My Story
During my college years, I discovered my passion for programming through various classes that captivated my interest. I became engrossed in the subject, often staying up late into the night, determined to unravel the intricacies of coding. Despite receiving encouragement from teaching assistants to pursue a career in programming, I hesitated, fearing that excessive screen time would strain my eyes. Little did I know that our modern lifestyle would revolve around screens, whether it be computers or smartphones. Although I initially missed my calling in the world of computer programming, my journey led me to where I am today.
My drive to solve complex business problems has always been a part of me. I constantly seek ways to streamline processes, making them faster, simpler, and ultimately more profitable. I thrive in innovative environments that foster the development of new products and services, and I strive to deploy them efficiently. Throughout my years in the environmental industry, I consistently sought ways to leverage technology to simplify our work. While Excel served as my go-to tool for most tasks, I ventured into HTML when I embarked on the creation of a dynamic internet book titled Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes. This project allowed me to accumulate vast amounts of information, organize it effectively, and present it in a user-friendly format. Although I eventually had to put Ballparks on hold due to time constraints, it opened my eyes to the limitless possibilities offered by the internet.
I’m originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and I also spent a portion of my life residing in Calgary, Alberta. At the age of 19, I made a decision to transfer from the University of Alberta to the University of Denver with the intention of pursuing hockey. However, circumstances led me to discover a passion for volleyball instead. Following my college years, I returned to Canada and spent a year living in Toronto. Nevertheless, my heart yearned to be back in the United States. In 1986, I embarked on a journey across the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, Michigan, and made my way to Denver, Colorado. It was in Denver where I met my beautiful American girl, and together, we have shared a fulfilling journey since 1987. In 1992, I obtained US citizenship, thus becoming a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States. While I still passionately support the Edmonton Oilers and the Canadian National Hockey Team, my allegiance lies predominantly with the USA. Our time in California was marked by the joy of raising three remarkable sons, and our family has experienced immeasurable love and affection through our beloved Golden Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers, who hold a special place in our hearts. All, are the loves of my life.
In 2001, I transitioned from the hazardous abatement field to the hazardous consulting sector. During this period, I observed field technicians struggling with issues such as poor penmanship, accuracy, and efficiency. Driven by my inclination for optimization, I decided to develop an Excel spreadsheet that replicated the lab-supplied chain of custody. I believed that by providing a typed version of the chain of custody to the laboratory, we could expedite the data entry process on their end. Furthermore, I felt that the inclusion of illegible handwriting in formal reports of results was unappealing. When clients pay a substantial amount for these reports, they deserve to receive them in a clear and easily decipherable format, without having to decipher hieroglyphics or navigate industry jargon. Additionally, I believed that these documents should be customizable with a company's name, logo, and color scheme. As I continued to refine the look, feel, and organization of the Excel chain of custody, others within my industry noticed my work and expressed interest in obtaining a copy of the spreadsheet. However, I politely declined, unwilling to give my peers and competitors the advantage I had painstakingly developed.
During my time in the consulting industry, I held various positions such as Project Manager, Branch Manager, Vice President, and eventually President. Throughout these roles, I consistently refined and expanded the features of my spreadsheet, making it increasingly valuable for my own work and that of my field personnel. I extensively field-tested it, subjecting it to the countless challenges posed by the hazardous waste industry. It was during this period that Apple introduced the revolutionary iPhone, which allowed users to perform many tasks that we were already carrying out on our desktop computers.
I couldn't help but wonder: Why couldn't we bypass the traditional pen-and-paper approach, the laboratory data entry, and the subsequent analysis data set? It was during the Christmas break of 2010 when inspiration struck. Sitting in the school parking lot, waiting for my son's basketball practice to conclude, I conceptualized a working model or storyboard of how field personnel could seamlessly use their iPhones for these processes. Using Excel, I meticulously designed a mock iPhone screen, devoting three years to refining every detail — cutting, pasting, and eliminating unnecessary elements. By 2013, I had prepared a comprehensive scope of work for programmers to bid on through various open forums. Although I received a wide range of offers, I ultimately selected a programmer whose quote aligned with my budget. Unfortunately, this decision proved to be a grave mistake, as the programmer was overwhelmed by the project's complexity and eventually quit. Not only did he keep the funds I had already paid him, but he audaciously requested the final payment, believing that his incomplete work could be handed off to another programmer. To my dismay, the product lacked any functionality whatsoever.
Over the next few years, I approached several other programmers, but their costs were prohibitively high due to the relatively nascent stage of app development at the time. In 2016, I founded CMS Environmental Services and continued to perfect the spreadsheet version of my concept. Finally, in 2018, armed with the necessary knowledge and experience, I sought out a local programming firm. By meeting them face to face and meticulously explaining the intricacies of my app idea, I was confident that I had found the right team to rekindle the project.
It took a year and a half of painstakingly addressing each entry point, but we eventually created a product that I am immensely proud to present today. I am thrilled to introduce you to my Interactive Chain of Custody design — a culmination of years of dedication and effort. With this solution, I hope to provide an enjoyable and streamlined experience for users like yourself.