It hardly seems that 13 years have passed since graduating from the 1995 class of Leadership Santa Maria Valley. This was the pioneer class of a program sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce that opened my mind to a larger and better world.

At that time I served as President of Computer Careers, a computer training academy and official Microsoft test center in Santa Maria, California. Our courses provided instruction in Microsoft applications, medical back office, website design, graphic applications, computer support, assembly and repair. I served as network administrator for two dozen workstations, taught classes, and administered operations.

I sustained a long construction career before starting my own computer career in 1992. I ended almost 20 years of construction, finally supervising the building of ten homes for the People's Self-Help Housing Corporation of San Luis Obispo. With retraining provided by workman's comp insurance, I quickly learned basic DOS computer programs, joining the Internet bandwagon at the very beginning.

After graduating from vocational training I found work as Marketing Director for Utech Internet in Lompoc California. Initially I sold basic dial-up Internet services, provided Internet and elementary e-mail training and expanded service delivery. As the Internet progressed I served as sales manager creating the first web pages, working as graphic architect and providing written copy. On my first “computer” job I received the Employee of the Year Award from The Santa Barbara County Job Training Network (now One Stop Workforce Development Center)

I then accepted the position as Marketing Director for The Grid Internet Service of San Luis Obispo as they began offering statewide service. My job was to expand operations by traveling the cities of the coast, the central valley and the Sierras between Los Angeles and Sacramento marketing Internet services to schools, institutions, computer stores via “computer shows” at county fairgrounds. The Grid was eventually purchased by Earthlink.

An opportunity presented itself for me to purchase an interest in XS Communications, operating a small dial-up Internet service of less than 50 subscribers with 2 employees. As Marketing Director we branded the Internet service as Best1 Internet and purchased another Internet company, adding 500 subscribers. Within a year we had over 1,500 subscribers and 12 employees providing tech support and web page development. I received the Employer of the Year Award from the Job Training Network, an unprecedented honor.

The purpose of Computer Careers was to provide the best open-enrollment vocational computer training facility in the area. We retrained individuals suffering workplace injuries requiring career change, just as I had done. Our clients included many workman's comp insurance companies, Santa Barbara County, U.S. Air Force, chambers of commerce and many private businesses and walk-in individuals.

I also worked closely with Cary Gray (no relation) of the Leadership Management Institute and Assessments-USA.

During these years I also ran a computer business building and repairing computers,  establishing and providing business and organization network support. In north Santa Barbara County we were instrumental in addressing the Y2K issue with computer certification, upgrade and replacement for hundreds of computers. I also owned and operated Fractals, an Internet café with 10 terminals.

In 2001 I relocated to Palm Springs, working as Marketing Director for ACH Direct in Cathedral City. This Internet financial transaction processing company had 4 employees and over one billion dollars in annual transactions. My responsibilities included a complete re-design of the web page and fulfilling marketing services to nationwide and Puerto Rico distributors.

I then worked for Mike Bickford for the Miracle Springs Resort and Spa hotels performing marketing, training, and consulting. I was specifically involved in the website re-design, improving website performance, email communications, software procurement, and computer applications training.

Over the course of my own computer career I have personally trained hundreds of individuals in use of many varieties of computer applications. I would modestly admit to personally building over one hundred computers and setting up dozens of computer networks. I have worked in sophisticated network operations of incredible complexity in addition to one-on-one program support.

I have also been directly involved in building hundreds of web-pages of all sorts, from the most elementary designs to the most complex with cutting edge features. Construction of a web page, using my education as a college trained graphic artist (3 years at California College of the Arts) and accomplishments as a writer (over 30 years of small press publications) are not enough. A knowledge of marketing (16 years) is not enough. Skills are needed to reach beyond making visually appealing and compelling content, to include an ability to measure, monitor, and improve website performance.

If no one sees a web page, what is it really worth? So how is that magic performed?

The science of website optimization is accomplished by the skillful use of inherent web design features, strategic linking and search engine recognition. Increasing performance is also obtained by analytical means to calculate site statistics, modifying content towards optimum results. Additional value is  obtained by blog and broadcast.  These are the effective tools of electronic communications for which the Internet best provides information and for which all successful marketing applies.

As the publisher of the Desert Valley Star and the American Free Journal I expect to continue providing investigative journalism focused on local issues. This requires writing copy, photography, graphic and web page composition and mastery of many computer applications. There is a computer network to support, not to mention the politics of publishing controversial content. Luckily I have a nose for news and am an information addict.

I am so very lucky to have a wife, Raven Skye, that believes in me, who loves me, who understands my needs and shares the same vision. It is rare to have a partner with such patience, possessing a wonderful heart and in indomitable spirit. I succeed because of my wife and because of her know that failure is not an option. All the success is due to my love for this wonderful woman who tolerates my weakness, heals and strengthens me, and makes me a better man than I am.