Anthony (Tony) Summy
My long boring story!
I am a computer systems engineer by trade. I was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, moved to Chico California in 1967, where I lived until 1982. Then, at the age of 22, I set my sights for the Los Angeles area to make a career in electronics service and repair working for RCA. I stayed there for 9 years, at which time I figured out that the consumer electronics product (vcr/tv/camcorder) had become so inexpensive, that there was really no future in servicing that type of product anymore. In addition, RCA was purchased by General Electric, who proceeded to ruin the once-fabulous electronics giant by breaking it up into hundreds of small companies and sell off each company like it was old laundry, and rather than wait for the axe to fall, I decided to pursue a brighter career path. (Does it sound like I have a chip on my shoulder?)
Having a hobby in computers, I set out to learn enough to make a career out of computer systems and networks. I started a hobby bulletin board system and used this experience to master computer networks. In 1991, I landed a position in a large mortgage broker as an M.I.S. director, and built their network of 60 computers, 3 file servers, and several dozen UNIX terminals. From there, I moved on to VeriFone Inc. as a systems integrator in their Support Services division. At VeriFone, I was responsible for systems integration (making them work), working primarily with UNIX systems.
After about 1 year at VeriFone, I was offered a position at Datron Transco Inc., again, working primarily with UNIX systems. Datron Transco Inc. makes Mil Spec satellite ground tracking stations for military and civilian installations, and data acquisition and processing systems for use with the high resolution images acquired from those satellites. In addition, Datron produces DBS satellite equipment used with companies like Direct TV, USSB, and Dish Network. Being an aerospace company, Datron has it's ups and downs, and in November 1998, a severe "down" took place, and I was laid off along with many others.
I was then acquired by a computer network integration and value added reseller of enterprise computer systems, Data Systems West, in Woodland Hills, CA. Leaving DSW in March of 2000, after engineering literally dozens of networks systems, from networks as small as 5 or 6 computers to as large as thousands of computers in multiple countries, I moved to Mentor Corporation in Santa Barbara CA. Mentor Corporation is a medical manufacturing company, and happens to be one of those several-thousand computer networks I spoke of earlier. I remained at Mentor Corporation for almost 9 years, an eternity in the Information Technology industry it seems.
Mentor Corporation changed management in or around 2006, and the new management exhibited what, in my opinion, was a style that seemed to be focused on advancing the executive's salarys and position, rather than advancing the company's product line and bottom line. The company (and my stock) lost tons, the environment became hostle, and early in 2008, it was obvious to me that the future of Mentor Corporation as a company was doomed; destined for the target of a hostle takeover, or worse. I left the company in July of 2008 for a better offer. Sure enough, late in 2008, Mentor Corporation was bought by Johnson And Johnson. My predictions could not have been closer to the final outcome. Thank God I got out when I did!
Several changes have happened over the last, oh, 20 years or so, and as of the date of this writing (summer 2023), I have relocated to Oregon, and started my plans for retirement in a couple of years.
I married in 1987 to my grade school sweetheart, Linnine Rae Hubbard. A marriage that only lasted a few months. Divorced in 1988, and remained single for 8 years. I then married in 1995 to Marguerite Ann "Peg" Hurlebaus (Neumann). She had three children from her previous marriage, Stephen, Christopher and Kira Neumann, and she gave birth to our first child, Kyle Summy on Sept 10, 1995. We are quite happy together, and both agree that we have found our life companion in each other.
My hobbies are, well, quite frankly, I'm your typical computer geek. I used to run a hobby computer bulletin board system (BBS), and now I run this web site. My current hobby is publishing our family tree on this web site. In addition, we do many family things together. In fact, the hobbies have taken a back seat to the family get-togethers and outings lately. Our children are growing up quickly, and we want to spend as much time with them as we can while they still want us to. Those of us who have children know, it isn't long before they (think they) know more than we do. <grin>