About Michael

I was was born and raised in Miami, Florida, USA, the son of a first generation father and a mother whose family helped found the nation and was exposed early to the arts and sciences. My interest in writing and the dramatic arts began in junior high school and continues to this day. My first poem was published while still in high school and I completed my first book while serving honorably in the United States Air Force. In high school I was active in theater and choir and had the opportunity to work as a "Super" at the Miami Opera where I met and performed on stage with opera greats Sherrill Milnes and the late Luciano Pavarotti, both very gracious men. It was in high school that I began my career as a stage magician and also when I began teaching. Shortly after college I became a professional portrait photographer and entered the US Air Force where I became a biomedical equipment repair specialist. It was here, married with two - later four - children, that my interest in computers and technology was born! The desktop computer was just beginning to migrate into business and DBase was quickly becoming the application of choice among the government. It was also here that my experience as an instructor grew exponentially. I quickly became one of the most sought after instructors in 3rd Air Forces USAFE, teaching Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Electronics, and First Aid and earned my national certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. After my honorable discharge was received in 1988 I moved into the field of management where I served in directors and field service engineers roles for various medical repair companies and medical device manufacturers and often found myself mentoring those junior to me. My skills with computers were honed supporting various clients throughout the US. It was also in 1988 that I co-founded my first company, TechNET Software TeKnowledgies, and entered the arena of educational software development and computer consulting. Clients included The Saenger Organization, Lanier Worldwide, the US Navy Jr.ROTC in Texas, and United Parcel Service. One of my responsibilities at TechNET was the development of the company's website on this new thing called the Internet and the World Wide Web. My skills in computer graphics and software analysis and debugging were born! While at TechNET I earned certifications in Six Sigma and later Lean, became a Master Trainer, and honed my skills at public speaking. I also began helping clients design, develop, and implement knowledge management programs. All during this time I continued my educational studies earning a Masters and then a Doctorate in Theology, becoming ordained into the ministry, and earning a certification in C++. I began teaching computer related courses at the middle school, high school, vocational school and college levels and became adept at developing curricula for use in the classroom. My experience as a website designer/developer also continued and it was not long before I had some one hundred websites designed, developed, and implemented for various companies around the country and had added skill sets in html, javascript, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, and Adobe Photoshop. It was also during this time that I became a fashion photographer and had the pleasure of working with models from all over the world. In April 2005, I received a disabling back injury while on the job at a client hospital and was forced to retire from field service and fashion photography. For two and one-half years, my focus became building up the strength to get out of bed, take care of my toiletry needs, feed myself, and then sit for short periods of time at the table or on the couch. At first, I could only manage minutes at a time. Gradually, with the help of some nine doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists, I was able to make it through the day upright without the need for continuous consumption of pain meds. As part of my rehabilitation, I began designing websites in earnest and added content management systems to my repertoire. It was here that I first discovered learning management systems and began designing, developing and implementing online educational websites based on the Moodle virtual learning environment. I returned to the workforce in 2007. No longer able to lift a tool kit or do the strenuous work associated with field service and fashion photography, I fell back into an academic career once again teaching computer related courses. I helped found an online divinity school and later an online private academy for grades three through twelve and formed yet another company which had some short term success. I also began my academic career in education earning a Master of Science in Education Media Design and Technology and completing the course work for a Ph.D. in Education specializing in Instructional Design for Online Learning. As a result of my academic and management accomplishments, I was invited to serve as a senior manager for the U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), Joint Warfighting Center (JWC), Joint Knowledge Development Distribution Capability (JKDDC). I became the manager for the largest division within JKDDC - the Knowledge Services (KS) division - where I earned two certifications in knowledge management, and supported the KS Division Chief and the Federal Contracting Task Order Lead by leading a team of some five hundred instructional designers, courseware developers, graphic designers, audio/video engineers, gameware developers, trainers, and adult education specialists, and became one of the most asked for field trainers for the division. At one time, my team was located around the world and had some twelve hundred projects in development simultaneously. I daresay, most of us would still be at USJFCOM if the president had not disestablished it and eliminated some three thousand jobs in 2011. It was an exciting time!