My interest in astronomy began long, long ago — way before there were digital cameras, GoTo scopes, or even personal computers and Color TVs. (I guess that makes me an old geezer)! I was fortunate to have grow up on a farm in northwestern Nebraska which had wonderful dark skies. My parents both concluded that I was nuts as I'd stay outside staring at the stars and planets for long hours. (In hindsight, they were probably right -- I still stay out late on cold dark nights). I've had a life-long interest in astronomy; at times I've been a quite active observer and other times not.

My main scope at the moment is a Celestron Nexstar 11 with a Stellarview A1010 mounted on a Losmandy rail. The scope is mounted on an APT Wedge and a Meade giant field tripod. For cameras I use a Canon Xti, a Phillips Toucam 840, DMK 21A04.AS, and a Astrovid Stellacam II.

Professionally, I've worked as a gas station attendent, a janitor, a combat medic, a chemical engineering assistant, a draftsman, a construction inspector, a civil engineer, a controls engineer, an instrumentation engineer, an electronics engineer, a system adminstrator, a webmaster, and a software engineer. Software engineering would be my hobby if it weren't my profession. For the past ten years I've managed my own software consulting business. I have BS's in computer science and electronics, and MS in information systems.

I'm active in local astronomy groups. I'm president of the Longmont Astronomical Society (www.longmontastro.org). I'm also the webmaster for the Astronomical League (www.astroleague.org) and a representative for the Mountain Region of the Astronomical League.