About
Some questions I get about this portfolio (and some answers).
Why isn't your name listed on the main page?
There's no mysterious purpose; it's just to keep search engines and spammers at bay. You can see my name and contact information by by clicking on the "resume" link over on the right.
Why put your portfolio here instead of on one of the typical portfolio hosting sites (like Behance, Carbonmade, or Crevado)?
I thought it would be better (and more fun) to create my own little site and host what I want free of ads, and without forcing people to create yet another account somewhere, sign in, etc.
It's also a way to showcase some of my HTML/CSS, and AWS skills in a more direct way. I built this site, sourced all of the images, and wrote the content. It's currently running out of an Amazon Web Services S3 bucket. It's nothing fancy but it gets the job done.
So who are you, and what do you do?
I'm a pretty ordinary guy, originally from the east coast but I've been living in the Pacific Northwest since about 1980 or so. I feel fortunate to have ended up here, it's a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and enjoy the outdoors.
I started out working with scientific instruments, installing and servicing equipment like electron microscopes, x-ray analyzers, plasma coating gear, and other research-related tools. I worked with scientists and investigators to help them discover new things and develop new processes and technologies. I often wound up writing guides and other documentation about these processes to help people use the research results.
Okay, so how did you end up in tech writing from a career in scientific equipment?
I found I enjoyed writing technical documentation and so I took courses in tech writing. I like being able to help others express concepts and directions clearly, and if I do say so myself, I'm not half bad at it. :)
I've written documentation for a variety of companies and clients, including Boeing, Microsoft, AT&T, Xerox, Alaska Airlines, Intermec, Fluke, and many others, learning and picking up various bits of knowledge along the way.
I think it's fair to say that my hardware background gives me an edge in a lot of the writing I do since I'm familiar with a wide range manufacturing and industrial processes- everything from integrated circuit fabrication to aircraft construction.
I hope this answers any questions you may have, but if not, you're always welcome to contact me. My phone and email address can be found in my resume.