My Life Story - the Short Version

I'm a practicing information technology professional and photographer, the father of 3 fine looking boys, George, years old and Isaac, years old and Cameron, years old. My wife Dorothy, is a registered nurse and holds a baccalaureate degree in psychology from the University of Manitoba as well as numerous certifications and honors in the medical field, most recently CEN (Certified Emergency Nursing).

I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I grew up in Winnipeg and Springstein, Manitoba and attended public schools in the area, Springstein School (no longer standing), Lincoln School, Beaumont School, Westdale School and École Secondaire Oak Park High.

I joined the Canadian military soon after high school. I served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a communications (radio) technician (MOC 221), specializing in computer repair and user support (hardware and software), aviation related electronics (navigational aids, communications, avionics and meteorology). I spent my early career serving in land force (army) units, Base Maintenance Land (1st line), Combat Training Centre, Gagetown, New Brunswick and 1 Service Battalion, Calgary, Alberta where my primary roles involved land based military electronics. My last two postings were air force, Canadian Forces Base Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (now Southport Aerospace Centre) and 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. In addition to electronics, I enjoyed many interesting secondary duties, such as unit photographer, airborne search and rescue observer and military police adjunct. During my time in the military, I found time to do degree work at the University of Manitoba as well as numerous courses at Loyalist College, Transport Canada Training Institute (TCTI) and the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics Engineering (CFSCEE) in Kingston Ontario. At the time I completed my military service, I was in charge of a communications electronics repair section.

After that, I moved my family to Bradenton, Florida, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Manatee County. I am a graduate of Manatee Community College (Associate in Arts, Information Systems) in Bradenton. I received my BSIS from the University of South Florida, Tampa, College of Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering department, in the Information Systems program with an equal emphasis on Computer Engineering/Hardware. After graduating at USF, I worked for Accenture in a number of programming roles, most recently as a senior web developer. Other roles at Accenture include technical architect, tool developer and a CIS application developer. Currently, I work for Home Shopping Network as a software engineer doing back end process development on the hsn.com web site.

Over the past 40 something years of life, I've developed a large number of interests. By vocation, I am a technical person, having worked in electronics and computers for all of my adult life. I love learning new things, and the world of technology requires just that mindset. Technically speaking, I tend to be brand agnostic, with my work life solidly in the commercial/Microsoft world, at the same time working actively with Linux and open source software whenever, wherever and however I can. I also enjoy the creative and cerebral side of life. Photography is probably my number one creative activity, with the hobby gradually transforming into a sideline for me. I am an avid reader, mostly science fiction, but also classical literature, philosophy, history and hard science. Music is a big part of my life, both as a listener/connoisseur of many genres and as an amateur guitar player. I also spend a lot of time learning about and dealing with autism, ADHD/ADD and related disorders, all of which have touched my family.