About Me

Me and my family during an outing to Great FallsI am a ColdFusion web application developer who has been working with CF since version 4.5. Currently, I work for the Academy for Educational Development in Washington, DC where I have built and/or helped build several web applications using ColdFusion 8, Flex 3, MS SQL Server 2000, and the Fusebox 4.1 framework.

The first thing I’ll say is that I’m not a CF rock star like Ray Camden, Ben Forta, or Charlie Arehart.  I love those guys and read them and use their techniques regularly.  However, I am the ColdFusion Average Joe.  I don’t have a CS or programming background.  Rather, I came to be a web application developer out of  interest.  I learn by trying and making lots of mistakes.  This blog is where I write about my experiences in various aspects of ColdFusion development, the good and the not so good–what on earth could possibly go wrong?!  I do this in part to share my experiences with others, but also so that I know that I have learned something.  In college as a biology major, I learned that if I could explain a concept to others, then I truly understood that concept.  Same applies here.  Hopefully, my mistakes help others avoid them in their development.

In addition to my work, I am also a volunteer web developer for my church, St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, in Gaithersburg, MD.  In 2006, I implemented a new CSS layout and built a simple news and events admin tool again using ColdFusion 6 and MS Access. Currently I am in the process of redesigning and relaunching the site, this time based on CF8 and either MySQL or MS SQL Server.

My interests vary from music to movies, sports, cooking (although I’m not very good at it), and listening to Catholic podcasts.  I am a huge fan of 24 and CSI.  When I’m not sitting in front of a computer or trying to keep up with my 5 year old daughter, I play golf and basketball as often as possible.  I’m also a budding do-it-yourselfer around the house.  My wife Mekeba and I have installed a ceramic tile floor, wired and installed new lighting, installed faucets, etc.  A good deal of my time is also spent at my church as well, where I serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Parish Council Chairman.  Follow me on Twitter.