Tofino Internet Services Ltd., Tofino, BC, Canada.
I am a 50% shareholder of a limited corporation specializing in online advertising
with equal partner, Sarah Platenius. My responsibilities in this endeavor are varied, but inevitably involve serving our approximately 125 active
clients in the field of online advertising, website marketing, website layout, design and scripting. I also manage and promote a network of
established revenue-generating websites. This company went by the name VirtuallyCertain.com Web Works before it was incorporated in January,
2007.
Tofino Botanical Gardens Foundation, Tofino, BC, Canada.
I began working with the TBG Foundation on a long-term contract beginning in October, 2005. My responsibilities during that contract were to enliven
the Foundation's dream to build and market a dormitory-classroom facility in the gardens. Somewhere during the process of dreaming and marketing
I woke up to find myself with an office in the new building and I had become an salaried employee of the foundation. My responsibilities with
the foundation were primarily marketing and program development, but I wound up doing all sorts of fun things relating to small business, non-profits,
and west coast gardening. In September 2008 I decided to end my salaried position with the foundation, simply
because it was holding back my business's growth. The TBG Foundation continues to be an active client.
North Island College, Ucluelet, BC, Canada.
The administrator of North Island College's Ucluelet branch approached me back in 2003 with
what was then a very novel idea: teaching website design classes to every-day computer users. This was a fun project, especially given the fact
that the college couldn't afford to purchase any software. In the absence of web design software the students actually built hand coded web sites
from scratch using Windows Notepad. We called the class "Introduction to HTML & Web
Design" and it ran successfully until May, 2006 when I finally realized that my schedule couldn't afford to keep it going anymore.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, Tofino, BC, Canada
I'm an active board member with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust. The CBT manages a $12,000,000 endowment to fund research, education
and training initiatives in the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve Region that promote conservation and sustainable development.
Pacific Rim Foundation, Ucluelet, BC, Canada
Every year the Pacific Rim Foundation grants a $40,000 scholarship to a graduating Ucluelet Secondary School student. In 2010 the president
of the Pacific Rim Foundation approached me to see if I could help the organization with a new website. In two weeks we had this up
an running. I donated all of my time and continue to donate my services as well as the recurring hosting and domain costs.
Macromedia University, Online
Even though I'm largely a self-taught geek, I thought it would be helpful to take some formal training in website programming
and design. I completed the collection of courses in December, 2003 -- two years before Adobe bought Macromedia for $3.4 billion.
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ.
I was a late academic bloomer. I entered this small Liberal Arts university
when I was 24 years old and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a Minor in Creative Writing in under 3 years.
St. Lawrence College, Kingston, ON, Canada.
In 1999 I completed a nine month apprenticeship program focusing on residential
construction.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Tucson, AZ.
In 1995 I completed a really fun and intensive
three-month program concentrating on the technical aspects of rock climbing,
white-water canoeing, caving, and backpacking.
Boat Basin Foundation, Boat Basin, BC, Canada.
Sarah and I used to work at a remote 117-acre homestead located about 2 hours by boat, north of Tofino. We started there as volunteers in
the summer of 1999, and continued in various capacities until we conceived our first child, Reed in 2003 and decided that he would be better off
living somewhere with a population greater than 5. My role with the foundation was hard to define, but included designing and implementing
an infrastructure for the newly formed non-profit organization, focusing on education and preservation in Clayoquot Sound’s
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. I also dug a lot of ditches and fixed water lines weekly.
Biline Aquaculture, Tofino, BC, Canada.
I had a brief stint as an
Oyster Farmer from May 2002 – January 2003.
The second-best part about this job was my solo half-hour commute on the waters of Clayoquot Sound in a 24-foot aluminum "skiff." The best part
about the job is that I continue to be a part of the "Clayoquot Oyster Shuckers Union," a rag-tag band of ne'er-do-wells that get together
twice a year to laugh and drink beer (oh, and we shuck oysters at the annual Clayoquot Oyster Festival too).
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA.
I had the privilege of being an
Adjunct Faculty at my Alma Mater, Prescott College.
I was asked to teach an undergraduate Environmental Studies course, "Populations, Resources
and Solutions" over a semester beginning in February, 2002. I loved teaching at the undergraduate level and was asked to continue in this
line of work. Unfortunately, the pay really sucked.
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA.
I was a Computer Lab Technician for two years in university. The job was fairly boring, but it is where I met my wife, Sarah, so it was
all worth it.
Mark Peabody: Licensed Carpenter, Kingston, ON, Canada.
I was a budding carpenter until I hit my thumb.
The Boiler Room Climbing Gym, Kingston, ON, Canada.
I taught folks how to belay and listened to a lot of techno music that I never really cared for.
High Adventures, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Despite the fact that I have a fear of heights, I thought it would be fun to be a rock climbing instructor. I gave away most of my climbing gear
in 2001, but my son is beginning to get hooked so who knows...