History Lesson

A Family of Builders

I have always been a builder. I come by it honestly.

My dad was a welder for General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division in Illinois. He welded oil pans for diesel locomotives—and those locomotives were huge.

He was also a barber. Before that, he served in the Merchant Marine.

Before that, during World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a cook, or galley man.

His life reflected hard work, practical skill, and the ability to adapt. Those same qualities have shaped my own journey.

Mainframes, Punch Cards, and COBOL — Around 1979

After college, I returned to Chicago around 1979 and began working for Walter E. Heller & Company, a major financial-services company.

I worked with punch cards and programmed in COBOL.

I later joined Velsicol Chemical, another large company, where I did systems work.

This was the beginning of my professional life in technology—but it would not be long before a new kind of computer captured my imagination.

Catching the Microcomputer Bug — Early 1980s

Then I caught the microcomputer bug.

I began programming for the Apple II, the TRS-80—or the “Trash-80,” as we affectionately called it at the time—and later the Commodore 64.

These small machines represented an entirely new world: computing was becoming personal, accessible, and creative.

Educational Software and Edutainment — Early to Mid-1980s

I joined Scott, Foresman and Company, a wonderful educational publishing company, where I worked on what we called edutainment: educational software that used games to help young children learn.

I truly enjoyed that work.

It was exciting to combine programming, creativity, and education in a way that could make a difference in a child’s life.

California, Burroughs, and Unisys — Mid-1980s and Beyond

Eventually, I needed to find a strong opportunity that would support the next stage of my life.

That search brought me to Camarillo, California, where I went to work for the defense contractor Burroughs Corporation.

Burroughs later merged with Sperry Corporation—whose computer division was widely known as Sperry Univac—and the combined company became Unisys.

I worked in minicomputer programming and met many interesting people there.

Of course, the most important person I met was my soon-to-be wife, Kerry.

That made the experience more meaningful than I ever could have anticipated.

Returning to Small Business with Derivative Genius — 2026

Today, I am launching Derivative Genius because I want to return to working closely with small businesses.

After decades in technology, I believe one of my most valuable roles is that of an interpreter: someone who can translate complex technology—and especially artificial intelligence—into practical tools, clearer decisions, and real opportunities for small-business owners.

That is why I am focusing on websites, blogs, podcasts, and AI-powered business solutions.

You will hear much more about that journey in the months ahead.

But this is the beginning.