Surprisingly, that's not as easy as it might sound - and not just because my nephew is a really smart kid.

Fixer

In the simplest possible terms, what I do is fix things. I do that from the basis of my background as a trained and licensed engineer with 28 years of experience across a wide and varied set of projects. The best part of my working life and job is applying that - the technical training and experience - to the puzzles inherent to each project.

Over the course of my career, I have known many smart people. People who understand the deep and detailed. People who know codes and regulations and can quote them chapter and verse. People who are focused on the specific and the particular.

I've noticed that often as not these people are very good at sorting out the small (and necessary) bits of projects. But just as often they don't see the bigger issue, the linkage between the details of a system and the realities of its use, operation, or impact on a broader scale.

My job then is to fix that. To find a solution that links my understanding of engineering and construction to my belief that every system must be looked at for the value it creates and the effect it has on the people who use it.

Brief Bio

I am a native of Seattle, Washington. My professional career began with illustrating artifacts and making maps for local archeologists studying the pre-contact Coast Salish Native American community. After that, I worked as a draftsman for a local cable TV company, which in turn led to an interest in electrical engineering.

I call this my decibel phase.

I took my degree in electronic engineering technology (with side trips into graphic design and cultural anthropology), and have worked in the design, engineering, construction and consulting industry for over 28 years. My emphasis and expertise are in telecommunications, technology, and security and safety systems.

I am also the author of nine books, one or two of which actually sold moderately well, as well as numerous articles. I speak a little French, Swahili, and Mandarin, all at the fluency level of a rather slow-witted two year old.

I am active with the American Red Cross of King and Kitsap County, as a member of the Board of Directors, and the chair of the Service Delivery Committee. I am also a trained field volunteer, and active member of Disaster Assistance Team 4 (DAT 4).

Finally, I am a student of metal and wood working, and I spent a year as an apprentice to Brian Gilman, master smith. I design and build furniture, fabricating custom work from metal, hard woods and recycled and found materials.

Detailed resume available upon request.

Serious Stuff

Education

Bachelor of Science, Electronic Engineering Technology, Cogswell College North Everett, Washington, Class of 1990

Port Facility Security Officer, American Bureau of Shipping

Training in Emergency Exercise Planning and Design, FEMA

American Red Cross

• Disaster Assessment Training

• Disaster Response and Mitigation

• Mass Care

Affiliations

• American Red Cross Board Member

• American Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team 4

• Member, ACI Sustainability Working Group

• Member, ACI Security Group

• Member, Long Now

Professional Certificates and Awards

• Licensed Professional Engineer – Electrical, Washington State 1995

• Mountain Search & Rescue – American Search & Rescue Institute

• Dive Master and Rescue Diver – PADI

• Winner, New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age