I am a storyteller. Today, I am focused on nonprofit communications and freelance writing, though I have a very broad background.
I was born on the east coast, but moved away when I was quite young. I did most of my growing up in Colorado, moved to California for college, and ended up leaving school to take a job as an operating systems programmer for ComputerVision.
I spent the 1980s and 1990s working in electrical and software engineering, specializing in closed captioning technologies for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, a field in which I hold three patents and have written three books. I also gave a TED talk about captioning at TEDxBozeman in 2014. During my two decades in engineering, I wrote operating system and application code, designed integrated circuits, and programmed in a wide variety of languages.
I moved to Montana, where I owned a bookstore for 15 years with my wife, Kathy, although my primary source of income was writing. My list of publications includes over two dozen books and technical manuals, and hundreds of articles for magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and Web sites. I’ve written for a wide variety of publications, from the World Book Encyclopedia to Renaissance magazine, on subjects ranging from cattle to computer hacking.
These days, I work as an author, tech writer, and voice actor. I also work on whatever side projects capture my interest (including my on-again, off-again webcomic called Ferret in a Lab Coat and my Sanctuary podcast Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem). We also have a family-owned tea shop (the Phoenix Pearl Tea Tavern), which my daughter manages.
I had a teaching credential (now expired) in computer and related technologies, and have taught at three colleges. I have also put on seminars for dozens of organizations.
I have served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Red Lodge Festival of Nations (I served two years as president), the Fremont (California) Chamber of Commerce, Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce, Beartooth Elks Lodge #534, and the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary.
If there’s something Scottish going on in the area, I’m usually involved in it. Events I’ve emceed and/or organized include the Yellowstone Scottish Highland Games, the Festival of Nations, and our annual Robert Burns supper.
Gary D. Robson 
Gary, I found this post because I was interested in joining the Elks club as a way of showing my daughter our family cares about community and charity. However, my husband and I are atheist. I call myself a Humanist but either way I do not believe in God. I am thrilled to find you are the author of “Who pooped in the park” I teach at a science school and love this book! We do a lot with scat! So thank you for that!
You’re very welcome, Rae. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet the new “Grand Exalted Ruler” (essentially the president of the national organization that oversees all local lodges and almost a million members), and tell him that I think it would enhance our organization and increase our membership if atheists were allowed to join. Someone interrupted us quickly so I didn’t have a chance to get his feedback — but at least I got to say it!