Early:
I was born in a medium-sized city in Iowa, where I grew up. From a very young age I have enjoyed taking complicated things apart and understanding how they work. I became interested in electronics and computers around 6 or 7, and began seriously programming when I was 9. I wrote software during my junior high school years that businesses and individuals still use today. When I was in high school I successfully built a 16-bit ISA sound card for the PC, and wrote a popular graphical morphing utility.

High School:
I became interested in psychology in junior high school, and since then the passion for learning about people has not left me. I continued my rudimentary information-gathering and began analyzing and generating theories in high school. I also had the pleasure of sharpening my vocal music skills under the direction of a talented and inspiring person. During my four years of high school, I was in Madrigal Choir, Concert Choir, two Show Choirs, Jazz Choir, and numerous Men's Choirs. I was selected to perform in the Iowa All State Choir for two consecutive years. These experiences taught me the value of constant effort and improvement, and the potential fruits of this work.

College:
After graduating high school in 1994, I went to a university in Iowa where I studied engineering. After 5 years I received a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering. In addition to my engineering curriculum, I attended numerous psychology, philosophy, and religion classes. However, most of my time in college was spent in non school-related learning activities. I discovered the internet, surfed the web, explored the campus, took wild road trips to far-off destinations, and learned about human relationships. I spent as much time as possible with my friends, who were mostly loving and supportive of each other. We spent many a late night discussing and learning about life together.

Career:
In the past I have explored many areas of technology, and I have had the pleasure to learn and work with great people in several different companies: Motorola, Rockwell, IBM, Norand (Intermec), and Texas Instruments. I am currently working as a systems engineer with a great group of people here in Texas. The company that we work for is an engineering and manufacturing organization; we make automated semiconductor visual inspection equipment. It's fun, because I get to design and work on machines that sell for more money than most houses.

Recreation:
At the age of 5, I fell in love with snow skiing. There's just something about hurtling down the side of a mountain at ridiculous speeds with only a couple of pieces of plastic keeping me from face-plainting in the snow that puts a smile on my face. I have skied at Winter Park, Vail, Loveland, Keystone, Afton Alps (Minnesota), Sundown (Iowa), and Chestnut Mountain (Illinois). Though snow skiing is my true love, I learned to water ski in the Rochester Waterski Show Team in Rochester, MN. That was crazy fun. I also enjoy camping, backpacking, rock climbing, and racing. When wasting time indoors, I like to watch movies and read books.