I’m a software developer and project manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve spent more than three decades building software, leading projects, teaching developers, and writing about technology.
Professional Life#
I started my career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in 1988, fresh out of DeVry Institute of Technology with a degree in Computer Information Systems. The Fed was a great place to learn — rigorous, stable, and full of smart people — but after seven years I wanted to be challenged more.
I moved into technical training at Empower Trainers & Consultants, where I discovered how much I loved teaching. Helping people genuinely understand a concept, rather than just follow steps, is one of the most satisfying things I’ve done professionally. My student reviews confirmed I was doing something right.
From there I moved into consulting, working with a range of clients on SQL Server and Visual Basic projects. Eventually I landed as a Project Manager at KCX Inc., where I’ve combined my technical depth with my later graduate work in project management.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management (2001, GPA 3.85), a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from DeVry (1988, GPA 3.97), and 57 additional graduate hours in Psychology and Economics from UMKC (GPA 3.97). I’m also a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT).
I’ve co-authored three published books — two on Microsoft SQL Server 7 and one on network security. See the Books page for details.
What I Write About#
This blog covers the topics I find most interesting:
- Software Development — architecture, testing, project management, tooling, and the craft of building software well
- Economics — how markets work, incentives, public policy, and why economic thinking is useful for everyday life
- Science — scientific literacy, how we know what we know, and interesting ideas from across the disciplines
- Philosophy — ethics, meaning, epistemology, and the big questions that don’t have easy answers
- Politics — policy analysis and thinking clearly about political questions without losing perspective
Background#
I grew up in Deerfield, Kansas — a small town in the southwest corner of the state — where I first got hooked on computers through an Apple II+. I’ve been chasing that fascination ever since.