I was born in 1979, and grew up in Crown Point, Indiana. I had an interest in writing, technology, the future, and computers from an early age. I studied BASIC in a summer class at Purdue Calumet at age eight, though we didn't have a computer at home until I moved with my mom to the Milwaukee area when I was thirteen.
In high school I spent time programming my TI-82 calculator, creating games and programs to help me in physics class. I was involved in cross-country, ComedySportz, the school newspaper Pioneer Outlook, and Channel 3B, the educational access cable station. I met some of my best friends at the Channel, and learned a lot about video, computers, and who I am. From that experience I got a job working for a local computer company, and while it didn't pay well it taught me a lot.
I went to the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for a couple semesters, planning to go into architecture, before I realized it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. I got a job at a computer consulting agency where I worked as a temp for several companies before winding up at U.S. Cellular. They hired me on and I worked at their Waukesha Call Center in the IS department for over six years. Then, in 2004, I was promoted and moved to Chicago. Here I am responsible for desktop software standards, software repackaging and delivery, and project management.
Through all of this I've kept my close friends from high school, plus some new ones. We've kept working on video projects, web projects, started companies, and had a lot of fun. In 2005 I met Sarah, who after just four months moved in with me. We spend time watching movies and anime, keeping my two cats at bay, and visiting friends. Outdoors I have fun camping, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and frisbee. Indoors I enjoy writing, web programming and design, watching tv, and working out.
I've always loved technology and computers. I've used every version of Microsoft Windows from 3.0 through 2003 R2, plus MS-DOS, several BSD and Linux flavors, and some more obscure OSs like Amiga, OS/2, and Be. I work with a long list of abbreviated technologies including ADSI, LDAP, MSI, WMI, VBS, WSH, DNS, DHCP, WINS, ACL, SQL, ADO, ODBC, ISA, NS, VPN, OWA, RDP, ICA, and many more. At home I focus more on HTML, CSS, SQL, and PHP.
In the end, my goal is unchanged from the start. I want to spend my time designing intelligent, fresh, and inspiring creations. I want to be successful enough to work because I want to, not because I have to. I want to design and build my dream home in the woods, travel the world, and write science fiction novels. I want to make a difference in the world with my ideas, and share my life with friends and family.
Matthew Johnson
Battlestar Galactica, American Dad, Family Guy, Heroes, Robot Chicken
29
Chicago, Illinois
Infrastructure Analyst III for U.S. Cellular
2004 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
2000 Suzuki SV650S
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
The Fellowship of the Ring, Twelve Monkeys, Edward Scissorhands, Fight Club