About the Author - John Routa

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  A little about me.

I am a Colorado native, 50 something guy.  I have been engaged to the love of my life - Jennifer -  for almost ten years.  Rumor has it we will be getting hitched soon.  For the record I am not the delaying party.  Update - realizing it was unlikely we could break the longest engagement record of 67 years - Jenn and I wed in a small (just us, the dogs, a minister and the aspens) ceremony in Crested Butte on October 4, 2014.

Our children are of the four-legged variety.  A 14.5 year-old black (and gray) lab named Xena and a 7 month-old puppy named Delilah.  We adopted Delilah in late July.  We think Delilah is a doberman/wippet mix.  She is extremely fast and quite a thorn in Xena's side.  We lost Xena's brother and littermate Tanner last winter, a month before his 14th birthday.  We miss our boy still.  If you care to here is a link to our Tanner Tribute.

http://routaramblings.blogspot.com/

Jenn and I both fancy ourselves trail runners, mountain bikers, snow boarders - the typical Colorado stuff.  We are four-time finishers of the Pikes Peak marathon and pride ourselves on being the least trained participants each year.  Ok,we don't plan the lack of training, it just seems to happen.  We recently completed a promise to ourselves and acquired a second home in Crested Butte, Colorado -- a place known for trail running, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding -- and of late as the host town for the Bud Light Whatever event.  In case you want to hang out at the next such event - -here is what to expect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYKnY3081W4

Jenn earns her daily bread as a GAM (Global Account Manager) for an electronics distributor.  She is better at her job than anybody I know is at their job -- and I am a tough critic.  Competence is sexy.  Jenn is an artist at managing her clients, subordinates, bosses, and business partners.  And sometimes me.  This quote that Phil Dunphy spoke of his wife Claire on Modern Family hit close to home: Sometimes I don't know if I love how much I fear her or fear how much I love her :-)

I divide my professional life into the Andersen years and the post Andersen years.  Fresh out of college in 1984 I embarked on my excellent Andersen adventure that lasted for 13 years.  From my memories of these years I have crafted the stories to entertain and amuse (I hope) that appear in this blog.  When I left Andersen a friend mentioned how people come and go, but the Firm will live forever.  Of course we learned otherwise.  The Firm was not an abstract being, it was its people.  Sadly, the actions of a few destroyed the Firm and tainted its legacy. Not my purpose to dwell.  A toast to all who came and went.

Post Andersen I sought fame, fortune and fun in the computer software world (I am about 1.5 out of 3) - serving in numerous executive finance roles with various tech companies, most notably Sybase.  I love the software industry because it demands innovation and creativity, and is inhabited by curious and friendly people looking to the future.  

What else is important to me?

·      Improving the quality and reach of our educational structures

·      Sustainable behaviors and urban agriculture

·      Supporting veterans

·      The wisdom of our elders

·      Creativity 

·      Critical Thinking and continuous learning

My favorite saying:  Treat your money like you will live forever.  Treat those you love as though you will die tomorrow.