The Drupal Association Elections - Why I Can Do The Job

I've described myself as a cuckoo. I'm that fellow who defies the standard path for making a career in technology. My background is in Theatre and Visual Arts. This is the VERY reason you should consider me an amazing candidate for the Drupal Association Board. I have a strong background in non-profits and non-profit leadership.

So here is how it happened. When I completed my degree at Bishops University in Quebec, I had a pretty marketable skill. I could read lighting plans for the theatre and I could hang and focus lighting instruments. I knew the difference between a fresnel and parcan. I knew how to run a followspot and how it differed from an ellipsoidal. I knew that a gel wasn't something that you put in your hair and a gobo wasn't really a character from Fraggle Rock. So I supplemented my income as a bookstore guy with lighting work. I did pretty well at it, but quickly realised that the hours were hectic and the work was exhausting. I enrolled at the University of Ottawa and completed a certification in Arts Administration and I focused on Nonprofit Organizational Management.

One of the main requirements at the end of the program was to work in an Arts Organization for several months. I found work at an experimental dance company in Ottawa, Canada called Le Groupe de La Place Royale and quickly dug into helping produce marketing materials for the annual fund raiser called "The Edge". The year I worked "The Edge", the team had set up a wonderful experiment between dance companies across cities to allow real time collaboration over high speed video link.

I had been accepted at Virginia Tech to complete an MFA with a focus on Marketing. When I arrived at the school, I explained what had happened in Ottawa and how it changed my perspective. I explained I wanted to work using bleeding edge technology to create multi-cast immersive works that would allow for real time interaction between performers and audiences who were distributed. In retrospect, I now know where my love for distributed teams really came from. I produced three pieces of work over a two year period and promptly started my professional career in the Department of Continuing Education teaching the use of Internet Technologies for artists and nonprofits.

So a quick recap of my Education:

• Bishops University - BA in Fine Arts and Theatre
• University of Ottawa - Certificate in Arts Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Organizational Management
• Virginia Tech - MFA in Theatre with a focus on Nonprofit Organizational Management and Technology

I ended up taking a job with a non-profit called the Western States Arts Federation. This is a nonprofit arts organization that has focused on building custom PHP MySQL applications for other nonprofits, NGOs, and government entities. I was hired as the Senior Director of Technology and I also ran the grants program there for a time. I was the architect of systems like CultureGrants Online, ZAPP, CaFE, ArtistsRegister, and ArtJob. I managed a distributed team who developed the applications. I worked with the Board of Directors. I learned of Board dynamics and how a Board worked. I did this from 1999 - 2007. In 2006 I found Drupal while exploring how to build Custom PHP MySQL applications more efficiently and became friends (and a student) of the Bryght guys and gals and with Raincity Studios. In 2007, I made the move to Drupal 100% when I joined pingVision. In the days after pingVision, I co-founded a small boutique Drupal Shop called Vintage Digital. My role has been as the business manager, business developer, and project manager. All of this segued into the most crazy, fun, and intense time of my life with Examiner.com where I was the shepherd of an amazing team of developers. We did good work. Most recently, I have joined the well established Trellon as CTO.

A quick recap of my Technology work history:

• - CTO
• Examiner.com - Senior Director of Technology
• Vintage Digital LLC - Co-Founder and Principal
• pingVision - Senior Web Producer
• Western States Arts Federation - Senior Director of Technology
• Virginia Tech - Internet Trainer in Department of Continuing Education, Research Associate, Lab Mechanic, Graduate Assistant

This sets up two pieces of the puzzle. I have the education for nonprofit management - with some exposure to governance. I have the experience in technology. There is a third leg to this stool. My experiences as a volunteer. I was the VP of the PTA for my kid's school. I was on that Board for a couple of years. I currently sit as VP of the Board of Directors for Crown Pointe Academy on the 501(c)3 that governs the school. I sat on the policy committee for the school and was central in rewriting several of the policies for the non-profit. If you look back at my contributions to the Drupal community, you'll see a strong commitment to the project.

One more recap:

• Policy Committee for Crown Pointe Academy
• Local organization committee for Drupalcon Denver
• Volunteer for Drupalcamp Colorado
• Writing since 2004 on nonprofits, technology, open source, and Drupal - Dogstar.org

I'm committed to Drupal, I have board experience in multiple capacities, through Drupalcon Denver I worked directly with the Drupal Association, and I have governance experience. You add to that the education and the technology background, it paints a picture.

• 17 years in the technology space
• 13 years in the open source space
• 8 years of nonprofit management including grant making and board management
• 6 years in the Drupal community
• 2 University programs in non-profit management

Let me know if you have questions regarding my experiences - I'd be happy to answer them. If you want to take a deeper dive into my CV, I've linked a PDF of my LinkedIn profile. I really hope you'll look at my overall experiences and my commitment and come to a conclusion.

Please help me by sharing this across your social networks. I NEED YOUR HELP!