Karl Bishop
Ron Lynn is a Senior Software Engineer on the IBM Web Enablement and support team. He is currently working on internal projects utilizing WebSphere sMash. Ron joined IBM June 1995, as an indentured graduate student and has yet to return to academia. As an IBM neophyte, he spent his time working on a now-defunct project called Knowledge Utility (KnU). KnU allowed for exploration of many technologies and theories, from a then little-known language named Java to knowledge representation to what we now call portals and portlets. This led him to develop portlets for IBM Business Partners and proselytizing portals to the world. After landing on the Web enablement and support development team, Ron formalized his expertise into building portal applications in support of IBM’s biggest customer, IBM. The team’s fast pace and everchanging project line-up is a fertile environment for forging applications out of the latest IBM products and technologies, which led him to work with Web 2.0 technology and WebSphere sMash.
Ron’s primary passion for his job is the multiplicity of skills it draws upon from the mathematical, theoretical, scientifical, and engineerical to the personal, magical, and artistical. The constant variety and juggling keeps him forever learning and wondering what will smite him next--though there are dark times when he muses if he’d have the same passion for his work were he a juggler in the circus.
Ron calls a small farm in the San Joaquin Valley of central California home, where he lives with his fabulous wife, darling children, a great dog, and several cats of undetermined disposition. When he’s not bent over his computers, he spends his time as a father, husband, knitter, dressmaker, tailor, welder, carpenter, painter, plumber, gardener, pool boy, fine furniture builder, farmer, mechanic, writer, mad scientist, and water gun target. He loves to see the angelic delight on little faces as the latest in rocket launchers, onagers, or robots work wonderfully or fail fabulously. He doesn’t even mind the eventual chastisement when his lovely wife discovers the mess that the dog must have made. (Sorry Madison--someone had to take the fall.)
Karl Bishop is a Senior Software Engineer with IBM. He works for the Web enablement and support group within the IBM Software Services for WebSphere for IBM. As the name implies, his group develops and supports many internal IBM applications. His technical focus of late has been in Web 2.0 technologies in general, and the Dojo Toolkit in particular. Karl has worked for IBM for close to 12 years. Before that, he spent another dozen years honing his geek credentials at another computer company in California. Karl currently works out of his house, hidden away in the Sandhills near Pinehurst, North Carolina--no, he doesn’t play golf--but professes to be an original “Florida Cracker” by heart and birth.
When he’s not pounding away at the keyboard, Karl enjoys being the cool dad and husband. Karl likes to play with his son, Matt, building Lego’s and other contraptions. With his daughter, Aubri, he plays games, critiques her artwork, and generally goofs off. Other family enjoyments include biking, swimming, gardening, and playing disc golf. Karl also enjoys brewing when time permits and quaffing craft beers just about anytime. When work gets to be too much, the Bishop family frequently heads up toward the Appalachian mountains or the beach. Come on kids, we’re off to Boone-Tweetsie Railroad and the Mellow Mushroom are calling.
Brett King is a Senior Software Engineer with IBM, working on the WebSphere Commerce product. He is currently working on social networking enhancements to the product using WebSphere sMash. Prior to WebSphere Commerce, Brett was a developer on WebSphere sMash. Brett has been a software developer at IBM for almost 20 years, working in such varied areas as networking software, pervasive computing, and grid computing. He has been fortunate to work with advanced technologies throughout his career, including WebSphere sMash. He has particular interests in finding ways for developers to be more productive, whether through better tools or better software engineering processes, such as agile development.
Brett grew up in rural Pennsylvania but he has lived in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina since graduating from Lehigh University. In his free time, Brett has a wonderful wife, two kids, and a multitude of hobbies to keep him busy. He especially enjoys reliving his childhood through his own kids. Always eager to tap into his creative side, Brett enjoys playing role-playing games, constructing miniature terrain sets, and modding his muscle car. Brett also enjoys travel, with favorite destinations being places with historical significance, the homes of remote family members, and anywhere the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing.