I founded Field Tested Systems as a way to share my passion for hands-on-science, education, and citizens' scienceFounded in 2009, the company has become a respected software and hardware company.We specialize in providing scientific tools to educators and scientists.I'm quite proud of what we've accomplished. Our RSpec software is used by professionals and amateurs to process astronomical spectra. These spectra can be captured with a low cost grating mounted on a DSLR or small telescope with cooled FITS, video, or other camera.Want to know what we do? See this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv5fFSacVO8.Building on the success of our software, in 2013 we designed and began manufacturing a classroom gas tube spectrometer. Called "RSpec Explorer," it's been very well accepted by educators in middle school through university Physics, Chemistry and Astro 101. As a leader in the field of low resolution astronomical spectroscopy and education, I have had the pleasure of being the featured speaker to many conferences, classrooms, and meetings.I was also on the masthead of Sky & Telescope Magazine as a Contributing Editor for ten years, starting in 2012.For more details on our company, see our web sites: www.fieldtestedsystems.com and www.rspec-astro.com

I was one of the initial employees of a start-up named QuickPen. As a small team, we invented a wide range of game-changing products that were adopted by more than 90% of the largest 200 commercial mechanical contractors (plumbing, piping, HVAC). These products streamlined the critical functions of estimating, CAD, CAD-CAM, and production scheduling.My initial position was as a software developer. Over the years, as a partial owner of the company, I advanced to the role of Vice President of Product Development. I also often participated in trade show booth, presentations, and other sales and marketing activities.In more recent years, I continued on with the company, continuing to work with their incredibly professional and talented product development team.We grew the company to 80 employees. It was purchased by Trimble Navigation in 2009.After 33 years, I retired from this company in October of 2016.