Comments:
My path the last 45 years (yikes) has included a summer trying out for the Cubs, Bethany College in Bethany West Virginia, military service in the army during the Vietnam conflict and then a career in high tech that included IBM, University Computing Company, Applied Data Research, VM Systems Group and a series of start ups where I was CEO for a number of companies that included VM, Relay Technology, Neuraltech (Card Systems), WebSurveyor, LIADAN Associates, Mentations and Formatta Corporation. Along the way I wrote a book on the success at WebSurveyor (WebSurveyor: Web Survivor; The Last One Standing, 2004) and am in the process of writing another entitled "50 Ways to Love Your Start up." I married and got divorced and married again to my "last wife" (not second wife since she sees that characterization as a progression) and have been married now 35 years. We adopted three girls from different places, times and lives as only God could have ordained. I accepted Christ in my life far enough back that I cannot remember the exact date but do remember the circumstances; you always remember the circumstances. I became a devout Episcopalian until the gay bishop ordination created a schism in the denomination and my church along with a number of conservative dioceses and parishes split off into a new affiliation with the Anglican Commune. But enough of the religious right stuff but having been born in France and baptized a French Huguenot it was the only real church place to call home. Today I guess I am church homeless but still committed to my faith walk. My family and I spend a lot of time in Holden Beach North Carolina where we have a second home. As I consider (note I said "consider" retirement Holden Beach always seems to be on the top of the list. Do you know that in most Webster dictionaries or online dictionary versions that the word "retired" is often defined using the word "death". I ask you, "Who really wants to be retired?" I enjoy collecting (lots of stuff although I try not being a "hoarder"), the 2 R's: writing, reading (but not "rithmatic", my family and a very close group of friends and a number of charitable local and national organizations like Virginia Special Olympics, Make a Wish Foundation that goes to filling in what available free time I have. I also lecture as a guest teacher at a couple of local colleges and trade schools in the Washington, DC area on the topic of Internet marketing, social networks and start ups. In that fashion my professional experiences are all being put to use as Executive Director of the INC.spire incubator program for the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce wherew I volunteer my time. Wow, I keep looking at the decrementing character count and realize I haven't lived enough or done enough to fill the remaining 5,300 characters I am being given for this section. I better quit and get back to living and doing "stuff" if I ever hope to use my remaining 5,300 characters.
