Experience

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  REMAX Real Estate Group

  • West Bay Roatan

  • Buyers only agent

    • Dec 2011 - Present
    • West Bay Roatan

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  Published Author

  • Roatan

  • Award winning Author "To Hold The Sun"

    • May 2012 - Present
    • Roatan

    2014 Bronze Medal Winner - Inspirational Fiction - Readers' Favorite International Book Awards. Translated into Spanish 2014Selected for a course book. UNCW class: @travelingwithclassSo much more than just an original, engaging, and consistently entertaining story, "THTS" should enable an appreciation of the journey and not just the destination. An expertly crafted work from beginning to end, "THTS" is enthusiastically recommended reading and will prove an enduringly popular addition to community library collections!-- Midwest Book Review5 out of 5! I highly recommend this book to others, youth and adults. Normally, my respect for books makes me reluctant to mark them in any way, but in reading this book, I found myself highlighting favorite quotes and passages and writing notes in the margins. It's definitely a keeper to add to our own library. This book is not just to be read; it should be pondered, absorbed, practiced, shared, and discussed. -- San Francisco Book ReviewThe author's admirable philosophy of life shines through this well-constructed, engaging story... Watkins may have intended "To Hold The Sun" for his children, but it is just as much a gift for the reader, who is sure to be enlightened by the main character’s noble perspective on life. This is a little gem of a book. -- Foreword Clarion ReviewsWhen the author realized his children were leaving home to begin their journeys through life, he wrote this story for them. He developed it as a guide to help them through life in a way that would allow them to enjoy the journey. Drawing on wildly diverse disciplines including stoicism, neuroscience, skepticism, behavioral economics, and spirituality; the reader is taken on a journey that exposes the author’s philosophy of life. He shows that happiness is indeed a choice.

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  Life on Roatan

  • Buyers only agent working with REMAX

    • Jan 2010 - Present

    I work as a buyer's only agent because I think it is unethical to try to work both sides of a deal. I have demonstrated my knowledge of Roatan by writing a guide to relocating here. I have many happy clients and I enjoy helping people learn about Roatan and life here. I built my own website, including an AI chatbot that can answer many questions about Roatan, and a Chrome extension so you can look for property straight from your browser. Being a buyer's only agent also allows me plenty of time for my hobbies: writing books (philosophy, psychology, and guides), coaching LLMs, coding, building electronic projects, robots, sentient (almost) alarm systems, consulting with various businesses about technology and strategies, and just having lots of fun.

  • Realtor and Consultant for property development

    • May 2011 - May 2019

    Consult with local resort owner to guide the development of condos and land. Contract Negotiation. Pricing, design and sales recommendations.I educate individual buyers on what life is really like on Roatan, a small island off the coast of Honduras. Helping them understand if they would be a good fit here and then ultimately help them secure a good home and/or investment on the island.

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  Roatan Radio 101.1 FM

  • Roatan

  • Talk Show Host and Station Manager

    • Jun 2011 - 2013
    • Roatan

    Station Manager for Roatan Radio 101.1 FM English Speaking Radio Station.1-hour weekly radio show where we debated and debunked conspiracy theories and the latest news.Maintain and develop station technology including programming SAM Broadcaster to play all advertising and queue up songs.DJ 1-3pm Mon to Friday Alternative Music

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  Lingtastic

  • Roatan

  • Founder of Translation Startup

    • Jun 2006 - Aug 2011
    • Roatan

    Initiated new startup Lingtastic. A radical approach to live language interpreting which brings the cost to customers down by as much as 90%.. Concept to break the market on expensive voice translation companies by having translators compete against each other in real time for each job.Secured 300K in initial funding with 500K to follow. Read Tech Crunch article for full details(https://techcrunch.com/2008/02/15/web-based-translation-service-lingtastic-launches-in-closed-beta-invites/)Unfortunately, the 2008 crash dried up all funding plus competition from Google and Transclick made the model less viable.

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  Cosmetisoft

  • San Francisco and Roatan

  • Managing Partner

    • 2004 - 2007
    • San Francisco and Roatan

    For a detailed description see my partner's recommendation letter below.In 2004 I met the developer of a software package that was designed to run cosmetic surgery offices and surgical centers. The developer was stuck in the typical one-man business loop. Working every waking hour while concentrating on sales let to more problems than he could handle whereas concentrating on development dried up revenue. We reached an agreement wherein if I doubled his revenue and gave him back normal working hours he would give me half the company. I did this within 6 months by moving the software to a subscription-based licensing agreement. Locating highly trained programs in South America to do core development and support whilst taking over sales and training myself.We grew the company successfully growing over 400% in a few years. We then sold the company to our mutual benefit to a competitor.

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  Self-Employed

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Futures Trader and Software Developer

    • 2002 - 2004
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Traded futures. Wrote graphing and speculative software for pricing predictions distributed for free. Maintianed trading website www.omelas.com

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  Scient Inc

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Manager

    • 1998 - 2002
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    4th Employee in an internet consulting start-up Scient that within 3 years had reached 1,180 employees with offices in SF, NY, London etc. company worked with many internet startups including Etrade, Realtor.com, and various Fortune 100 companies. Hired to build initial internal networks. transferred to consulting projects and then chosen to head internal project management for the development of sales support software for consultants and sales staff. IPO may 1999.

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  Kwik Kopy Australia

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Chief Technology Officer

    • 1996 - 1998
    • Sydney, Australia

    Headhunted to be Chief Technology Officer for a large printing company that needed to modernize the technology in its 110 franchise locations. Required to consult with each location for its particular needs, investigate and select potential solutions then persuade them to upgrade. Work with external consultants and suppliers to ensure smooth integration. Develop and deliver technology awareness courses and deliver around Australasia. Address annual conference of over 1000 people.

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  AppleCentre Sydney

  • Sydney, Australia

  • Governement and Pre Press Sales

    • 1991 - 1993
    • Sydney, Australia

    Hired to create a new department of Macintosh sales into the Australian Government market. Exceeded all sales and margin budgets. Received commendation from Apple Australia for strong sales in a recession. after one year decided to move into the burgeoning prepress specialty and learned all necessary software and industry specifics to be able to successfully sell into that domain. Progressed to be one of the top consultants in Australia serving top publications such as People Magazine, Vogue and working with leading newspapers, book publishers and printers.

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  Harper computers

  • Portland, Maine Area

  • Retail Sales Manager

    • 1990 - 1991
    • Portland, Maine Area

    Hired to redesign and relaunch the retail area of a growing store. Managed retail side mainly focussing on Macintosh sales and software. Number one salesperson in the Retail area in Maine 1991.

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  Freelance

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Apple Certified Developer

    • 1989 - 1989
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Certified by Apple as a developer. Developed 4GL databases in 4th DImension for various small businesses.

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  Egghead Software

  • San Francisco Bay Area

  • Manager

    • 1988 - 1989
    • San Francisco Bay Area

    Egghead Software was a new startup to compete in the fledgling home PC market. I enjoyed the fastest promotion rate and highest rated salesperson score in California and was offered my own store after just 6 months of employment.