Bio

I have made a living in a variety of non-technical occupations prior to settling into professional communication and design. I’ve been a waiter, bartender, model, finish carpenter, painter, bouncer, and teak varnisher on fine sailing yachts. I look back on those days, and most of those skills, with fondness, particularly the finishing crafts which were very rewarding and zen. I’ve also done a couple of things I’d rather forget, but character-building they were.

Professional Background

My professional interests began in marine science years ago, with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Ecology from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of Environmental Science. This lead to working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for several years in Seattle at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), which, though in Seattle, was focused on ocean studies in Alaskan territorial waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. I was never a researcher myself, but worked with some brilliant people, supporting their research studies with information technology and Geographical Information System (GIS) services. I’ve spent considerable time in the Bering Sea aboard a variety of ships, doing and seeing remarkable things that I really need to write about someday.

The tide turned for me when I took a webmaster position at NOAA. I was already doing a lot of data analysis and reporting, and the whole web communication process became of great interest to me. I understood well the scientific process and it’s associated style of communication (the scientific article), but I was attracted by other communication styles and mediums. At the same time, web standards and accessibility entered the picture thanks to a very significant book at the time, and the Section 508 requirements for federal web sites. I quickly learned implementing good web design involves more than just knowing how to code and write, it also takes cooperation from many stakeholders, thus business, rhetoric and theory are keys to professional growth too.

Needing web communication theory as much as practice, I doubled-up my daily activities and finished a Masters of Science in Technical Communication while working near full-time. That was a time-management challenge for sure. I studied at the University of Washington’s fantastic Department of Technical Communication, and emphasized in user-centered design (good writing was par for the course).

Life After the Government

Armed with new understanding, refueled with purpose, and anticipating a move to France with no job waiting, I established myself for a time as a freelance Web designer until integrating abroad. The freelancing is over, much to my wife’s relief. Following that I worked for two years as a web project manager and ergonomics specialist for an IT services company in Strasbourg. I’m now looking for my next experience in the European market, or anywhere in the world, actually, if distance work is allowed.

Photo? Perhaps.