The last year or so has been pretty awesome for me. I’ve grown a lot as an engineer, architect, and as a person. I’ve immersed myself deep in the global IT community via blogging, Twitter, user groups, conferences, and far too many delicious but unhealthy lunch meetings. I got my VCAP-DCA and will get my DCD some time soon. I was given a vExpert designation. I was a delegate at Tech Field Day. Besides all my career and community growth, I’ve made some really exciting leaps in my personal life as well. I got married in May to an amazing, beautiful woman who supports and grows me as a person. In light of that, it’s also time for some changes on the career front!
I’ve been contracting recently, and it’s been a good experience. But now that I’m founding a family, I need some more stability and predictability. That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that I have accepted a full-time position with Heartland Business Systems in their fledgling Des Moines, IA office. The office has only been open for about 4 months, and is still being staffed and ramped up. I’m really lucky to have been named employee number SIX! The five people ahead of me are all folks that I know from a past life, and they’re going to be really exciting to work with. I’m also really excited to be back with a partner/VAR and see/do all the cool stuff that partners do.
There’s a few people who have really been awesome to me this year, and I’m writing this post about 10% to announce my job move, and about 90% to thank them.
- My wife Carly has been amazing and she’s really out of my league.
- Some of the VMUG leaders in the midwest are awesome at supporting community, and I appreciate people like @VMRick, @RogerLund, @Eric_Shanks, @millardjk. The other leaders are awesome too; they’re just not my personal acquaintance.
- @SFoskett invited me to @TechFieldDay and I really had a blast with @DemitasseNZ, @Andrea_Mauro, @DavidMDavis, @DiscoPosse, @Agnostic_Node1, @MBroeken, @PaulPMeehan, @OtherScottLowe, @networkingnerd. All of these guys gave me ideas, advice, support, and encouragement.
- @SOSTech_WP made the DCA exam way more approachable for me, and gave me some awesome tools to study with. Maybe I’ll get lucky and be able to thank him in person tomorrow in Kansas City!
- @ChrisWahl blogged about Spongebob and made me realize I didn’t have to take myself so seriously to be really, really good at what I (we) do.
- @TheJasonNash did some really great training courses for Trainsignal (now Pluralsight) that helped me grow in my career.
- @GunnarWB interacted with me right after I started using Twitter (about a year ago) and he wasn’t pretentious. He made me feel like it was safe to get involved.
I decided to cut myself off since the list is getting really long. But the list could be a lot longer. I really appreciate you all, and everyone who isn’t on the list but I’m thinking of. You guys have made all the difference for me, and it’s personal. I’m to the point now where I’ve started to be able to pay it forward and help mentor others like @Chef_BoyardLe who is getting involved at /r/vmware and will be at the KC VMUG tomorrow. He got one VCP this year (DCV), and is about to get another one (DT)! Congrats, buddy!
A massive “thank you” to everyone for being a part of my journey, and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come!
