Biographical Information and Resume

Where I've Been and How I Got Here

A Little About Myself

I am the father of two cute, very special girls, Katie and Jenny (also two older boys, Mike and Dan, from a previous marriage). I consider myself a lover of knowledge and learning, especially topics in the field of Science!

Where I Live

Since late November 2006, I have been living with my best friend in the lovely, seaport town of South Harpswell, Maine and I have enjoyed all that Harpswell has to offer! If you like lobster, you've come to the right place! Before moving to Harpswell, I lived for a couple years in Westbrook and before THAT, I lived in the quaint, seaside village of Old Orchard Beach! I missed living so close to the ocean, when I was in O.O.B., so it's nice being really close to the water again! There is certainly a LOT of history in Harpswell! In fact, the town of Harpswell is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year! Previously, I lived in the burgeoning town of Scarborough, for nearly five years. Before that, I lived in a "great little town by the Bay," founded in 1632, namely, Portland, Maine. Portland really IS "a lot of fun for a little city" and just a wonderful place to visit!

What I do for a Living

Currently, I am employed as a Software Support Specialist here at USM, in Software Support, which is part of IT User Services. I started out in June 1995 as a Microcomputer Specialist in the University Computing Technologies department, before "officially" assuming my new position in February 1996. I also work part-time at two places, both involved in the antiques/auction business. The first one is Cyr Auction and the other one is PLD Auctions, Inc. Working in the antiques business has really been an eye-opening, profitable and FUN learning experience!

It's been a really wild ride since moving to Maine from Colorado (a great place to visit, with lots of activities and cultural events to keep you busy), back in 1981. However, I must admit that I'm glad my former wife is from Maine (or, as it says on our license plates, "Vacationland") and not some boring, Midwestern state (you know . . . brutal winters, no mountains, hot, sticky summers and NO OCEAN)! Please disregard the previous sentence if you're from Kansas, South Dakota, or Oklahoma, etc.! Actually, I speak from experience, since BOTH of my parents are originally from Nebraska, and I really used to hate visiting relatives there, when I was growing up in Lakewood, Colorado, especially in the middle of SUMMER!

Anyway, I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder (a GREAT college town) for five semesters ('76-'78) and thought I wanted to be a professional astronomer. Well, I quickly learned that majoring in Astrophysics wasn't all it was cracked up to be! I ended up dropping out due mostly to a couple serious neck and back injuries, and decided not to return, after taking a semester off to recover. Instead, I decided to get into the field of electronics and went to a vocational school in the "Mile-High City" of Denver. After acquiring a couple certificates in Electronics Technology, I left my job in Denver (repairing calculators, etc., as an Electronics Technician) and headed for Maine.

I ended up working at a place called Lopez & Church, as an "Electronics Technician" and later, the "PC Systems Coordinator." I stayed there almost nine years, before leaving for a local computer dealer called Harper Connecting Point. The recession was kicking in, and since I was the most recently hired computer technician (a.k.a. "Field Service Engineer"), I was in the first group of ten to be laid off in late 1990. Oh, well. At least I was there long enough to get authorized training on IBM, Hewlett-Packard/COMPAQ, Epson, and, of course, Apple computers! Anyway, I started my own consulting business (I know, I know! It seems EVERYONE who is temporarily "between jobs," is a "consultant!"), called ComputerWorks and stuck it out full time for just over one year. Eventually, I accepted an offer for a position as a "Systems Technician" from Coastal Computer in early '92 and managed to survive all their bullshit, until leaving for USM in June 1995.

So far, my association with the University has been wonderful for my family and me and I hope to make this a lifelong relationship! It certainly has been a refreshing change of pace and it's really nice to be back in an "academic environment" again. Initially, I was admitted to the School of Business, majoring in Business Administration, but eventually switched to the School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology and enrolled in a very interesting degree program called Applied Technical Leadership, which is offered by the Department of Technology. I even transferred all my credits from CU in Boulder, Westbrook College and Husson College, and finally, "officially" graduated in May 2000 from USM (I "marched" in May 1998, but still needed to complete my Portfolio Assessment and also had one class left to take, which I wasn't able to finish until December 1999)! Anyway, after taking several MBA "foundation" courses and preparing to apply for admission to the MBA program here at USM, I decided to take a break for a while and have gone back to taking computer-oriented technology classes in the Department of Technology here at USM, which have been quite challenging, yet very rewarding.

Hobbies and Other Interests

Well, as far as hobbies go, I've been "into" computers and electronics for well over twenty years, but my original, "true love" has always been astronomy! Actually, I have SO MANY other hobbies and interests, that I think it would be best not to bore you anymore than I already have and just say that I'm interested in "EVERYTHING!" Unfortunately, as with most everyone else, I simply don't have as much time to devote to my favorite hobbies as I would like, since I've really been kept busy by taking one or two classes each semester and working full-time here at USM, consulting part-time and of course, raising a family! Oh, well. That's what keeps life interesting, and frustrating, all at the same time; trying to get an infinite number of things accomplished in a finite amount of time! Currently, due to my hectic schedule, my latest hobby has pretty much been reduced to this!

I just wanted to throw in another one of my favorite deep space photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope, or some other astronomical object currently attracting attention. I will update the photos often, so you can see why I find astronomy so intriguing! For your fascinating Astronomy Picture of the Day, click here and discover the cosmos yourself! BTW, we have a wonderful Planetarium, here at USM that is truly exceptional, offering astronomy and laser light shows, among other stimulating and interesting diversions!

After its seven-year journey through the Solar System on board the Cassini spacecraft, ESA's Huygens probe has successfully descended through the atmosphere of Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and safely landed on its surface. Huygens is mankind's first successful attempt to land a probe on another a world in the outer Solar System.

STARDUST Spacecraft Encounter with Comet 81P/Wild-2 in 2006!

Last updated on 2/4/2008