My Background

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I have always been fascinated with Emerging Technologies.  This, above anything else, has driven my career to where it is today.

I started at UC Davis as a Mechanical Engineering major, but quickly changed to Information Technology when my Computer Science roommates recruited me to help them build the largest Bulletin Board System on the West Coast (BBS) out of our apartment.  This was far before the Internet allowed the free exchange of data.

I still firmly believe that you can not have a real opinion about a technology unless you have attempted to use this technology in a real setting.   This is why I am constantly learning.  Some say that as you move up the ladder, it is too hard to do this...that there are others that do this for you.  I disagree.  This learning has given me the insight to make decisions I would have never been able to had I just relied on other opinions.  

I began my career as a Junior Network Engineer, but this quickly changed as requirements from major Customers pushed me in different directions.  It was not long before I became involved in multi-site deployments and complex integration projects.

Running a business is not about implementing a collection of best technologies out there in the hopes they will work together.  Running a business is about using the right technologies for the right applications with the requirement that they all work together to fulfill your requirements.  

I did not pursue a career in technology management.  I was asked to move into Management pretty early in my career.  This stemmed from an ability to communicate well between my technical peers and my Customers.  I have always had the ability to explain complex technology in ways people can understand and relate to.  I have managed large teams (100+) and small teams (10-20) and have enjoyed both.  

I also have taken my strong belief in learning and applied that to teaching.  This includes my peers, Customers, and Partners.  Everyone works better together and towards a common goal when they better understand what they are supposed to be doing.  I have orchestrated large national training programs as well as internal technical development programs that grow teams and their ability to deliver.  The more your Team, Partners, and Customers know, the more they can contribute to their own direction.  

I became involved in product engineering and development out of necessity.  There is nothing more frustrating than representing something that your Customer does not want or need.  Worse yet...that they will not buy.  

Product Managers and Engineers often do not have the ability to meet with Customers (staged panels and surveys are not the same).  Customers and Partners share things with their Technology Leaders that they will not feed back into the loop of Product Management.  Because of this, it never really gets back to Product Development.  I believe there is no one better to feed that information back to Product than the engineers on the front lines.  Of course, there are limitations based on solid strategy...but there is no happier Customer or Partner than one that has received an update or accommodation specifically based on one of their requirements.  

I have always been drawn to Public Sector work and Partnerships.  Throughout my career, I have worked for Companies that work directly with Government and this has  made me an expert at dealing with the issues that are unique to Public Sector solutions. Security, Compliance, Contracting and Procurement, and Public/Private partnerships have all become the foundation of my expertise.  Cloud First initiatives have also made things challenging as most Government Agencies have no idea what it takes to move to the Cloud (or even what that truly means).  I also have deep experience implementing HIPAA and CJIS compliant environments, as well as the standard FISMA and FedRAMP requirements.  

Entrepreneurship is not just defined to starting your own businesses based on your own unique idea.  It also applies to taking ownership of your projects and treating them like your own.  I have always taken this entrepreneurial ownership seriously whether I am working my own business or working for my Customers and Partners.

I think this approach always leads to needing a creative outlet for your own designs and I think this is what drove me to branch out on my own.  There is very little risk if you are confident you will succeed.