Richard R. Starkweather, Sr

The following is a chronological biography of my professional career.  

Over the years, I have developed the electrical skills needed for installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining complex commercial HVAC electronic & pneumatics controls, electronic circuit design, computerized control circuitry, and computer programming. 

 

In the late 1960's I began training at ITT Technical Institute for electronic technology. This training led me to an interest in early computers. In 1974 I began programming in BASIC on “Archimedes” at Eureka College .   With the advent of the Commodore 64 in the early '80s, I soon wrote and sold several software packages including "New Math" and "Change maker", both educational programs. 

During the late '70s I created the largest Disco-tech remodel in the country. It was located East Peoria know as "The Coliseum".  It was a magnificent show with over 2000 light bulbs and 5 miles of wire.

During the years, I have attended ITT technical Institute and later Illinois Central College continuing my studies in Electronics Engineering. While at ICC, I began teaching as an Adjunct Instructor in basic electricity for a high school joint agreement program, heat load calculations, equipment design, and photography.   

In 1985, I won “First Place" in the State of Illinois IEEE Computer Contest at Illinois Central College were I acquired the nick name of “Captain Micro”.  This name later became the name of my computer business (www.cptmicro.com).  

Through out the early 1990’s, I taught full time at Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois .  Serving five years as a full time faculty member where I designed and taught a 50 credit hour curriculum in HVAC, and taught classes in HVAC, HORT, CIS, and MECH SYS, Pneumatics, Computer based learning, Management styles and Ethics. 

In 1998 I was offered a position as Education Consultant with Lennox Industries in Richardson, Texas.  As project manager I rewrote and updated the Lennox HVAC courses, designed an Intranet and Internet web-sites.  I utilized team building, project leadership, small business management, needs analysis, technical writing, adult education learning environments and training styles, internet-based distance learning, CBTs (computer based training), advanced testing methods for the adult learner, courseware development and implementation, electronics engineering research, design, and development skills.  The results of this massive undertaking culminated in the total rewrite and new graphics for a 450 page text book on HVAC for Lennox Industries .

Along with the materials I developed a new training site for the education department and an intranet department site.  Web mastering several web sites I soon joined the  “International Webmasters Association". 

Technical writing is my main focus. Now, at Caterpillar, I have learned a great deal regarding many new technologies: Electrical Power Generation, locomotive systems, and system standards for programming. These complex and proprietary projects has deepened my technical expertise and I look forward to a exciting future and prosperous future.