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After a summer high on epoxy fumes while building a fiberglass sailing boat hull, I started my career IT in 1980 working as a System operator for Robertson Research, in North Wales UK., an oil and gas consulting company till 1993. During that time I moved into systems and network support, working on such things as Inter-office email, file sharing and database synchronization before the public internet.

From 1993 to 1999 I worked as a civilian for a Middle East Military mapping unit in a System Analysis role, with a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. During these six years, projects included designing, writing and implementation of multilingual databases, streamlining production procedures (reducing one procedure from a 3-day marathon to a 15min sprint!) Other responsibilities ranged from providing IT technical advice to the Colonel in charge, to teaching non-English speaking NCO’s how to use computers and one of my more favorite, sitting on the rooftop watching the Air Con engineer in the cool of the 47C+ mid summer heat.

 Shortly after emigrating to Canada in 1999, I joined Dowco Computer Systems on a short-term contract to upgrade the Oracle databases to year 2000 engines. (Anyone else remember the Y2K hype?) After this I become a permanent member on staff, designing new and supporting existing internal administrative and system software systems, as well web design for both internal needs and external clients.  Seven years on it seems my responsibilities have expanded to now encompass almost anything to do with IT, apart from Tekla Structures.

In that time I have been responsible for replacing the Local Area Network switches, servers and workstations supporting the production staff not once but twice, across three locations, without impacting production.  I have also been responsible for the planning, installation and support of a company-wide digital VOIP PBX. Other responsibilities include the implentation and support of the Company VPN between the five locations and management’s home offices, support of the Oracle and other various company database systems.  Life is never dull in IT - just when you think you have time to step back and enjoy some tea and donuts, that email or phone call arrives at your desk and you are back in the thick of it.

Some of my most memorable experiences include -  explaining to a user that switching the Voltage switch on a power supply is not a good idea. (Switching from 240V to 120V will not slow down the scrolling screen), - being handed a folder full of photocopies of a 5.25” floppy after asking for the backup copy of disc. - Educating users on Virus and Spam, (Have we ever changed your password and sent it to you by anonymous email in a zip file!)- and email “The email failed because it had a 100Mb attachment.”

After seven years I still enjoy working for DOWCO.  I learn something new about the business everyday and look forward to many more years.