About

Born in the heart of Appalachia (Haysi, Virginia), I embraced my resourcesful hillbilly heritage to explore the ever-evolving world of technology. Growing up in a family that valued hard work, it was within the confines of financial constraints that I found my passion for tech. At 14, I discovered Linux and transformed an old Compaq into my first server - igniting my journey.

While earning my stripes in customer service and tech support with Intuit, my passion for problem-solving grew. A call to the freelance world followed, where I further cultivated my web and graphic design skills. Today, as a Linux generalist for a leading web hosting company, I enjoy making the digital world more approachable for others.

I strongly believe in the power of open source as a force for innovation and accessibility. My contributions to Rocky Linux, including design work, reflect my commitment to this philosophy. My journey embodies perserverance, community, and the transformative power of open technology.

Photograph of Michael with his cat, King. The light and shadow from window blinds are being cast in an aesthetically pleasing way on both subjects of the photo.