Background
During the later years of High School, and early in College, I found that I had more of a technical aptitude. This started with various technical support related positions at Central Wyoming College, and Cottonwood Resources. From these positions I learned the basics of website design and development, eventually became the first full-time Webmaster at Hi Mountain Jerky, in Riverton, WY.
It was the Webmasters position at Hi Mountain Jerky that lead to a number of opportunities. Dean Clark, the President of Hi Mountain Jerky at the time, saw a business opportunity with the growing expansion of the Internet in the late 90’s. He created a new company, Webmasters, Inc. and asked me to participate as the Vice President of Technology, and primary author of a set of Courseware books (published internally) to lead to a partnership with Wind River Training and the first Website Managers Course, a week long course focused on training existing employee’s of a company to take over small business websites internally.
This experience in a start-up business, and the entrepreneurial drive are what lead me back into education, only with a focus on a Business Degree, instead of a Technical Degree.
Education
University of Wyoming
Bachelors of Science, Business Administration; Minor in Management Information Services
2000 – 2003
University of Wyoming
Masters of Science, eBusiness
2003 – 2004
With my earlier start-up business experience, I wanted to focus on filling in the gaps of what it would take to run a company. Looking to the University of Wyoming, I focused on Marketing, Sales, and Management Classes, while still taking a handful of classes needed to receive a minor in MIS. This lead to a number of interesting opportunities, including an award in the Fall one year in the 10K Business Plan Contest with the College of Business.
After graduating in 2003, I applied for and received a position in the Graduate School in the Masters of Science, eBusiness Program. This program became the basis of the updated Masters of Business Administration program at the University of Wyoming, and focused on Technology, Management, Leadership and Presentation skills in an intense 1 year program.
After College
After graduating from the University of Wyoming with a Masters of Science in eBusiness, I applied for and joined the team at Sierra Trading Post as Web Operations Manager. I was employed in this position for SierraTradingPost.com then later sierra.com, but under the management of TJX Digital US, a division of TJX Corporation until April 2021.
Volunteering
The following is a list of recent volunteering leadership positions I’ve participated in post college graduation. This isn’t a fully inclusive list as I’ve helped out with other organizations on occasion for one off or small events.
- Past President, Board of Directors, Kiwanis Club of Cheyenne Foundation
- Past Council Venturing Chair, Acting District Chair, District Program Chair, Associate District and Unit Commissioner, Wood Badge and National Youth Leadership Training Staff; Boy Scouts of America, Longs Peak Council
- Board of Directors, Rocky Mountain Anime Association
- Instructor, Cheyenne Budokan – Wyoming Kendo and Iaido