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Art Maley handles the IT duties for GameStop Corporation's Louisville Distribution Center. GameStop Corporation is the new entity formed by the recent merger of EBGames and GameStop, Inc. The new company has approximately 4,000 retail stores worldwide and is the world's largest specialty retailer of gaming software and hardware. Art likes to build his own computers and is currently gathering the parts necessary for his latest project, a PC PVR known as MythTV. That project is a bit delayed while Art is desperately seeking a source for beryllium spheres. Back to top |
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Bob Sokoler is currently the host a weekly computer/technology show of Insight Cable's (ICN2) "Dot Com", he also owns "Communication Specialists" a technology consulting company. In recent years bob was host of the "The Morning Team" on 84 WHAS, Co-Host of "Louisville Tonight Live" on WHAS 11, host of the Sunday, computer show "84 Online" for 84 WHAS and reported weekly on computer trends for WHAS 11. Before coming to Louisville in 1994, Bob co-anchored the noon news and was a field reporter for the 5 p.m. news on WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to Atlanta, he anchored the weekend news and was a field reporter for the 5:30 p.m. news at WCPX-TV in Orlando, Florida. Bob also reported news at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. KUTV-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah and WYRT-TV in Flint, Michigan. Bob is also a two time Emmy award winning reporter, his hobbies include Photography and Gardening. Back to top |
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On August 12th, 1981, toward the end of a two week course Carmine attended at Harvard Business School, he saw a demo of Visi-Calc on a TRS-80 microcomputer. After displaying the power of this technology, these "pundits" ventured forth with their opinions that IBM would never get into this marketld. The next day, IBM announced the IBM PC. So much for the Harvard geniuses. Shortly after this, Carmine became convinced that whatever was thought to be impossible (with this new technology), someone was probably already working on a solution in their garage. That opinion has not changed. He considers himself a PC "street mechanic", is willing to try anything once and has never been too shy to ask a question on technology. While working for a company that handles financial settlement between travel agents and carriers for tickets sold in the U.S., he has also done some PC work for friends and family as the head of Gratis Computing, "Where the price is always..." He is now retired and doing much more of the same at only slightly higher rates. Back to top |
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When Cindy isn't playing with the dogs or working with the kids, she hosting one of serveral a chat rooms on AOL and is the team's resident AOL Guru. If she doesnt know the answer, she can find it or locate someone who knows the answer. Cindy has been volunteering on AOL for 4 years. Cindy is also a professional groomer and a vet assitant at Barbour Lane Animal Hospital. She is also a 4-H leader for the Oldham County 4-H dog club, Leaders Of The Pack, and is the President of the Oldham County 4-H Counsel. She is also on the state 4-H Dog committy and helps with the State Fair Dog Show each year. Back to top |
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Daniel A. Williams is a college student, currently attending Murray State University. Daniel has been working with computers since he was 6 years old, starting out on an IBM Eduquest. Since sitting down at his first keyboard, he has been interested with what technology can do. Daniel has trained himself on most of the things that he knows, as well as being thrown into working with programs and working his way out of it. He loves to work on things and will generally not say no to anyone or any problem presented to him. Daniel's specialties are troubleshooting problems and preventitive computer maintenance (anti-virus programs, spyware removal tools), but he will do almost anything hardware or software related. He's glad to be a part of the Gurus and is glad to help with any problems anyone might have. Back to top |
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Ed is the team's Open Source enthusiast, Web designer and database programmer. He has been using Linux as his desktop OS for most of this decade, and has never looked back. He is currently running a slew of Linux and UNIX distributions: OpenSUSE, CentOS, RHEL, Fedora, Ubuntu and FreeBSD. For fun, Ed likes to tell Windows users that he doesn't have the need to run any anti-virus or spyware software. Ed began his trek into the business side of computing beginning in 1996 as a chat host on the fledgling Microsoft Network. He eventually became a contractor for MSN, creating content and even developing forum Web sites. During the Dot Com boom, Ed explored his creative side by writing for CNET's TechRepublic, first as a freelancer and eventually becoming a full time employee. These days, Ed works as the IT Manager for WHAS-TV, located in Louisville, KY. In prior lives, he has worked as the the IT Manager for Print Fulfillment Services, the Director of Information Technology for a satellite Internet company and as a technology consultant. Additionally, Ed co-owns UCANweb.com Inc with fellow team member, Kyle Harmon, operating as the Web designer and server administrator. Back to top |
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Harish is a Chemical Engineer by trade and lives with his beautiful bride Kim in Paducah, KY. His first foray into computers was trying to write assembler code to multiply two 16 digit numbers on an Intel 8085 processor. "I think back how incredibly frustrating those weeks were for me (in college) and am truly amazed at how far we have come today in the world of computers." Hash is the team's Mac addict and loves OSX. He also loves Open Source and occasionally rants about the evils of Microsoft domination. You can find moreof Hash's thoughts on his blog "Entropic Cogitations" Back to top |
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Jamie has many interests, including home theater gadgets, high definition television, playing the guitar, and enjoying some good heavy metal. Oh, and he likes to work on computers, of course! He works for a company called ELAN Home Systems as a tech. support specialist. He is also has the following certifications: A+ certified Dell certified Hughes network systems certified Canon certified IBM certified Phillips LCD/Plasma certified Back to top |
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John Markham has a mottled history. Starting in 1967 with the Burrows accounting machine at International Silver while he was at Choate (punch tape) to an IBM 360 at Tulane with punch cards and machine language (hex and octal), he moved into PCs in 1982 with his first Adam Osborne portable with a Z80 chip. Then he moved to the IBM desk top with PC Rentals, Inc. He was President of the Kentucky Indiana Personal Computer Users Group for 2 terms. He was General Counsel for VenuSoft, Inc. a software development company in 2000 and is now General Counsel for SkyWay USA, Inc., a satellite broad band Internet provider. He has harvested over 2,000 used PCs from local businesses which are refurbished by WaySide Christian Mission and distributed free to the homeless. He is a lawyer with a degree in Tax Law, a Founder and Board Member of Kentucky Harvest and is still trying to figure out what TPC/IP means... Back to top |
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JP is a graduate of the University of Louisville completing an M.A. of Mathematics. He currently works for the US Army Corps of Engineers and is a Ph.D. candidate in Mathematics at the University of Louisville with a focus on Data Mining. JP also attended the University of Kentucky studying Computer Science and was a Sigma Pi there. He is working on applying his Mathematical knowledge with his computer abilities to grasp a better understanding of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis. JP also does web design for a few different organizations, including the Cain Center for the Disabled (http://www.caincenter.org/) and is working on various research projects. His main computer focus is database analysis/management, web interfacing, wireless networking, and coding. Back to top |
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When Kevin isn't dangling from cliff faces, bridges and buildings he's the Lead Technician at Microdome Computers in Madison, Indiana. In his voluminous spare time he answers email questions for the PC Gurus and writes for and edits the GuruNews newsletter. With a history ranging from EMS to IBM he brings a unique perspective to our little corner of the world, but his hatred of the RIAA and MPAA seems to define his online persona. Back to top |
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Kyle got his start in computers at the age of 2 on his grandfather's Apple II. His interest in computers has grown exponentially since then. His first work in the industry, apart from odd jobs and miscellaneous computer help, came at the age of 12 as a chat host, and eventually assistant community manager for the Microsoft Network. In 1999, he founded the website hosting company UCANweb, INC. with his partner and fellow team member Ed Engelking. Starting in 2001, he also contributed several articles to Tech Republic as a freelance writer. Today he works in the IT Department for a Louisville television station, and manages the day-to-day operations of UCANweb. He is the Team's networking and infrastructure guru, specializing in the Internet. He also manages the services that keep the website, email lists, and chat rooms up and running. He recently "Switched" to using a Mac as his main PC, and has never looked back, despite being a Mac neophyte. Kyle is also an avid weather enthusiast, with a particular interest in severe weather. In his time off, he has been known to travel several hundred miles in the pursuit of tornadoes. Back to top |
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Matt is employed by Underwriters Safety & Claims in their Information Services department. A native of Jeffersonville, Matt has been married to his wife, Kelli, since 1998. In addition to being a home-built PC enthusiast, Matt is an aspiring writer looking for a publisher with poor taste and/or eyesight. You can view Matt's weblog at www.opaquelucidity.com. Back to top |
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Mike's interest in computers came interestingly enough from a hobby he picked up while he was young: drawing. It was his hobby that encouraged him to study drafting and design at college in the early 90's. While taking these courses, Mike was introduced to computer aided design, also known as CAD, changing his life forever. In the past year, Mike's interest in computing has taken a rather interesting turn. He decided to go back to college, and enrolled as a student in Sullivan University where he is working diligently towards an Assosiate Degree in Information Technology. Mike is also concentrating on acquiring MCSE certification. Mike has the following certifications: A+ Certified Net+ Certified MCP - Windows XP Back to top |
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Taking an interest with computers at a young age, Robert has built many of his own computers, as well as various projects at his local High School and Career Center, including network, and studying the Cisco CCNA curriculum. He is an avid gamer, a fan of the Sci-Fi, First Person Shooter, and Flight Sim genres, and enjoys the occasional Strategy game. He graduated from Marine Corps Boot Camp at MCRD Parris Island on 14 November 03, and is currently stationed at MCAS New River where he works at Base Ops as a Flight Clearance Clerk. He is single and available.... Back to top |
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Tam took an interest in computers in 1995 and being the curious type just had to find out what it could do. Within the first 9 weeks of owning that computer, she managed to crash it 18 times and got to be on a first name basis with the tech-support agent. He knew her voice. Tam finally decided to expand her interest past just what makes a computer crash to what doesn't make it crash. She joined ZDNet in 1996. In 1997 she joined ZDNN and ZDTV (now known as G4TechTV). In 1999 Tam joined Oxygen Media. She currently does contracting work for building online communities, to writing manuals, to online data researching, and has a special interest in keeping children safe online as well as in viruses/spy-ware/mal-ware and hijackers, and naturally in trouble shooting computers. In her spare time, Tam enjoys reading, scouring the internet, and playing on a 9 ball pool league. Additionally, she recently purchased a motorcycle and still has yet to get it past first gear. :-) Back to top |
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Troy got his start on computers in 1985, when his parents purchased the first family computer, an 8088 Visual, a "clone pc" with dual 5 1/4" floppy drives and 512k of RAM. "I thought it was the greatest thing ever," Troy says, "We had an amber monochrome monitor and a 300 baud modem, how could it have gotten any better than that?" Troy now works for MicroDome Computers, based in Madison. "I've always had a knack for anything electronic or technical, and I really enjoy it!' What does he see in the future of technology? "Well, I think we need to be careful with this tech thing; it makes interpersonal communication so impersonal. We need to moderate ourselves and keep in touch with the real world." Back to top |
