I wasn’t supposed to be in IT- I was supposed to be a fighter pilot. While planning to enter Anapolis (Marines or Navy, it wasn’t yet decided) to become a pilot like my father before me, I discovered that astigmatism would keep me out of flight school. In college I studied (among other things) Business Administration. I had a semester of Computer Science and didn’t like it. “Fortran programming blows” I thought. after three years I dropped out and took a job in St. Thomas, USVI. I eventually ended up managing the restaurant I worked at. Not bad for a guy 23 years old.

I moved back to the mainland but not to be a manager, although I manager the bar. I took a job as an industrial electrician and was pretty good at it. I ended up working for a company that overhauled power plants. I moved home to NC from Florida and ended up starting a small electrical contracting business. 

In 1987 I had a friend with a computer business. He is still in the business by the way. He let me upgrade my PC with an AT motherboard and was impressed that I could do it. I’d always had a knack for it. As a kid in Miami I used to drag my wagon through the neighborhood picking up old dead TVs and radios and would combine parts from several to get one to work. In 1987 “networking” was just starting to be a thing. At that time it was either Token Ring or AcrNet to tie PCs together or serial cable for UNIX servers and dumb terminals. “Nerds” didn’t have much experience running cables anywhere except across the floor. I explained how to get into an attic or basement and “fish” wires up or down the wall to a pop-in box. He immediately offered me a job. He kept after me till eventually I accepted. I was now an entry level help desk tech. Within a year I was service manager and a network engineer (Novel). That was 33 years ago. Except for an 18 month break to be an artist (Traditional native art- stone, wood and flute carving) I’ve been in the industry ever since, and always as a manager/administrator. I was supposed to be a pilot, but IT beats selling life insurance (I tried that for 2 weeks too). 

I’ve worked for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (or which I am a member) for over 20 years. Much of that time was as the Help Desk manager and Systems Administrator. However, my department went through a bit of a rough patch sixe years ago and when the Executive Director of Information Technology at the Cherokee Indian Hospital came open I jumped at the chance. I had been planning to take an early retirement ( yes- it was that bad) so this job was a gift. I love it!

So I guess I’m like Doctor Science (look it up). My job is called Executive Director of Information Technology but I act like a CIO. We grown our teem from 5 to 15 people as the hospital went from 250 to 750 employees. In 2017 we were awarded the Indian Health Service Outstanding IT Program award. I work with the best team I’ve ever been in. Our hospital administration is the most enlightened ever. I love my job and my work!

Hugh