Me

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Originally from upstate New York (Watervliet, to be precise), I ventured west after completing my graduate degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. At that point, I'd never traveled west of Pennsylvania, never flew on a plane, and never had sushi. 

I didn't want my life to be a series of "nevers" so I accepted a position at a software company in a suburb of Portland, OR. Since then, I've worked at software companies in Oregon, New York, Montana, Vermont, and Washington, but I've also...

• Attended so many concerts (Dave Brubeck, Stefon Harris, Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, Damien Rice, Dido, Cher, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Soundgarden, etc.) that I no longer have the ticket stubs; I just have the memories
• Drove a UTV through the Blue Mountains of Iceland
• Kissed the Blarney Stone
• Lit fireworks legally purchased with a fireworks license (for a show that rivaled most small towns)
• Made it to the local (Seattle) Jeopardy! tryouts; not only am I a "word nerd" - but a Jeopardy! fan. No one will ever replace Alex, but my love of the game remains.
• Swam under a waterfall in Maui
• Swam with turtles in Curacao
• Visited an underground cave and rode Icelandic horses
• Visited many national parks with the Badlands and Yellowstone being two of my favorites
• Wrote and recited (on-the-spot) a poem at a local celebration on Robert Burns Day

I am trying to showcase my work and my personality - me, the individual, not just the tech writer. 

I admit I'm a very nervous interviewee, so I sometimes fumble when trying to articulate my talent, skills, and experience. My work speaks for itself as do recommendations from former colleagues. However, I wanted to create a place I could point to, as most of my past work is proprietary.

I chose tech writing because I've always loved science, technology, and the written word. In addition, my love of science and technology, reading, writing, music, and the arts provide the extra spices to my recipe for success in tech writing.

Be curious...always.

When I was younger, I relentlessly searched for the answer in books if I didn't know the answer to a question. Even with age, that quest, that thirst for knowledge remains unquenched. 

I will never stop learning, doing, and trying.