iMPACT
iMPACT started as Vektor Effects in 1999 as a hobby. Most of the work done was for personal sites or for various gaming guilds (or clans depending on the game), and included Diablo, Diablo 2, Quake 3:UT, and (most recently) World of Warcraft.
What got me started on websites was a book called "HTML in 24 Hours", and my inspiration was a Pink Floyd tribute site. At the time, midi files were the craze and I admit, I was in there like a dirty shirt. Most images were taken from various sites and/or poorly edited with early versions of Paint Shop Pro and other freeware programs.
Although I'd been into computers at an early age (was the "Lab Tech" in Grade 4; showing my elementary school teachers how to use software applications like Microsoft Works), I didn't get my own PC until I was 17 (1997). I had gotten my first technical job at AB Microtech in late 1996 through a high school course. After school, I went on to another computer company for around nine months, had received over 20 HP Printer certifications and was ready for my A+ test, but left due to conflict of interest. It was at this point I had decided IT was not going to be my profession. Why work for people who wouldn't appreciate your efforts? In fact, I'm almost certain the movie "Office Space" was written loosely on my experience at this place.
For five years following that, I worked in sales as the Shipping Manager, Network & Website Administator, and Sales for a collectables wholesale company. From here, my learning pattern had been pretty inconsistant; swapping back and forth between website creation and graphics.
I had reached my potential with that company, and opportunity knocked. An interview for a company in need of good help (and myself in need of a change) led to landing a position of Help Desk for a WAN spanning six cities. I realized how little I knew about networking and quickly finished my A+ Exam so I could progress into the Network+. Nine months into the job, I took over as the IT dept, which halted my studying just to maintain this archaic network (14 servers/100 users/3 companies utilizing Windows NT/2K/2K3 server, Windows 2K/XP, Office 95/2K/2K3, Exchange Server 5.5, Blackberry Enterprise Server, Tablet PCs, Laptops, Desktops, and several custom software applications).
Two years into it, an accountant tried to explain to me what my "responsibilities and priorities" were. I decided the position no longer had anything to offer. I had saved the company $200,000 (while also upgrading equipment and increasing bandwidth in the remaining 5 offices by 400% at no extra cost); yet couldn't get approval for internal equipment.
Fast forward to present. I'm now a full-time network admin for a non-profit organization, and run this business pretty much the rest of the time. The people and clients I work for appreciate results and give room for education and flexibility. Most importantly, my faith in humanity has been coming back.
