Last updated 08/2022
I have experience
Insurance Agent, Budget Insurance (2022) = customer service desk jockey/insurance producer
Datacenter Installer, Direct Line (2021-2022) = Microsoft data center running cable
Datacenter Technician II, ZT Systems (2020-2021) = Microsoft data center running updates
Field Service Technician II, Scientific Games (2019-2020) = lottery machine break-fix/repair
Further back…
- VSAT Field Service Technician, Scientific Games (2019) = lottery machine break-fix/repair
- Whirlpool Delivery Specialist, JB Hunt (2018-2019) = delivering/installing appliances + truck-driving
- Flatbed Truck Driver, Melton (2018) = truck-driving + flatbed labor
- Truck Driver, Swift (2017-2018) = truck-driving
- Package Center Supervisor, UPS (2017) = admin work + management + claims investigation + customer service
- ESOP Retirement Plan Administrator, AmbroseAdvisors (2015-2016) = 401(k) + benefits admin + accounting + customer service
- Many Odd Jobs (2013-2014) = subcontracting + tax prep + window cleaning + WWOOFing across New York/New Jersey + deli clerk + data work
- Manufacturing Data Coordinator, Allergan (2013) = quality control + data work
- Data Entry Consultant, Housing Opportunities Collaborative (2012-2013) = data cleaning + event management + public relations
- Dish Network/DirecTV Sales Specialist, Satton Marketing (2012) = door-to-door sales
- Groundskeeper, Cabochon Estate (2009-2012) = trimming, raking, mowing and blowing
- Contract Worker, University of Redlands (2008-2009) = event setup/teardown
- Custodian, Immanuel Baptist Church (2007-2008) = custodial
- Administrative Assistant, Hubbell Lighting (2007-2008) = admin work + forklift operator
- Data Entry Administrator, a corrupt attorney courier service (2007) = data entry + legal documentation
- Package Handler, UPS (2006-2007) = manual labor.
- CNA (certified nurse’s aide), Brookside Healthcare Center (2007) = nursing manual labor
- Customer Service, Yum Corporation (better known as Pizza Hut and KFC) (2005-2006) = fast food
I have long-term tech skills
2024 — pushed the limits of my workplace by discovering constraints with the RDP protocol on a dual-boot Linux/Windows machine
2023 — fleshed out the majority of the TrendlessTech essays (~100 of them).
2023 — set both my work and personal computers to dual-boot Windows/Linux offline, and was able to avoid using a Microsoft login in the process
2022 — upgraded my family’s wireless networking system
2021 — assembled a complete track of 7,000 articles and guides to fully flesh out TrendlessTech
2021 — made my daily driver Android OS phone completely Google-free
2021 — successfully replaced all my daily driver email and contacts with CalDAV and CardDAV servers
2020 — started TrendlessTech and my toolbox
2019 — built an email signature, with images hosted through this site
2019 — migrated a WordPress.com website to a shared hosting service, then crashed it, then rebuilt the restored backup into 5 of my present websites
2019 — conducted a network audit for Valley Church Des Moines
2017 — converted my family’s tech infrastructure to 100% wireless
2016 — automated RSS feeds to port into a Facebook page to track the end of the world with earthquake updates, epidemic alerts, and news from the Middle East
2015 — explored every single service associated with IFTTT at the time
2015 — setup and managed a Hosted PBX system at AmbroseAdvisors
2014 — reconfigured my laptop to function outside its casing
2014 — migrated media metadata into images for Trinity Church Redlands
2013 — migrated to Ubuntu on my netbook when Windows announced it was ending LTS for XP
2012 — rooted a Galaxy Tab 2 and flashed CyanogenMod, then converted it to a VoIP phone via 3G network as my daily driver
2011 — created a dual-screen workspace/entertainment center with a netbook and CRT television
2006 — aggregated a dataset for the metadata for my 3,500-file music collection
2001 — accessed a secure network folder at my high school with an IE5 exploit, permanently deleted everything accidentally, then turned myself in
1997-1999 — crashed and reinstalled Windows 98 and Windows ME ~15 times
1998 — explored every setting and feature built into Windows 95
1995 — crashed my dad’s MS-DOS/Win3.1 PC at 7 years old
I’m educated and certified
Internet History, Technology, and Security — Coursera, 02/2022
Digital Skills: User Experience — FutureLearn, 03/2021
Introduction to Packet Tracer — Cisco Networking Academy, 11/2019
Advanced Google Analytics + Google Analytics for Power Users — Google, 08/2019
Responsive Web Design — freeCodeCamp, 08/2019
A+ — CompTIA, 07/2019
Non-tech education:
- Discovering Personality — Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, 01/2023
- Supply Side Economics and American Prosperity with Arthur Laffer — Hillsdale College, 12/2022
- Ordained Minister — Universal Life Church 08/2020
- Becoming a Changemaker — Coursera, 04/2020
- Defensive Driving — National Safety Council, 07/2019
- Smith Certification — JB Hunt, 07/2018
- Class A Truck Driver — Pomona Driving School, 12/2017
- Diploma in Electrical Studies — ALISON, 01/2017
- ESOP-A — ASPPA, 11/2015
- RPF — ASPPA, 07/2015
- Excel Expert — IACT, 01/2015
- BS, Accounting — WGU, 08/2012 (highly recommend!)
- CTEC — Liberty Tax Service, 12/2011
- Double AS, Accounting/Business Admin — Crafton Hills College, 12/2011
- OSHA Certified Forklift Operator — Hubbell Lighting, 02/2008
- Certified Nurse’s Aide — Redlands Adult School, 2006
- FAITH — Immanuel Baptist Church, 11/2006
I’ve accomplished
Random workplace achievements:
- Budget Insurance (insurance agent)
- Represented myself in a civil case with the Iowa Department of Insurance
- Microsoft (data center installer)
- Plugged 500 cables/day, 99.5% accuracy
- Microsoft (data center tech II)
- 21 deployments/week
- Scientific Games (field service tech II)
- 96% utilization rate
- 93% first-time resolve
- JB Hunt (Whirlpool delivery)
- Perfect attendance
- Perfect safety record
- Melton (flatbed truck driver)
- Melton Bronze Knight award
- Melton’s top 100 drivers — May 2018
- Perfect safety record
- Swift (truck driver)
- Perfect safety record
- UPS (package center manager)
- Remotely managed 55-driver fleet
- 96% claims investigation success rate
- CareFusion (medical device technician)
- Tested 137 IV hardware devices/day
Leadership organizations:
- NAIC: since 08/2022
- NSLS: since 09/2021
- CompTIA: since 07/2019
- Toastmasters: since 06/2016
- ASPPA: since 07/2015
- Alpha Gamma Sigma: since 01/2011
- CA-PBL: since 08/2010
Projects:
- NotaGenius: 07/2022 — Present, includes editing rewrites of AdequateLife, GainedInSite, and TheoLogos
- TrendlessTech: 09/2020 — Present
- toolbox: 03/2017 — Present
- Gained InSite: 04/2020 — 09/2020
- Profiting Much: 12/2016, became most of TheoLogos
- the Philosopher Accountant: 04/2014 — 12/2016, became most of the Adequate Life
Books:
- TL;DR Philosophy — 07/2021
- The Adequacy Bible — 09/2020
- How to Start Looking at Autism — 03/2020 (2nd ed.)
- How to Stop Looking Autistic — 03/2020 (2nd ed.)
- How to Start Looking at Autism — 11/2017 (1st ed.)
- How to Stop Looking Autistic — 11/2017 (1st ed.)
Languages:
- English — fluent enough
- Spanish — pequeño
- HTML/CSS — <p style=”color:black;”>more than most non-front-end devs</p>
Awards:
- President’s Award — CA-PBL, 06/2011
- Best Speech (various) x3 — Toastmasters, 2015
- Computer Skills, 4th place — PBL competition, 05/2010
- MVP Varsity — REVHS, 2003
- Wrestling, 1st place x3 — multiple wrestling meets, 2002
I’m easy to work with
Generally, I get along with others, though other people may have issues with me.
On the Big 5 personality indicators, I’m average Openness to Experience, insanely high Conscientiousness, average Extroversion, moderately high Agreeableness, and above-average Neuroticism. My wife describes me as a laser tornado of energy.
With the DISC communication model, I tend to use C style by default, but revert to D style if people would rather not hear it or things become urgent. I’ve been described as having a tungsten tongue.
After reading an interview referenced in a rando LinkedIn article, I occasionally update a user manual to show how I work best with others.
Many other things don’t matter regarding my aptitude, barring an unfair bias, but:
- I’m on the autism spectrum.
- I’ve served time.
- I ran for city council of Beaumont, CA on a lark.
- I have a profound and patient method for learning just about everything.