You can contact me at the Internet email address: chris@chrisgrooms.net.

Personal Photo

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Biography

Will be enrolling in Electronics Engineering classes this year at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina to strengthen my knowledge in electronics (such as DC/AC Electricity, Basic Wiring, Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, etc.)

I have over 15 years of experience and 6 years of job related IT experience with software and hardware. It is not just a job, but an obsession since I was 9 years old. For years I used DOS and eventually Windows 3.11, which I mostly avoided if possible, because I preferred using a command prompt. Due to this I mastered DOS in a few years. I eventually moved to Windows 95, but to this day I still use the command prompt as it can still be very useful.

Over the years I’ve experimented in a lot of areas such as programming (ie., QBasic, Turbo Pascal, Visual Basic, C++), scripting (such as VB script), web programming (writing HTML, Javascript, PHP and ASP), web graphics, 2D/3D graphics and animation (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, 3D Studio Max and Maya), Linux (Red Hat, Mandrake and Ubuntu), wired and wireless networking, network security (intrusion prevention & detection), electronics pertaining to computer hardware, etc. I have dedicated most of my life since I was 9 years old to learning everything that I can about computer technology and software so I have a very wide range of experience and knowledge.

I graduated early from Crest High School in February of 2000.

In late 2000 I enrolled at the International Academy of Design in Tampa Bay, Florida for Computer Animation. I completed classes in Fundamentals of Graphic Design, History and Business of Animation, Photoshop for Animators, 2D Animation, Drawing for Animators, Storyboards and Scripts, Drawing and Composition, Introduction to UNIX, etc. Although this was not necessarily a career move, art is an area that I’ve enjoyed for most of my life. I have used my expertise in this area to work on website designs for others, restore old black and white and photographs, create 2D and 3D “paintings” and other graphics.

In 2006 I completed a Network Administration program at Cleveland Community College and received a certification in Network Administration. I also received the Certiport IC3 certification for testing out of Intro. to Computers. IC3 isn’t anything special, but it’s a certification and I’m more than happy to have any proof of skill on my resume. Soon after I completed the CompTIA A+ software and hardware exams at New Horizons in Charlotte, NC to receive that certification.

Another area that I’ve been interested in is sound and video. I’ve produced and mixed sound for bands that I’ve been in and created my own music recordings (using professional editing software such as Cakewalk Producer). I also really enjoy video production and have produced and edited videos in the past. At this time (2008) I am working with skydiver and wind tunnel instructor (Louis French) to edit and produce DVD of training footage for his students every month (using Adobe Premiere). I bring the footage into Premiere, edit it, add music, create the DVD menus and burn the final DVD.

Photography: Photographer’s Favorites / Photography Sets
Video: “Parachutes Over Skydive Carolina” (edited using Adobe Premiere)
Art: Space Scene (created using Photoshop)
Photo Restoration: B&W Photo (used Photoshop)

Resume and References

View my LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn
Resumes available upon request.

First, Last: Chris Grooms
Occupation: Network Administrator
Birthdate: September 8th, 1982
Born: North Carolina
Licenses, Certifications: USPA A skydiving license, Network Administration certificate, CompTIA A+, Certiport IC3
Memberships and Affiliations: Infragard (DHS/FBI organization), Rodriguez Brothers, United States Parachute Association, Muff Brothers
Passions: skydiving, writing and performing music, travel, photography, digital art, water skiing…

Skydiver Profile

Skydives: 97 when this page was last updated.
Equipment: Javelin 2 container, Aerodyne Triathlon 175 main, Z1 helmet, custom Bevsuit jumpsuit
License: USPA A
First Jump: Tandem at Skydive Carolina, September 9th, 2006
Reserve Rides: 1
Wind Tunnel Time: 40 minutes
Wind Tunnels Flown In: Paraclete XP in Raeford, NC.
Drop Zones Jumped: Skydive Carolina.
Aircraft Jumped: Twin Otter (side door exit), CASA (rear exit), Cessna 182.
Motto:: It’s not what your canopy can do for you, it’s what you can do with your canopy.
Skill concentrations: Concentrating on accuracy, canopy skills and belly-to-earth before moving on to other disciplines.