About Me
I recently started my first full-time job at EmergingSoft Corporation. They make a software product, MeetingPlanner, that allows large companies to schedule their meeting rooms and other resources more effectively. The biggest advantage of the product is that it integrates completely with Microsoft Outlook/Exchange to make the process of scheduling a meeting and booking a room as seamless as possible. While my official title is Senior Software Engineer, my day-to-day work falls somewhere between software engineer, business analyst, IT specialist and gimpy circus clown. Small company. I wear many hats.
I completed my master’s degree (MS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in August 2006. As with my undergraduate degree, I was in the department of Computer Science, though I also took courses in business and technology entrepreneurship. My area of specialization underwent a few changes during my time in grad school. Initially I thought of going into security, but that proved too theoretical for me. As a result, I switched to Software Engineering and studied under the supervision of Prof. Ralph Johnson of Gang of Four fame. My thesis involved working on an improved WebCT-like system that will be customized for use in CS 105. It seems that most of these academic web systems aren’t really designed to meet the needs of classes of near 1000 students.
I received my undergraduate degree (BS) in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities campus. I also recieved a minor in Business, however I can’t confirm that, as I don’t believe it appears on the diploma. I did complete all of the requirements for this minor, however, and thus I continue with my going world assumption that I have a minor in business. Believe me, I know the time value of money like nobody’s business, and I can account for costs with the process, job order, AND ABC methods. You do not want to meet me in a dark alley without your quarterly financial reports available. I graduated in May, 2004 with honors that to this day I cannot pronounce (Magna Cum Laude). I think that was the prerequisite for receiving the higher honors, the ability to stand on stage and proudly declare to the world, in correct intonations, the honors which you were about to receive.
My high-school degree (again BS, but this time not the bachelors of science variety) came from Hill-Murray School. I give them a lot of crap, but honestly it was an excellent and entertaining education. You can’t beat the people there. I’ve noticed the peculiar phenomenon that graduates from Hill remain in touch more so than any other high school that I’ve observed. It speaks very well for the community at Hill. During my highschool days, I participated in basketball, theater, math team, and newspaper. Yes, I was and still am a geek. But a geek who can almost play basketball.
I went to grade school/junior high (K-8) at Gethsemane Lutheran School in Maplewood, Minnesota. Again, an excellent Christian education that has shaped me into what I am today (for good or bad). My big activities at Gethsemane were basketball (we were a force to be reckoned with) and Oddessy of the Mind.
My preschool work, focusing primarily in quantum mechanics and finger painting, was completed at Happy Day Nursery School under the supervision of Mrs. Vonnie and Mrs. Marge. I’m proud to say that my drawings were mature enough to allow me to move on to Kindergarden a year early, but my mother chose to hold me back for scheduling reasons. I tell you it’s all politics. During this time I became espcially adept at building structures with the big blocks, and well as the basics of robot construction. You think I’m kidding about that last point, but you never met my robot, Fred.