Hi, I’m Andy (otherwise known as ByteMaverick), and I’ve been navigating the tech world for nearly three decades. My journey into technology wasn’t planned, and, to be honest, it started out with a good dose of skepticism. But over the years, I discovered a true passion for computers and problem-solving, and I’ve had the privilege of helping countless people—from friends and family to colleagues and clients—figure out their tech challenges with straightforward, practical advice.
The Unlikely Start
I stumbled into tech by accident. In 1989, I took a job as a tape librarian for a large insurance company, managing a library of over 100,000 IBM 3490 cartridge tapes for mainframes. It wasn’t exactly glamorous or technical work—I was mostly organizing and transporting tapes—but it was my first step into the world of data and computers. A couple of years into this job, the company introduced a computer-based system to help us track tapes, and suddenly I was faced with learning how to use a computer—a 286, no less.
I’ll admit, I was intimidated at first, but my brother gave me the nudge I needed by sending me one of his own computers to practice on. And I have to give a huge amount of credit to my best friend, who was deeply into computers and some programming at the time. My best friend constantly helped me and reassured me that I wasn’t going to break anything, even when I thought I might. Without both of them—my brother pushing me to get started and my friend guiding me through the basics—I wouldn’t have made this journey. To them, I’m forever grateful.
Finding My Path
After being laid off due to a company restructuring, I took advantage of a dislocated worker program to earn an Associate’s degree in technology. It was a big step for me, especially since I hadn’t excelled academically before, but I thrived. I even ended up helping the school maintain their computers while I was still a student. Graduating summa cum laude was a proud moment and set me on a solid path in tech.
From there, I started working at a local computer store, fixing computers and helping people. I quickly advanced to Service Manager, gaining hands-on experience with everything from PC repair to customer service. Over the years, I moved through several roles, including positions at another computer store, a power company, and a payroll company’s data center, where I took on my first Systems Engineer role. Each job taught me something new, whether it was supporting legacy systems or building new ones from scratch.
Today: A Tech Professional with a Practical Approach
Eventually, I transitioned into my current role with a small medical company, where I’ve been responsible for modernizing their technology, building secure systems, and supporting a busy team. As the sole IT person for several years, I was the go-to for everything tech-related. Today, I work alongside a small team and spend 50-60 hours a week making sure things run smoothly.
Through all these experiences, I’ve developed a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to technology. I’ve seen firsthand how tech trends come and go, and I don’t believe in change for change’s sake. My goal is to keep things practical and honest—whether I’m troubleshooting a computer, setting up a secure network, or finding creative solutions to tricky problems.
Why I Built 502Tech
502Tech is my way of sharing what I’ve learned over the years. Friends, family, and coworkers often ask me for advice on everything from computer maintenance to privacy protection, and I figured if they have these questions, others out there must too. This site is a space where I can pass along my knowledge, insights, and even some of the frustrations I’ve encountered along the way.
On 502Tech, you’ll find guides on computer security, practical tech advice, self-hosting tips, and a small collection of hard-to-find resources I’ve gathered over the years. I hope it serves as a helpful, reliable resource for anyone looking to understand their tech a little better.