After 5 years in the US Marine Corps I came "back home" to Nebraska. I got involved in the Mortgage Industry and did very well. I was involved in Mortgages for 9 years, working my way to Production Manager for two companies, Member of the Mortgage Brokers Associations Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee. After watching so many good companies, and good people go under, I decided that it was time to take my sales skills to another organization...and industry. I went to work for DTN in late 2008, a company that sells weather and marketing information to Farmers, Ranchers and companies that do business with them. I was immediately successful, being chosen as "Rookie of the Year" after a few short months, and earning a spot on the "Presidents Club" four months ahead of time my first full year. I really enjoyed working on my consultative sales skills in a different industry, and continuing my professional development there, but computers and technology have always been a passion of mine. After getting my feet wet in tech sales at Bizco Technologies I had to move on because although I was performing at approx 200% of quota, I was not making the money that I was hoping to make. It was just the wrong time to try and transition from sales to IT. Through a series of events I ended up going to work for a roofing company in sales. This was about as far from IT as I could get, but the income to provide for my family was there. I would have never chosen roofing sales and insurance restoration work as a career, but it provided for my family for over a decade and led me opportunities that really gave me the chance to continue to develop my leadership, entrepreneurship and managerial skills. As I look back on my career to date, I have had a wide variety of experiences and opportunities, but with all of my children off pursuing their own dreams, it is time for me to take a lot of the advise that I gave to them and do what I really love to do and find work in the IT field.With that in mind I recently enrolled at Western Governors University (WGU) in their Cyber-security program. I just completed my first certification (the COMPTIA A+) and next is preparing for the Network+ certification. I am excited to pursue that next opportunity!