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I actually started of in the mid 90’s working for Allied Signal running backups on an Oracle Server. I only worked part time under contract. I was still running my automotive shop full time, so I only worked there for a few months.

Then in 1998, a friend asked me to work with him at Eaglebend MFG. All that they required was for me to assemble computers out of parts lying around. That went into training employees that had little to no knowledge of computers, how to hook them up and a basic understanding of how they worked.

Bigger task was assigned, like Server Administration and backups. This included Windows Server, AS 400 and a Lotus Notes Email Server. From there become infrastructure support, while still performing my day-to-day helpdesk support role. Although, helpdesk for many just includes office personnel, for me it was shop floor personnel and equipment.

Layoffs occurred due to failing business and I was let go. I went to work for Covenant Health on 3^rd shift to run backups and provide IT, server logs. I got lucky and was offered a position at Alstom Power, which was the best job I ever had.

It was back to helpdesk support but only for a short-time. I quickly became the Asset and Procurement manager. I applied my barcoding experience with some database work and created an efficient method for conducting inventory. Not long after, I started getting involved in project management type roles. With that become a lot of documentation. So, I picked up project management and technical writing skills. Alstom believed in training, so I got to go to many type classes, in house and external.

Alstom’s were shutting down around the United States, so I was asked back to Eaglebend to implement a new AS 400, along with setting up their EDI. I was hired as IT Manager. I had at one point about 6 employees under me. I worked there for about a year. Eaglebend is a different culture to work for, they have no real structure. I was offered a better position at another company, so I left to take it.

Sadly, the new job didn’t exist, so I was out of work. I have worked at a few different places in different IT roles. One was again, IT Manager at a plant that printed Labels. Unfortunately, the owner was very unprofessional and had her own agendas. My first job was to work in customer service answering phones. I was told that I would not go into the IT room. The purpose in hiring me was to change out their ERP systems. I had it analyzed and recommendations in the first week. Due to the very peculiar behavior from the owner, she didn’t want my report. I left that job since it was not as described and a bit hostile.

I started my own business offering freelance IT support to residential and small businesses. Included in my services, I also build websites and do graphic designs. Website work requires SEO experience, which was interesting to learn. I enjoy the IT field, and am always up to a new challenge.  

In all my years, I have gained experience with Windows, SQL, Linux, SharePoint and Lotus Notes servers, including AS 400 and Oracle Mainframes. I have acquired over 15 years of project management and technical writer roles. I have many years in management and as a team lead.

My Project Management experience started back as early as my automotive days in the 80’s. At that time, I was building many Street Rods, (Custom Made Show Cars). As a project manager, this was smaller scale than working for a big corporation. However, I was the go-to guy. My job required me to listen to what the customer wanted. Take that info and work with suppliers, vendors and often fabricators. Relay the information back to the customer and sometime arrange phone or in-person meetings with all involved to meet the customers targeted goal.

My more authentic project management role began in 1999, when I would be assigned projects at Eaglebend MFG. Quite often, specific departments had application redesigns or new implementations, that involved more than just their department. My job was to coordinate all parties involved or ones that could be affected. The duties included working with developers and testing. Coordinating testing with all departments and parties involved. I was never titled a project manager, but that is what this function was.

My time at Alstom Power, was probably my heaviest project management duties. I onboarded as a Systems Analyst, and much of my time was used a desktop support. However, many new software and processes were always being implemented and many of those projects were assigned to me as the Project Manager.

Once I moved out of IT and into Business Applications, my job pretty much was about 75% Project Manager. My first assignment in Business Applications was to implement a program called Suppliernet. This was a program and process that would allow transparency from the starting of a proposal, all the way to the end results. So, every department in our company was involved. Not only did I have to coordinate across each department, but I had to work with developers, testing, other Alstom branches overseas. There were many 3am and 4am calls for me to accommodate other time zones around the globe.

Currently, I still perform this role in my Freelance business. Some of my clients are small businesses that are trying to update their process and technology into the 21^st century. This can be creating a disaster recovery plan, better backup methods to redesigning their whole network. This puts me back into a Project Management role. Out of all my time in this type role, looking at the Project Management styles, I have to say that I have been following the Agile method mostly.

My Technical Writing skills back in the 80’s during my automotive shop time. I would quite often build custom cars or add special features to vehicles that were way outside OEM. Many of the cars I built or modified, the customers requested digital dashes. There were suppliers and fabricators for this type of technology, but as far as an operation manual or how it worked wasn’t included. At least not in simple terms or illustrations for laymen.

Not only would I have to create a user manual, but also a repair manual in case another mechanic would have to work on it. This increased the value of these vehicles when selling.

Manual creations with illustration images along with content to explain and describe the newly added features was very helpful to my customers.

This skill came in handy once I started my IT career. Often in my Project Management roles, I would have to create user manuals or process manuals for new applications or detailed developer logs.

Technical writing has been a part of my career since the 80's. I actually enjoy creating documentation and manuals to explain new technology, a process or a program. I have always enjoyed creating graphics and I love to write, so this is a great combination for me to create something.

For samples of my writing or technical writing, although I have several websites and blogs, my automotive might supply the best combination of both.   https://rodsshop.org/

My experience designing websites and graphics started when I was with Alstom Power, back around 2006. Corporate wanted us to start using SharePoint for internal websites. We were provided a SharePoint server, so I become a designer and server administrator.

Many departments wanted their own sites built for sharing information, and also for secure collaborations with other global departments. Many departments, even other global branches wanted icon and logs created for some of their special projects. This gave me a lot of experience using various tools, mostly Adobe Suites, to create such graphics. Alstom gave me many awards and certificates for my creative and detailed work: View Awards Here

Starting in 2014, I started to use WordPress. I loved how to install it just from my technical side and to me, it was a great platform to share visuals and content. In the beginning, I started building sites for friends and colleagues. Of course, they all wanted their own logos and favicons for their sites. Many required unique and special images, so I began to use Photoshop heavily to manipulate pictures they wanted on their sites. Some sites were highly technical, so my Technical Writer skills came in handy to develop what they were looking for.

Later I start building my own websites and learning of all the programs and tools available for WordPress. I am still currently building websites and graphics for small businesses. Although, some of my clients do not make it easy to build their sites. I had one company, a Blinds and Shutter operation, that wouldn’t supply me content or really what they wanted to say. To finish the job, I had to research and create the site almost as if it were my own. There were a lot of free plugins used as well, but in the end, it came out nice. The main goal was to get this companies samples viewable digitally, instead of leaving physical samples with customers. This helped save the company a good amount of money.

You can view this Website Here

Building websites and creating logos, graphics and banners is a thrill for me. I love to be artistic and creative and help others all in the same process. This gives me just that opportunity.

Other samples of websites I have built:

RodsShop

Lifenrichments

Save-Your-Love

TrucksonTriangles

My Business Applications Experience gave me a lot of my Project Manager experience. At times, there was a good 70% of my time used as a Project Manager. However, there was a lot of time developing SharePoint sites or studying and testing new applications for various departments.

Starting around 1999 at Eaglebend MFG, it wasn’t uncommon that a department wanted to implement a new software or application for specific projects. At that time, even though Eaglebend was under a Magna/Cosma Corporation, they weren’t required to follow any standardizations, (ISO) from corporate. So, we were allowed to use whatever we wanted as long as it got the job done and made the customer happy.

My job was to purchase the application or software, hire developers if needed. Work with said developers, company and customer stakeholders if required, test and deliver. Training was also part of the process and then my Technical Writing skills were required, as I had to create user manuals and developer manuals once all was in place. Usually, developer’s notes were included.

I continued this same role into all my careers after Eaglebend, of course as I continued, my skills just got refined and this position become really rewarding and enjoyable.

My time at Alstom Power gave me the most challenging task. I was put on a development team to implement an in-house built application called SupplierNet. When I say in-house, it was initially created at another branch but became global. This application was originally created to solve two major issues. Transparency was first, many of our customers wanted some smoother way for them to see status on projects. The biggest reason it was created was for the second issue, which was suppliers and fabricators delivering goods and products to a job site whenever they wanted.

When constructing a power plant, and material or a product gets delivered without clearing with expediting or other related departments, even though the goods are on-site, they become lost. Without the proper identification on goods, construction has no way of knowing what material or goods is for what part of the construction project.

So SupplierNet was developed, I was part of developing it. This application would require working with all departments, to learn their current process and then train them on how the new was going to work. This also required me to work with all our suppliers, vendors and fabricators to teach and train them. We even made a professional commercial for our customers with an intuitive manual on how to use SupplierNet. This was probably the best and most fun of a project I was ever a part of. But I learned a strong Agile Project Management style, and also learned I could handle any kind of applications project.

Alstom Power gave me many awards and certificates for for applications I improved, created or worked on. View HERE

My automotive experience dates back to when I was 7 years old. I put my first set of shocks on a car at the age of 7. At that same age, I found a lawnmower in the woods, it had been thrown away. I drug it home and rebuilt the engine. The brackets for the handle bars were broke, so my dad taught me how to weld, and I welded it back together. It wasn’t long after, I started fixing all the kids bicycles and mini-bikes that lived in my neighborhood.

My dad and I started painting neighbors’ appliances and that led into painting motorcycles. It started off doing one Harley, that turned into several, then a variety of brands. My dad phased out of this but I continued the little business. I started working on cars for money when I was about 13. I think I started off washing and detailing a car for a neighbor. He mentioned needing to get a tune up, I had already done a few of those on our own cars, so I told him I could do it. Maybe he was crazy, but he let me. He was happy with the job I did and told other people. So, I had my little own side business going, it wasn’t much but it gave me money to put into my motorcycles and to go have some fun with.

In 1983, I started working for Firestone. Even though I didn’t have a high opinion of them, they provided great training and they paid for my ASE certifications if I passed. I passed them all and wanted to get all of them. I had a good amount but lacked getting it in Diesel and a few more rare ones.

I had ASE certifications in; Steering and Suspension, Air-Conditioning, Electrical, Heat and Cooling systems, Alignments, Engines, Tune-ups, Tires and Wheels, Auto Body and Paint. The Auto Body and Paint I did on my own as Firestone wouldn’t cover one that wasn’t in their function. I maintained them for years until I started into my IT Career.

I left Firestone in 1986 to pursue my own business. I never advertised but word of mouth went far and fast. Before I knew it, I had more cars than I could fit on our property. I worked hard and honest. Firestone taught me to never rip people off and do them wrong. Firestone, like most of those type business models, believe in sales and marketing. They try to sell you everything you don’t need instead of focusing on what you really do. I never did that, I would inform my customers they may want to address something in the future, but only fixed what they needed or could afford. I was a success.

I loved painting and wanted to get into cars, so I painted a few for friends and family. The word got out and I was swamped with auto body and paint work. I had one customer that had 55 to 57 Chevys, along with selling and trading street-rods. So, I started restoring and build street-rods, (Show Cars) for him. Again, the word got out and I had almost more than I could handle. Street-rods was a type of project you could overturn in a few days. I actually had one car take a year. To offset my income, I started doing collision repairs for insurance companies and use car lots.

You can view samples of some of my work HERE

So, my range in my automotive experience is from general mechanics, to advance, some upholstery, detailing and auto body and paint. Advanced mechanics is building engines, transmissions, axles and full electrical, including computer diagnostics and repair.

I started into heavy computer diagnostics at Firestone using their analyzer called, The Mastermind. It pulled codes but this was a big machine that could manipulate the onboard computers. It was pretty advanced for that time period. Since I use tablet type diagnostic tools for diagnosing and making repairs on ECM, PCM, Anti-Lock Brakes, Air Bags, Charging, Emissions and more.  

I currently create videos for my YouTube Channel on How-To fix cars and more.

My family decades before I was born made furniture. They had a furniture store in Knoxville TN. My grandfather was a highly skilled craftsman in woodworking, and he was a preacher. He made small and large crucifixes for many churches, including a Hospital Chapel. His skills were passed onto my dad and when I was about 6 years old, he started teaching me.

I started using a table-saw at the age of 7, along with drills, jig saws, sanders and routers. When I was 9, I built a door cabinet with glass inserts and I still use it today. Using my hands with wood tools just become natural for me.

I started helping friends and family do repairs around their homes, build additions or add walls to rooms. In 1990, I built my own apartment in the basement of my mother’s house. It was complete with walk-in closet and full bathroom.

I 1996, we discover that the house was being pushed over by the land. It was a rancher with a basement, the first sign was the block between the two garage doors split. You could see that the garage door openings were no longer square. Checking plum on the foundation wall, it measured over 6 inches in movement. This was the beginning to a whole new level of carpentry.

I had to build steel reinforced high strength concrete pilasters against the wall being pushed on. This was a real learning experience in concrete and masonry. The house had to be jacked up enough to take out the wall the garages doors were on and rebuilt to where there was a bigger block center between the two doors. The next step was to build an addition on the back of the house to help protect it from ever moving again.

Of course, I dug out the land in front of the house and ran drainage piping to run water off to both sides of the house. Using larger size granite rock, I created an inverted type dam. Meaning the dirt that was filled back in didn’t go back to the base of the foundation. The rock helped it back a few feet, then the top of the dirt came up to the house. This kept the land from pushing on top of the foundation wall.

While I was doing this repair, a neighbor who was a full-time carpenter and cabinet and trim professional, saw the work I was doing. He asked me to come work for him part time. It was the best move I could have made at the time. I learned so much from him, he was highly skilled in cutting trim and installing cabinets. We were doing high dollar homes, staircases and such. The two of use built many of decks and even a couple of houses. It lasted a little over a year and he moved away.

Since then, I take on little carpentry jobs, furniture assemblies and such. My skills have come in handy in my own personal life as well. I have owned two houses and I have had to do some small to major repairs to both. Not including remodeling and upgrades like flooring and cabinets and trim.

I worked for a heavy equipment company in Houston TX, so I learned how to operate bulldozers, excavators, Bobcats, dump trucks, graders and backhoes. This experience worked out great when doing carpentry work. We didn’t have to hire any operators, we just rented the equipment, and I did the rest. I have been a part of building two complete houses in my time. I dug the footers, cut out for driveways and excavated and leveled the properties.

I find carpentry work therapeutic, where else can you beat something with a hammer or tear thing apart and it being what you are supposed to do?

I grew up with my dad and cousins always filming with their regular or super 8 movie cameras. When I got a little older, I got my own Kodak Regular 8 movie camera and a light bar and started filming. Of course, as time went on, video cameras were introduced and Instamatic cameras.

I loved using my 35mm Cannon for all sorts of shots. Trick photography, to night shots to just beautiful scenery. Always had a love for cameras of some kind. My daughter was born in 2003, and that is when I started doing a video journal. I recorded her life year after year. Software for computers for video editing started becoming more advanced, so I started creating annual DVDs of her every year. I would share them with family. This hobby led me into learning more about video editing and other software to use.

I have used ULead, Power Director, Power Producer, WonderShare, VideoMakerFX, Camtasia, SnagIt, Adobe Premier, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and more. I wanted to learn all that was available to me to see what gave me the best end results with the most ease. Of course, I had to use DVDFab, Nero and few other software to make the actual DVDs.

This was an extremely fun hobby but also a helpful one for my careers. I used these skills for my jobs and later started making YouTube Channels. My first channel was an automotive How-To. One of my first videos hit a million views within a couple of weeks. I made money quickly, it was a total surprise for me.

Now I video a lot of what I do for my YouTube channels. The biggest challenge for me is, many of these videos require me to do the work, and the type of work really needs another person recording me. But I do manage and learning of new ways all the time.

You can view some of my samples here:

RodsShop

Life Enrichments

An Intro to one of my Daughter’s DVDs