Hi! I’m BRYAN.
I am an information technologist, consultant, writer, website builder, former meteorologist and occasional dabbler in marketing. More importantly I’m a husband to a great wife, the father of a terrific son, and grateful for the life I've been given.
More than 30 years ago my career brought me to a place called Sioux Falls, South Dakota and that’s where this story begins. I started my professional career as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. After a decade of forecasting the weather and working rotating shifts, I found a less predictable and more challenging foe, the computer. For the past twenty years, I’ve been working as an information technologist for the National Weather Service. Over the years, I’ve have a side interest in content management systems that eventually led me managing a number of websites and introduced me to a world of travel for various conferences as a guest, moderator, or media partner.
After all my travels for work and fun, I’ve come to realize that there is a fundamental lack of understanding by most people elsewhere of what it means to live in the City of Sioux Falls as well as the State of South Dakota. People who have never lived here have preconceptions that block them from seeing South Dakota as something more than where the buffalo roam and temperatures drop below zero in the winter. Yes, we do have bison and frigid winters…but there is a lot more than the obvious to see what my adopted home has to offer.
In part, my posts are an attempt to help you put any preconceptions you have of South Dakota behind you. Along the way, I hope to share my various interests beyond tech which lately has included camping, bicycling , hiking, and my latest toy...a Can-Am Spyder. At the end of the day, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota...this blog is my primary location for writing down my thoughts, words and deeds.
You're welcome to follow me on the following social media platforms:
Work
National Weather Service - Sioux Falls, SD
Information Technology Officer, 2002 - present
My primary place of employment. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community. My responsibility is to provide IT user support, system analysis, IT program management, and some software development to a NWS field office to do my small part in making this all happen.
socPub (Formerly CMS Report)
Founder/Editor, 2006 - present
I've managed to turn my enthusiasm for content management systems, information systems, and administrative skills into a side business. I founded CMSReport.com in 2006 on the belief that information technologists, website owners, and web developers desired visiting sites where they could learn about CMS on neutral ground. More than 300 authors have contributed and published their content management stories at CMS Report Over the years, I've found that the value of this site isn't just the content but the friends I've made along the way because of this site.
Prior Work
Dakota Hosting and Web Development
Founder/Owner, 2003 - 2008
After building website for friends and clients, I eventually formalized this into a side business for building, hosting, and maintaining websites. During this period, I built websites which focused on ecommerce, consulting, and community. This was the most stressful period in my life as I tried to find balance between my primary employer, family life, and needing to maintain websites 24/7. When CMS Report went "commercial", I ended this venture but not before I learned plenty about business, support, marketing, and my passion for diverse tasks.
National Weather Service - Sioux Falls, SD
Meteorologist - Senior Forecaster, 1999 - 2002
The period of my life when I felt there were few others that could forecast the weather and work severe weather as well as me. This was also the period of time I learned to appreciate project management, collaboration, and business process. In this position, I directed and supervised two to seven employees during operational shifts as a Lead Forecaster in a NWS Weather Forecast Office. I also ensured NWS forecasts, warnings, and services met expectations of large number of diverse users including media, general public, aviation, hydrology, emergency management and government agencies (local, state, federal).
Primary duties during severe weather included mesoscale analysis, interrogation of storms utilizing the WSR-88D Doppler radar, severe weather coordination, and acting liaison between NWS operations, government entities, media, and other external partners. This position was also my gateway to activities in information management, administration, and leadership.
National Weather Service - Sioux Falls, SD
Meteorologist - Forecaster, 1994 - 1998
National Weather Service - Sioux Falls, SD
Meteorologist, 1992 - 1994
National Weather Service - Garden City, KS
Meteorologist, 1991 - 1992
University of Kansas
Atmospheric Science Teaching Assistant, 1988 - 1990
Education
University of South Dakota
Masters in Administration - Information Systems, 2000 - 2005