Looking for people who are bettering their lives and income through Technology Certifications. Hi. I’ve lived in Jacksonville, Florida for 20 years, loving and hating it. One aspect which definitely improves the quality of life here is being all about earning more than $50,000 a year. Jacksonville’s property taxes are higher than a cool place, like Pinellas County, the food and gas are more expensive than Hillsborough and 60% of Florida. The only real break you get living here is JEA and the initial cost of buying a home. Point being, you need more money than the trade papers all claim! Technology certifications are THE best way to carve your path from starting point A to final destination D or E. The world of Microsoft, Cisco, Vwmare and Citrix depend upon certification more than any college degree. “Management”, you say? Gone are the days when a 4-year degree is required! Certification in tier-2 and tier-3 technology (MCSE, CCNP, ITLS, CCISP) more than compensate for the lack of a college degree towards management. When I began examining WHY foreigners seem smarter than Americans, me being such an American, I quickly discovered it has little to do with their formal educational systems and everything to do with their socialization! All over Youtube, evidence poured in that, quite simply, Indians, Asians, and various others known for medical, legal and technological output are simply better at sharing information with peers. It’s their secret, their strength and our weakness, as a society. This meetup serves as a non-compete outreach in my efforts to Make America Great Again! I’ve been in I.T. for over 20 years. My certifications include CCNA, CCNA Security, MCSE NT4 - MCSA 2016. I’m working on CCNP R&S, MCSE 2016, VMware and Citrix. I “tried” Linux but, I’m not the guy. Linux and I seem to hate each other in equal measure. Wouldn’t mind trying again just, not solo. Whatever technology YOU wish to bring to the table, we are here, together, to sort things out. Where are the best learning tools? How can I learn Cisco and Microsoft without equipment? What are the current market trends for human resource demands in I.T.? How do I enter a career with no experience? What salary ranges truly exist, not the bull**####** written in trade magazines and online wishful thinking? How can I get a job working for Federal, State, County or City government…and do I want one? All these and more are topics for thought-provoking discussion. Where to find the best “dumps” is not! My husband is an Irish professional programmer in C#, MVC and JAVA. My evil plan is to pull him into this effort, kicking and screaming, for the socialization benefit. It’s not so much about what you need to bring with you as to what you need to leave behind, if you’d like to join. Competition, One-upmanship, Ego and Attitude are not welcome. Opinions are! I reserve all rights to reject any application for membership. I’m not down with BLM, trannies, feminists, muslims, gay-haters, the KKK or any other violent, disruptive, fascist (“AntiFA”) personality. Such people need not apply.