Hey, all! Welcome to the tiny speck of the Internet that is ALL MINE [Evil laugh here]!

My name is Chris Regruth. I'm a born and raised Cincinnatian with a wife I try to prove I deserve and three teenage boys I'm watching fly off to college. As my empty nest life approaches, I am re-evaluating my work life.

So, I started the Google UX Design Certificate program. I love it and knew I would. First, I seek out just about any opportunity to learn. Second, I think every member of a team working on applications, screens--well anything seen by others--has considered the user experience. I certainly have and now I'm study the user experience discipline. Awesome!

I am a later-career web application developer turned product owner. Starting out as a contracting/consulting coder, I designed and built computer applications for companies like Kroger, Burger King Corporate, Huff Reality, Liberty Mutual, Proctor & Gamble, America Modern Insurance Group. The app teams ranged in size. I felt most engaged and fulfilled working with teammates who joined the shared effort where humility, inclusion, and acceptance were not just buzzwords.

Humility and empathy are traits I focus on and express in daily life. I fight my initial urge to reject a counterpoint to my view. I work at being more open to the perspectives of others. My desire to be more humble coincides with trying to be more empathetic. I know I gain enrichment by seeking to understand the people around me!

Two of my biggest strengths are communication and drive. I have developed a keen sense of establishing and maintaining clear lines of communication with teammates, friends, and family. The end result and the long term truly benefits from being on the same page. Drive is another characteristic of mine that I’ve learned can be a great asset. My desire to work toward a goal I believe is worthwhile gets me through roadblocks and to the finish line.After 15 years as a web applications developer, five years as a web application product owner, I am currently studying UX formally to put my knowledge and experience to work in my next chapter focused on the application user experience.

Do you agree that Life Means Learning and your next thing is right around the corner? regruth@gmail.com