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About Me

I have over 25 years of experience working in computer related fields. I am currently working as an Information Technology Consultant and I am assigned on a contract position with a large corporation.  My current assignment is working on a corporate compliance project that involves insuring that corporate security measures and computer standards are met. Many of the computers I am working with are connected to specialty analyses devices which adds an entire new layer of complexity to the assignment.

Prior to this I was working as an I.T. Specialist for a nonprofit organization located in Terre Haute Indiana. I should explain that the title is misleading. It should have read "I.T. Everything." I  handled all of the computer, server, network and phone system support for the organization of more than 300 employees. This included a main site, two remote sites and a few remote offices.

I worked with several Windows 2003 servers, Exchange 2003, a Nortel PBX system and a host of about 160 networked microcomputers ranging in age from 8 years old to brand new. There was also the occasional odd device to deal with. I supported the maintenance depart with some key and door lock systems; the Human resources department with card and badge makers and several biometrics hand scanners tied to a time clock system.

I was often called upon to keep older machines running and usable. This was no easy task, but it gave me ample opportunity to work on my computer building skills and has given me a great deal of experience with hardware replacements.

In the past I have worked at Indiana State University as a computer consultant. My Job titles ranged from Mainframe Console Operator to Senior Micro Computing Consultant. There were an entire slew of subtitles attached to me during my time there from Documentation coordinator to newsletter editor. When I left the university I held the unofficial title of Manager of Micro computing and Networking support. Basically I managed the other computer consultants.

Goals...

I am looking to make some resource connections through this website. No one person can know everything and people in similar roles can often be the best resource you can have when unfamiliar problems arise.

I am very interested in obtaining some certifications for some of the things I have worked with in the past and present.

I would like to finish my degree. I have never completed my Computer Science Degree from Indiana State University, but I hope to return to it someday.

Got a question for me? Need some follow up info?

If I can help I will be glad to.

You can contact me at lee.brannon@ravencrest.com

Personal Computer ownership history:

I am currently writing this with a 3 GHZ P4 Gateway computer running Windows XP.

I am often asked by people who know me professionally about what type of computer I have at home. The assumption is made that I always have the latest and greatest. This is entirely untrue. I generally work at home with one or two generation old equipment. I’ll try to draw a picture via a simple history to illustrate. I have added some notes about the types of computers I was working with at the time. I  don’t know the exact times that the various computers were purchased or acquired, but I do know the general history of my personal computer ownership. I have worked with and supported micro computers since they were invented and mass produced.

First micro computer:  Purchased as a gift from my Parents- it was a texas Instruments TI 994a  (cassette storage and my first program called Waldo’s pirate math filled up the entire memory [16K] before I finished it.)

{I was working as a mainframe console with Control Data Mainframes and old IBM 360-50 computer at the time.}

Second Computer: Commodore 64. Originally had cassette storage, but I added a Floppy drive at a later time.  I was one the early members of the Wabash Valley Commodore 64 users group.  I helped produce the WVCU newsletter.

{I was working with IBM PC’s, Apple IIe’s and the mainframes at this time.}

Third computer:  Brand new Macintosh SE.

{Working with Several Novell Servers, Zenith PC’s, Apple IIGS computers, IBM PC’s, Macintosh and Fat Macs [512] as well as various mainframe and mini computers. At one point I had to support and maintain some software on and Atari 800 computer that was used with a light sensor to measure rat brain cell density.}

PS/2 Model 25: Hand me down.

Macintosh Quadra 840 AV: Played with Digital video capture and used this machine for more than 10 years. I bought it new and the total bundle was about $5,000 which was a lot of money back in the day.

{Working with early versions of Windows on Gateway PC’s, Zenith PC’s, IBM PC’s.  I supported various Novell Servers, A Macintosh Keyserver, Macintosh SE’s, LC’s and Quadra MASs as well as various mainframe and mini computers.}

Around this time I also acquired an off brand Gaming PC machine that I passed on to my oldest son.

Macintosh G3 8100:

{Running my own online business at this point.}

At this point I also owned Various off Brand PC’s that I bought used and a Compaq P III (Brannonstein) machine.

{I was working with several Dell and HP PC’s, several Windows 2000 and 2003 Servers and various specialty machines.}

Gateway GP7-500 P III, A G3 Macintosh tower, A G3 all-in one MAC, The before Mentioned Compaq P III.

{At this point still working with several Dell and HP PC’s, several Windows 2003 Servers and various specialty machines.}

Currently my two main machines are the older PIII gateway and a newer 3 GHZ P4 Gateway e6100.  I still have the Mac G3 machines (stored in a closet), an original Mac 512 [fat Mac] picked up at a yard sell. A Dell 2350 laptop that was repaired and is currently in storage as parts.

{I am currently working with about 100 Dell computers that range in age from 5 to 6 years ago to brand new machines. I also support about 60 HP machines that are 8 to 9 years old.  I manage several network servers running 2003 and 2007 versions of the server software, Share Point Services, Exchange 2007 etc.}