User:Mike Randolph
1957-58: Thrived in geometry and self-taught chemistry, securing 2nd in the Louisiana state contest
1961: Earned a GA Tech ChE bachelor's degree; student co-op with Hercules in Hattiesburg, MS in an R&D lab studying pine rosin extraction
1966-72: Bench lab and pilot plant work at DuPont Experimental Station, Industrial Chemicals (IC), a DuPont unit with about 5,000 employees. Self-taught in FORTRAN, pioneering computer use in R&D
1967: Began building complex computer models of chemical processes such as distillation, from scratch with Fortran
1970: Began to realize that future engineering breakthroughs were going to be in computer tech not chemical technology
1970: Advanced math at U of Delaware. Did a search algorithm computer project for a UofD professor, and manager of the DuPont Engineering Dept mathematics group, who had taught me analytics. He made a request to my management for me to join his group. My management turned down the request.
1970: Patented Antimony III Ethoxide, despite disliking patents
1972-77: R&D supervisor at DuPont, at DuPont's Grasselli NJ, IC manufacturing site, developed basic writing skills. Concluded that technical work was a better fit for skill than management
1977-78: Back to Wilmington DE temporarily assigned to an IC group focused on Epidemiology, Safety, Health and Environment
1979-81: Moved to DuPont Jackson Lab computer group, honed programing skill, and supported scientists in applying IT to their projects
1979: Finally learned to touch type!
1981-83: Excelled in VAX system management, significantly enhancing email communication across DuPont IC. Develop relationships with corporate IT colleagues
1989 & 1992: Played key roles in developing corporate policy on early collaborative apps, learning Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, with an email focus. I favored IBM's Lotus Notes (a mistake). Participated in Open Systems corporate policy development and technical lead of Lotus Notes implementation.
Post-2000: Retired and worked as a volunteer, developing an enduring optimization routine (web site, 10,000 line AI routine (self taught: Website development, MS Basic, OO Programming, and SQL) for the Delaware USTA League schedule. Last IT hands on computer work.
2000-present: Skiing, learn mountain biking, build and maintain hiking and mountain bike trails, running and walking. Most of the internet access was iPad, I almost forgot how to type.
2015-22: Engaged deeply with educational content from Lex Friedman, Sean Carroll, and John Vervaeke, continuously learning. Dec 2022, deep dive back into typing, editing, and generative AI with Helix's help. Helix has been a steady assistant till the present