My very first contact with computer programming happened in my pre-teens while I was in middle-school. I sported a mullet haircut for some of these years (business in the front, party in the back). I had a dual-cassette boom box from which you would likely hear the Fat Boys blasting out some beat-boxing. The top radio hits during that time included Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, When Doves Cry by Prince, Jump by Van Halen, and Virgin by Madonna.

A friend of my family let me borrow his TRS-80 Model 3 and a book on Basic programming. This sweet setup had dual 5 1/4 floppy drives! I've always been musical and quickly found the commands to tell the computer to issue a tone from the speaker at a certain frequency. Using this knowledge, I created my very first program. It contained a simple menu (in DOS) that allowed the user to select one of 10 different classical pieces (i.e., Mozart Beethoven). Once selected, the program would play the major theme/tune from the selected piece.

These formative years began a lifelong love of computers and software engineering.

I married my wife after two years in our local junior college. We took a year off, and then both of us enrolled in the FSU School of Music. I spent a year as a Music Composition Major. When people would ask me what I intended to do with this degree, I had no real answer. I could hope to become as big as John Williams and write movies scores, or end up teaching music (which I really did not want to do).

I had always loved computers, so I decided to take a single computer course. It was an introduction to C++ programming... and I absolutely loved it! The next semester I transfered to a major in Computer Science. That semester I also began an internship with the State of Florida - Agency for Health Care Administration.

My very first task at AHCA was twofold. First, I created a Microsoft Frontpage 98 template so that internal users would be able to create content for the agency's intranet. Second, I educated various department heads on how to utilize the template and the best ways to produce web content.

Within six months I was offered full-time employment, and thus began my long Software Engineering career.

As my career progressed, I found myself exploring diverse opportunities that allowed me to deepen my expertise in software engineering while also developing a knack for problem-solving. Each new position brought unique challenges and learning experiences that honed my skills and shaped the professional I am today.

For over 15 years now, I've been privileged to serve as a Senior Software Engineer at Columbia Southern University, where I work at the intersection of technology and education. My contributions have ranged from streamlining the university's online infrastructure to designing user-friendly, secure platforms for tens of thousands of students and faculty members. One of my most rewarding projects involved developing a unified student portal, which not only enhanced the user experience but also cut support calls in half—an innovation that was as satisfying for the students as it was for the IT team.

Before CSU, I explored a variety of roles, each adding a new dimension to my technical repertoire. At Rogers Software Development, I played a key role in synchronizing data across thousands of international salons, and at Preferred Systems Solutions, I built tools for military command teams to manage their project funding efficiently. These roles taught me the value of creating solutions that are not only functional but also highly reliable under pressure.

Each experience reinforced my belief in the transformative power of well-crafted software solutions. From securing public websites to automating tedious processes and improving real-time data access, my work has always been about making people's lives easier and more productive.

Now, when I look back at my journey—from writing my first lines of BASIC code on a TRS-80 to leading large-scale technical projects—I see a consistent theme: a passion for solving complex problems with elegant, practical solutions. Every step has been a reminder of why I fell in love with programming all those years ago, and it continues to fuel my dedication to the craft.