I started in this industry in 1987 - I had a PC XT running at 10 mhz, with a 20 MB hard drive, and a Turbo-C Compiler. I thought I was in heaven.
Like many back in those days, I built a few database applications with dBase III Plus. And then FoxPro 1.0 came out in October 1989 - and just like everyone else who used this awesome tool, I didn't know if I was coming or going. A year later I won an award from the Department of Agriculture for a FoxPro database app that I wrote in 1990. I felt then (and still feel today) that even if I won the lottery and became a millionaire, I'd still work in this industry for free - I love the work that much!!!
Since the "early days", I've used Visual FoxPro, C, C++, .NET/C#, SQL Server, and Crystal Reports to build applications in a variety of industries ( such as health care, advertising, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, insurance, retail, real estate, medical).
In 2004 I started writing for CoDe Magazine, and published a regular column called "The Baker's Dozen Productivity Tips Series". Each column presented 13 tips on different areas of .NET and SQL Server Development. I wrote the column for 4 years, and stopped in the summer of 2008 when job and personal life demands had to take priority. At some point in the future I hope to resume writing for a software magazine again.
In 2005 I began speaking at different community events (.NET and SQL Server User Groups, MSDN CodeCamp Events, and a few commercial conferences). In January 2005 Microsoft awarded me Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) status for my work in the software community, and I've received the MVP award every year since then.
I've also been involved in two books. In 2006, I wrote all but two chapters of Pro VS Reporting with SQL Server and Crystal Reports. In 2008 I contributed two chapters to an MS Press book, Smart Business Intelligence Solutions with SQL Server 2008.
Every once in a great while, a speaking event or presentation can lead to something huge. In the summer of 2006 I did some user group presentations for the Northern New Jersey SQL Server and .NET User Groups in Parsippany, New Jersey. The events were (and continue to be) hosted by SetFocus, LLC , a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner for Learning Solutions. Shortly afterwards, I begin talking to some of the SetFocus principals about writing some courseware and training for them.
And the rest, so they say, is history. I've began working with them in 2007 and have had a major hand in building and growing their Business Intelligence Master's Program. While I still do contract database development/programming work on the side, I spend most of my time as a full-time contract trainer and courseware author for SetFocus. As a teenager and as a college student, I wanted to be a teacher - so in many ways, I'm able to leverage my 2 decades in the software industry towards teaching. And to this day, even if I won the lottery, I'd still put in every hour that I put in now.
My wife Gwen and I had our first baby (Katy) on May 8, 2009, after many years of trying. Being a daddy is the greatest feeling in the world. So I consider myself extremely fortunate - happily married, a beautiful baby daughter, and a great career.
When I'm not working or spending time with Gwen and Katy, I'm either listening to jazz or watching/playing sports...and once in a great while enjoying Guinness and onion rings and pizza with my brother/friends (and hitting the treadmill afterwards!)
Finally, I must be a glutton for punishment. Even realizing how much effort goes into writing a book, I am writing a third book, on building Business Intelligence solutions. I'll post more information on my blog very soon - right now the plan is for the book to be out in the August/September timeframe in 2010.
I heard a great quote the other day - Life doesn't need to be perfect...it just needs to be lived!