I am the owner and creator of Indydrafter.com and avid Autodesk product user, designer, draftsman, and instructor. This website is a labor of love for me and the concept was born years ago while still in school. I’ve been a Civil Designer by trade for the last several years, but have always been interested in website design and social networking. Currently, though, I’m and Applications Expert with Avatech Solutions, Inc. within their Infrastructure Solutions group specializing in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Map 3D, and various other programs. I do hope that you enjoy Indydrafter.com, learn from it, and come back regularly for all of the posts, polls, updates, news, and contests. Your continuing visits are much appreciated. A little bit more about me, though…

I’m originally from Southern Indiana, but have resided in Indianapolis for several years now. My education started down the road of Civil Engineering, but took a quick turn toward Computer Aided Drafting and Design. It is then, while in school for CAD, that I met my wife, Cari. Cari and I enjoy our urban lifestyle with our dog and cat and like traveling throughout the United States. We look forward to the many adventures life will present us and hope to have the resources in the future to travel the many great foreign countries and provinces this world has to offer.

In my professional career, I’ve worked an internship with the Architectural Services department of the college I went to, moved on to become a CAD Technician at American Structurepoint, Inc. (a full-service Architecture and Engineering design company) where I worked in the Civil/Site design department. Soon thereafter I started working at GRW Engineers, Inc. (also a full-service Architectural and Engineering design firm) as a Civil Designer on utility infrastructure, treatment/processing plant, and mapping projects. Also, as I stated before, I have recently become an Applications Expert with Avatech Solutions.

Aside from this website community, I am also a member of Autodesk Users Group International (AUGI), Autodesk Users Group Indianapolis (AUGIndy), Revit Users Group Indianapolis (RUGIndy), and Indianapolis Autodesk Animation User Group Association (IndyAAUGA). AUGIndy, RUGIndy, and IndyAAUGA are all local user groups in the Indianapolis area promoting the professional development of peers and networking of colleagues. I occasionally also participate in some other programs that AUGI and Autodesk offer – one of which is instructing AUGI ATP courses. I’m always looking for new avenues of learning and growth, whether it comes from school, organizations, formal training, or online resources.

I have a lot of goals to further my career in the Civil Engineering field. I’ve already passed Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2010 CertifiedProfessional exams, but look forward to testing on the future iterations of both AutoCAD and Civil 3D. I also regularly use Map 3D, TrueView, Design Review, and have an interest in adventuring into Navisworks and Plant 3D software produced by Autodesk. Other non-Autodesk software that I experience in is the Newforma document management system, Sketch-up, Microstation V8, and ArcGIS (although my time with Microstation and ArcGIS is limited).

Outside of computer software, I’m also preparing to become an INDOT Certified Technician (for highway, interstate, and bridge construction), LEED Green Associate, and a NSPS Certified Survey Technician (Level III-Office Track). I’m either currently preparing for these exams or I am partway through the testing process. It is in my opinion that the skills required to pass these exams are prominent in fully-competent and well-rounded Civil Designers and Instructors.

There are several goals I wish to accomplish with this website, but you can find that on the Indyrafter.com ‘About’ page here.

If you’d like to learn more about me, please visit my Linkedin profile or my Twitter feed. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about me and that I’ve given you some valuable reasons within these ‘about’ pages to keep returning to Indydrafter.com. It is my goal to help you become an Indydrafter and truly justify this website as ‘The Indypendent Autodesk Resource’ – you’re one and only place for AutoCAD and Autodesk professional development.