Name: Andrew

Age: 40

Current Home: San Antonio, Texas

Software Arsenal: Lightwave 3D – RealFlow 3 – Adobe CS4 Suite

Hobbies: Guitar, Online MMO’s Medieval & Egyptian history

Heros: Genghis Khan

Bio:
It started some time ago, in the Year of the Dog, 1994. It was a cold, winter day. The North winds blowing across the frozen lake. Time seemed to have stopped for me on fateful that day. I was nuzzled up in the comfort of my dwelling, buried beneath several layers of blankets to stave off the cold, dark corners of the room. The old electric heater I had was chewing through the cold air like how a hungry wolf does to a fresh kill in the mid-winter forest.

Sitting there, I was tying flies for the up-coming fishing season. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was my sister. She knew I was bored, and had offered to give me a computer that, according to her, was not working. I promptly trawled the breadth of the land to receive this free gift.

Fast forwarding a few long weeks, I was in an imaginary digital world of color and pictures. Fascinated, I thought to my self “I wonder how ‘this’ stuff, that I am seeing, is on ‘my’ computer? I obviously did not place it all here”. After doing some research, I quickly realized that what I was seeing was generated via some weird code called HTML. I needed to learn this weird code, for if I could, I could potentially have the power of this Internet in the palm of my hands.

Gloomy days lay ahead.

I found out my 235MB hard drive was almost full to capacity. Windows 3.1 and AOL. I couldn’t not install a 40MB browser. This was terrifying news. I was forced to upgrade this foreign hunk of technology if I wanted to pursue Internet domination. The quest was on.

Several weeks later, I taught myself how to build a computer, install all kinds of crap, adjust IRQ settings, fiddle with system performance, and, since Windows 95 just came out, install an OS on a blank hard drive. Now, begins the battle.

I devoted every waking hour into learning this HTML stuff. Night after night, day after day. Spending a ton of hard-earned cash on books, software and anything else related to this Industry. Then it happened.

The discovery of Paint Shop Pro.

But I was on a quest to know more, a quest to conquer this ‘Internet’ by brute force. Enter Photoshop. Little did I know, this application would change my life forever.

In a blood-thirsty rage, like a voracious Piranha gnawing at a Tapir carcass, I was chewing through all that Photoshop had to offer. I consumed it like the North Winds consume the prairie in Autumn. It felt “natural” to use this software. I combined these skills, with the HTML I learned earlier, and was quickly becoming proficient at this.

Always one to look ahead and and try to foresee the outcome of any battle, I decided to expand my arsenal. This was when Flash 4 was just released. I did toy with an earlier version of Flash (3) but I was so caught up in the Photoshop thing, that I paid little heed towards it. When Flash 4 was released, I knew things were going to get interesting, I needed this weapon on my side, if I am to conquer the Internet.

Throughout the many years, and many a wicked battle, I have come to build quite an arsenal of knowledge. I have learned the art of CD/DVD creation, all aspects of web design and development, 3D modeling and animation, video compositing, photo editing, retouching & digital make-up, Flash along with Actionscript 2 and 3, FLEX, and just a ton of technology in-between that relates to this industry.

I doubt that I will ever conquer the Internet with my current skills and tool set, but rest assured, I can be a dangerous player in this game, or a very strong ally for any company.

Below is a quick list of clients that I have done work for in the past.

Most of this may be outdated, as I have been employed at the same place for several years now.

Goldwell New York
Chez Ann
AP&T Alaska
Haines Alaska Tourism CD
Haines Alaska Real estate
Every Alaska Home
Catholic Social Services
Alaska MLS
WCRN
The PCA Group
Interbay
Blue Shield CD ROM
Blue Cross CD ROM
Health Now CD ROM
Twin City Glass
MD Home Improvements
Ulverscroft
First Choice Evaluation
Foxwood Rehab
Clean Air Technology
Filipski Hardwood Floors
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Capello Salon

.. and many others not listed.