Since joining in 2007, Tim has held several positions at SoftSource, including Senior Software Engineer, Software Architect, Director of Engineering, and Director of Consulting Services. He has successfully led a variety of SoftSource teams in the design and construction of real-world software that is simple, stable, and predictable. He especially enjoys working closely with clients to define and solve complex business problems.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Five Questions with Tim
When did you first start programming and with what language/computer and what did you like the most about this programming experience?
My first computer was a used VIC 20 that my grandad handed down to me, including the joystick, cassette tape drive and the Programmer’s Reference Guide. I loved that computer; writing stupid little BASIC programs on it was so much fun! I wish I still had it, the emulators just don’t cut it for me because the hardware was such a huge part of the experience.
Describe a project you’ve been involved with which you consider to be your greatest success so far. What made it so successful?
I had the opportunity recently to contribute to the design and development of a WPF application that was responsible for gathering, processing, and displaying telemetry data from the vast Pacific Northwest Hydropower system. More than any other application I’ve ever worked on, this stuff HAD to work right! And the fact that I got to reverse engineer some FORTRAN written by Gates and Allen was pretty cool I suppose!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far in your career?
Being a successful Software Consultant is about having ALL the skills necessary to identify, describe, and implement pragmatic solutions to business problems. Writing good code is important, but it’s no more important than your ability to listen, analyze, communicate, and consistently deliver.
If computers and related technology didn’t exist, what do you think your career would be?
In another life, I think I could have been a furniture builder. As a hobbyist, I’ve been *occasionally* successful at it. I love the rhythm of designing, planning, fabricating, fitting, refining, and assembling. It’s actually not that different from building software. I love getting new tools too!
When it’s time to turn off the computer, what do you do instead?
Projects! I love working on house, yard, vehicle, or woodworking projects. When the projects are done, I play golf!