End of Year Update from Matt 2025
I want to start by wishing you all a Happy New Year! I hope you and yours had a terrific Christmas!
I can't believe that 2025 is coming to end. It has been a full year now since I graduated from IUP! My life could not be more different than it was a year ago.
A "Christmas Letter"
A Year In Review
My family has sent out a "Christmas Letter" to family and friends as long as I can remember. I guess this is my version of that.
Calico Systems
I guess the biggest news I have to share is the launch of my new brand for my tech company! Calico Systems is a brand I came up with in June. The success I've seen with this brand is amazing! I got my first big contract with a client for managed services. So, that means that I am on-call pretty much 24x7! That's what it is to be a one-man-band I guess.
TechReady Professionals
My work with TechReady Professionals continues! This was a banner year for TechReady! We are working on building our systems and infrastructure to take the business to the next level. I am blessed to work with a great team (Gordon Barrows, Brad Bowser, Ben Demers)! We all compliment each other's skills very well.
Groundhog Day
I was able to attend Groundhog Day this year- for work! One of TechReady's clients, Punxsutawney Beef & Provisions Co., launched their new brand at Groundhog Day
The Hedge Trimmer Incident
On Labor Day, I got in an unfortunate incident with a hedge trimmer! I sliced up my pointer and ring fingers on my right hand. Thankfully, it was a minor cut in the grand scheme of things, and no permanent damage!
I visited Google!
In September, I got to visit the Google office in Pittsburgh! A friend of a friend works there and gave us a tour of the office.
It was as amazing as you would expect! Just simply incredible. I don't really know how to put it into words other than that. I almost want to give up being self employed, just to work at Google.
Featured in The Penn
I saw an ad on LinkedIn from the IUP CPDC sometime earlier this year with a request for alumni working in technology to serve as panelists. I filled out the form, thinking nothing of it. Early in November, I received an email reminding me of the event with a Zoom link. I joined, expected to be joined by alumni working at Google, etc. but it was just me! I don't think of my job as a "career in technology" but rather a "hobby that happens to be an attempt to make money".
Regardless, I am glad I joined! The students were shy at first, but eventually opened up and asked several good questions!
My first newspaper article!
Due to a scheduling conflict, the editor of my local paper will be unable to cover the monthly school board meetings. He asked if I was interested, and for some reason I agreed!
Thankfully, it was a pretty short and simple meeting, but it was fun to write my first article! I wrote it entirely on my own, no AI was involved in writing, just editing.
I don't consider myself a stellar writer, and I've never written a newspaper article before, but it was published anyway! Hopefully, I hone my writing skills over time.
I think my Grandpa would be proud! (For context - he was a newspaper writer for many years.)
Look out for more articles in the Leader-Vindicator!
What a year!
As the year comes to a close, I am thankful for many things. I thank God for my family, small town, and the many opportunities I have had this year!
If we haven't talked in a while, don't be a stranger! [email protected] or any of my social media platforms.
Have a happy New Year! - Matt
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