Current Employment

I work for the Pittsburgh branch of Abreon and am based with a client in Philadelphia (don't ask... it's a long story... read the Location page if you really wanna know).  I was sent to Philadelphia in January of 1997 as part of a five-week assignment.  I was promised it wouldn't even go THAT long.  Now I live here..... you figure it out. 

I currently hold the title of Information Services Training Manager at the client site where I work.  Formerly I was the Senior Analyst in the help desk.  My expertise is primarily with the Microsoft Office products.  I teach classes in Windows, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visio, and anything else I get asked to learn.  I manage the IS training program, write and revise documentation, serve as second-level support for the help desk on Office issues, and often get dragged into the help desk to answer phone calls when there isn't enough staff.

The picture at the left is my cubicle.  Yes, there is a Tigger in the background.  I took this picture and a few other for some publicity stuff at work.  Hence the whole cheesy pose and the "looking like I'm working thing".

I am a Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor in Office 97, Office 2000, and Office XP.  I'll probably start working on getting certified in Office 2003 soon, since Office 2007 is already out.  I am also a Microsoft Certified Professional in Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, though nowadays that doesn't mean much.

I really like my job and what I do -- which is something I feel that is really important.  I've often been told I could probably be making a lot more money at other places, but I'm comfortable with what I have achieved so far, and I'm a firm believer in "slow and steady wins the race."
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Past Jobs and Employers

McD's was the job I had whenever I came home from college on a break.  I actually have lots of fond memories of working at McD's.  I was on the night crew, and the people that I worked with on closes became my summer friends.
 

Unfortunately, I was only able to work there for about 4 months.  As much as I loved it, it didn't pay well, and there weren't a lot of hours.  When a better job came along that was full-time, I regretfully had to go.
 

I finally had my chance to be a DJ there in Spring of '94.  I worked the weekend overnight shift -- the graveyard shift was more like it.  It was certainly an interesting job, and I wouldn't mind doing it again. 
 

You can also check out the Pictures - Camp page to see some of my LMC adventures. 
 

As much as I loved the job, I got really stupid and did some things on the network that I shouldn't.  Needless to say, I got caught, and I was fired.  My supervisor hated to let me go, but corporate policy had to be followed.  I understood that and it was an important lesson I learned the hard way.

Of course... that's not to say I don't still mess around to this day... :-) 
 

• Mowing lawns (BORING) 
• Grocery store clerk (lots of white trash)
• Utility clerk for a membership warehouse (getting shopping carts in the snow and rain? NOT!)
• Therapeutic support for a children's home (stress from hell)