architecture effort.
He has excellent client relationship skills and listens acutely to understand the process implications of
requests. He is also able to communicate technical solutions easily to clients.
I recommend him highly.
Gail Christianer
Computer Support Services Manager (retired)
Public Health Sciences Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
During the development of PTI's Tracking Station software, there was little time to work on training
let alone marketing solutions to stimulate awareness. MTAE came to our rescue with ideas and the
technical ability to work efficiently with our development staff to come up with solutions that
were effective and which did not unduly interrupt critical development process.
We were especially appreciative of the work you did to produce course work for an on-site class.
The course that you developed became the basis for our on-going series that was conducted at Air
Force sites around the world. It also was instrumental in the development of integrated “Help”
and training that became a standard feature of our software deliverables.
Van Chesnutt (MTAE) also took the lead for us in the development of our first “professional”
website. Customers were expecting to be able to go to a PTI website for information and help.
Until Van became involved, we had nothing that could satisfactorily satisfy that need.
Besides creating a site that looked professional, presented our company and our products
effectively, you were able to incorporate materials you had developed for training. The result
was that we were able to more quickly close sales, and could more cost effectively deliver
information and training to existing users.
We greatly appreciate the efforts made by the MTAE staff.
Richard Longstreth
President/CEO