About me
Hi, I'm André and I'm a Machead.
I've been tinkering with computers since the early '80s while still in school in Singapore. I started out with Apple II's, IIe's, and IBM PC clones. I think dBase II was the first serious program I used, and it struck me then how amazing it was to manage structured data electronically. I wanted to study business management and computer science because it seemed like the logical thing to do. Alas, the option was revoked for lack of student interest, and, to paraphrase one administrator, "Why on earth would anyone want a combination of those two subjects." Sigh.
I went on to study business anyway. I craved a change after years of taking pure science and advanced mathematics classes plus a healthy dose of drama on the side. I finished at the top of my class, earning my GCE A-level certificate just in time to start my mandatory service in the Singapore Armed Forces.
Oddly enough, working at an army training school is where I got my start in publishing and prepress production. In typical army fashion, I produced training manuals and revised them, and revised them again, and revised them some more, by which time the next edition had to be started. Fortunately, they were done electronically on computers. Actually, these computers were CPT dedicated word processing machines which was quite the innovative way to do long text documents back then.
I found the publishing experience interesting enough to pursue a communications degree from Southern Vermont College after completing my service. Computers were just starting to be used for graphics and I readily hopped on the bandwagon. No matter how buggy and crash prone Pagemaker 1.0 was, it was still better and more exciting than using, literally, a pasteboard, X-Acto knife, and hot glue. And making revisions was a snap. I quickly fell into newspaper and yearbook projects, not to mention photography, editing, and writing.
After college, I worked for an Apple Authorized Reseller in Europe for a while. I sold and supported Macs both in the local and American military communities. I had the exceptional opportunity to help install a Mac network in the office of one of the highest U.S. military commands in NATO. That experience left an indelible impression on me and decisively swayed my computing preference in favor of the Mac.
Back in Vermont, I started Caelion Naarvijk Media intending to offer design and layout services. Once my technical expertise became known, however, I started getting more requests for database development and general Mac support. Then along came a job at Orvis that was too good to pass up. I started out producing catalogs. That eventually evolved into a hybrid creative/IT position involving supporting Macs, creating and managing databases, automating digital workflows, and conducting training classes in addition to producing catalogs.
Thirteen years in the corporate rat race with incessant stress and deadlines wore me down. So here I am back to doing what I love: freelancing as a Mac geek. Get in touch when you're in the neighborhood.
