About Me

For over 35 years, I have worked in organizations from small startups to Fortune 100 companies, including Dell and Apple. I primarily focused on customer support and software quality assurance, representing the average user in highly technical organizations. I am here to offer my experience as a consumer advocate in a highly technical corporate environment, to everyday people seeking objective guidance on living a low-maintenance, value-conscious digital life.

Biography

I got my knack for telecommunications from my father, who worked for “Ma Bell” from 1967 – 2000. At an early age I was taking apart telephones, speakerphones, and any electronics I could. In 1982, my elementary school got a classroom full of Apple IIe’s. I learned rudimentary programming using a geometric drawing language called Logo. My grandpa also started running an automotive service shop that year, where I learned how to service and maintain vehicles.

In 1986, in 8th grade, I wrote my Honors English term paper on a Commodore 64, using a word processor I had created myself. I was “the nerd” on our block, helping families with programming their VCRs, and installing and using their game consoles.

During high school, I helped businesses implement productivity apps for documents, spreadsheets, and databases, including my mother’s market research firm, and my uncle’s civil law firm. My father used his employee discount to purchase one of the 8086 PC’s that AT&T made for a few years; I used that computer to learn more about  productivity applications, and programming.

I attended Rice University for computer science from 1990 – 1992. From 1993 – 1995, I worked at Phonoscope cable, a locally owned fiber optic networking company that offered the first high-speed Internet access in Houston. In 1996, I worked a one-year contract for Arthur Anderson Litigation Information Consulting, where we were introducing the legal industry to OCR technology.

I moved to Austin in late 1996, at the height of the dot-com boom. I worked in software quality assurance for 7 years, representing the average customer in the software development environment.  In 2003 when the dot-com bubble burst, I started my own freelance consulting firm, where I began working with early smart home technology.  From 2005 – 2008, as a hobby I earned a degree in Automotive Technology from Austin Community College.

From 2009 – 2011, I worked in customer service for Dell’s SMB team. In 2012, I worked for Apple on the Mac tech support team. In 2013 I returned to Dell for a contract, which ended shortly before the company bought itself back private.

In 2014, I decided to leave behind corporate America, to become a full-time entrepreneur.  I also decided to study Exercise Science.  In 2016, I became a NASM certified personal trainer. In 2017, I completed an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Personal Fitness Training at Austin Community College.

I am a lifelong learner who is fascinated by the convergence of technology and wellness.  I can also help you select home exercise equipment and fitness trackers to suit your budget and needs.