Doug, the early years
I began working with computers when I was 8 years old thanks to my parents' purchase of a Tandy Color Computer for my older brother. They never thought that the two of us would fight for time on this device, but we loved that computer and within a year I had taught myself the ins and outs of Microsoft Extended Basic, becoming a published computer program author at the age of 9! Right there, I was hooked.
As I grew, I continued educating myself in computers by learning various early programming languages and writing my first business application (a mailing label database for my uncle's driving school) when I was just 10. Later, in high school, I was a proud member of the computer team, winning both the local and regional contests in which we entered.
Eventually, I also learned to fix computers, pulling apart every electronic device that I could get my hands on simply so I could put it back together and learn how it worked (sure, sometimes the 'putting it back together' part did not go so well, but how else do you learn, right?).
So, to sum it up, I loved computers from a very early age and did everything I could to learn more about them.
Putting it to work
I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in "Business Information Systems" from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. My early work experience included managing a computer services establishment to a later position with a self-service kiosk solutions company called MontegoNet. Here I did everything from project management for large clients (including PepsiCo, the US military, the Washington Redskins, and more) to ongoing technical support for the company's products. I also helped develop a product line aimed at bringing innovative, self-service solutions to the banking industry and became sales channel manager of this program.
Eventually leaving MontegoNet to focus on helping small businesses better use technology to grow their company led me to time spent as part owner of a company called The Computer Doctors.
This brings us to the present day, where I am now the sole proprietor of 'me' - Douglas Fingliss: business consultant and computer service technician.
Contact me today - I look forward to helping you tomorrow.