A "virtual" change in my career

Well, it's official. I've joined VMware. Beginning Monday, March 10, I will be the newest addition to the Ohio Valley Strategic Sales team. I'm very excited about this incredible opportunity, and I can't wait to get started.

VMware (NYSE: VMW) is the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the data center. Customers of all sizes rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green. With 2007 revenues of $1.33 billion, more than 100,000 customers and more than 10,000 partners, VMware is one of the fastest-growing public software companies. VMware is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

VMware’s broad and proven suite of virtualization solutions addresses a range of complex challenges facing IT organizations, including:

• Server Consolidation & Infrastructure Optimization: VMware technology – including the industry’s only complete virtual infrastructure - helps organizations consolidate servers and increase utilization rates, greatly reduce power and cooling costs, and manage and automate IT processes for maximum availability, performance and scalability.


• Business Continuity: With exclusive features such as automated load balancing and live migration of virtual machines, VMware technology enables organizations to increase uptime and reduce the cost and complexity of meeting high availability and disaster recovery objectives.


• Software Lifecycle Automation: Developers and other IT professionals use VMware solutions to streamline the software development and testing process, reduce server provisioning time, and improve software quality.


• Enterprise Desktop Management: Enabling enterprises to better manage and control their desktop systems, VMware helps customers speed deployments, administer systems from a central location, and provide end-users with a satisfying physical-PC experience.

A less intrusive way to communicate my goings-on

With all the activity in my life lately, I've sent several emails to keep a lot of people updated on what's transpired. However, I'm not overly fond of receiving mass-broadcast-what's-up-yea-for-me-look-what-I-can-do emails, and I was quickly becoming a sending offender. It's time to stop the madness, especially with a new job and new vehicle on the horizon. So, in a concerted effort to cease and desist from further detailed blasts, I will be relying heavily on my blog to get my message out. In addition to some musings and poetry from my spotty youth, I will continue to make posts on observations and events in my life.

I hope you'll check out the blog if you're interested. Feel free to post comments or provide feedback directly on the blog posts. And, if you're using an RSS reader (such as NewsGator, Bloglines, Google Reader, etc.) you can point your reader to my blog feed. Users of RSS readers already know that using RSS allows you to stay apprised of news, blog posts and articles without having to check each website individually. (Personally, I couldn't imagine consuming information on the Internet without my NewsGator reader.)

Endings and Beginnings

It's been almost a week since I lost my Maggie. Each day is a little easier but it's still hard to accept that she's gone. While my time with her has ended, my memories of all the happiness, companionship and unyielding devotion she gave me will live forever in my heart. I picked up her ashes from Kettering Animal Hospital today... that was an incredibly difficult drive home.

Then, a couple of hours ago, I received a phone call that could very well be a new phase of my career. I am close to accepting a new job, and may start as soon as next Monday, March 3rd. I'm going to be leveraging my skills and experience in a different type of software company, and I'm very fortunate to have this rare opportunity.

What a strange sensation... simultaneously feeling the pain of losing my best friend while being excited about starting a fantastic new job.

A very sad day

I lost my best friend, my true companion of the last ten years. At 6pm today, Maggie's battle with mast cell tumors came to a swift and quiet end. Thankfully, her last days were happy and playful, with very little suffering. I will never forget the boundless love, patience and joy she gave me every day.