Everyone Has to Start Somewhere
I started dabbling with computers back in 1989 when I starting researching BBS software for a friend. We launched "The Night Shift" and in early 1990, my own message-based BBS, "Almost Paradise" was up and running.
Being one of the first female system operators in Central Illinois, I was creating the ANSI/ASCii graphics for most of the local BBS sites. My site was listed in ONLINE AMERICA magazine about the same time when the Danville, Illinois area BBS sites joined the FIDONet system. Almost Paradise had regular visitors from the US, Canada, and England. One of our greatest days was when we could "outlaw" 300 baud modems on our sites! Our area sites created the Danville Network (D-Net) that, although short lived, was a step forward in the technological world for us.
Once the Internet became more available to the public, most of our BBS sites lost traffic. Almost Paradise was retired in late 1996.
In 1997, I started working with PageMaker 4.0 doing desktop publishing. I had authored newsletters prior to this time, but not through computer use. I was an "old school" graduate of light tables, dummies, and xerox machines. I started working with any software I could in different areas to get experience cross-platform.
In 1998, I started doing online graphic design, digital photography, and web design. The experiences allowed me to meet several individuals who I was able to watch and learn from. It was during this year when I finally put a name to it all and HB & A Creations (later shortened to hbac.net and then officially HBAC Webdesigns) was developed.
The ultimate goal of HBAC was to be able to work with customers on an individual basis to create an affordable website for their personal or business use. Since 1998, HBAC has designed sites for non-profit organization, home businesses, starting entrepreneurs, organizations, and university departments, offices, and organizations.
Completing Master's Degree in Technology and certificate in Computer Technology in 2005, the future seems wide open. I maintained my loyalty to EIU by spending five years in the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity but then returned back closer to family. I currently work at the University of Illinois in the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services. In my third year, I am a part of an unprecidented initiative focused on web accessibility. As an IT Accessibility Specialist and am very excited about the work I do every day. It is a very rewarding position on many levels.
Outside of work and off the computer at home, I enjoy dancing, coaching, and working on various home improvement projects. Want to know more? Just drop me a line at clblew@hbacweb.net
