Hello, World!

I couldn't think of a more fitting title for my first blog post - Hello, World! is a time honored tradition in the computer programming world as it is often the first program that aspiring programmers will learn to write, a simple command to display the words Hello, World! on the display. I would be remiss not to pay homage to the millions of computer engineers that came before me and paved the way for the world that we all live in today.

My name is Brian LaBombard and I've worked in the IT industry for the past 21 years but I have had a passion for helping people since I was a young child; I've never been one to stand by idly when I've seen inequity in the world. I believe we are at a tipping point when it comes to tech equity and I am at a point in my life where I am able to help share my knowledge and expertise with my community here in Charlotte, NC. Perhaps I'll be fortunate enough to expand our services further but I cannot understate how excited I am to begin my next chapter in life, by helping you - yes, you reading these words on your screen - in any way that I am able.

My father introduced me to computer engineering when he brought our first desktop computer home in 1996. I was 8 years old and did my best to help him troubleshoot when we couldn't get it to boot up. We tried everything, re-seating the CPU, RAM, and unplugging and plugging back in the hard drive IDE cables. Finally, we brought it to a computer shop where it promptly booted up without a single issue. Turns out the issue was the wall power outlet in our 150-year old upstate New York farm house. I learned quickly to troubleshoot by process of elimination and this method has stuck with me ever since. My career in the tech field began with an internship on the help desk at Piedmont Natural Gas headquarters; I spent my days in a closed off office area where all of the IT employees sat. It was a crash course introduction to my first experience with tech inequality - the gate keeping of knowledgeable and experienced personnel from the rest of the company. Many companies have abandoned this methodology but many still try to "protect" their IT workers from the general public but I will always stand firm by my belief that no one is above helping others, no matter your position in a company or in life in general. After graduating high school, I was eager to leave home and experience the world on my own. I knew that I wasn't quite ready to continue my education but all of my friends were heading off to college so I followed suite enrolling at Appalachian State where I quickly withdrew after three weeks of classes. I learned a lot about myself in those three weeks but the most important lesson was that it is okay to make mistakes, what matters is applying the lessons you learned to future situations. I had to learn that lesson twice when I re-enrolled the following year, again at App State, where I once again withdrew after just a few weeks. I returned home and began working in a customer facing job at an office supply store, where I was the lead computer engineer helping customers remove viruses or install software. I was quickly introduced to an all too common theme in the computer support industry, the thought that most people will never be able to understand computers so therefor we shouldn't take the time to teach them the basics, instead opting to up sell unwitting customers. I was disturbed by this practice and did everything I could to educate the people who came in for help, a practice that I still stand behind today. After realizing that corporate retail was not a future that I wanted for myself, I began to explore my options and wrote down what I wanted to do at the time. I wanted to:

• Move out and be on my own

• Explore the world and travel to places I had only read about in books

• Help others

There were not many careers that fit the bill for a 20 year old with no savings and limited experience. The year was 2009 and there was one employer that fit the bill for each of my desires - the US Army. I enlisted and after completing my training, was stationed at Fort Meade Maryland, then Seoul South Korea and last Fort Hood Texas before returning home to Charlotte in 2013. I learned and experienced more than I could ever put into words but I came out a better human despite some of the troubles I faced and I am forever thankful for the opportunity to defend the Constitution in the small ways I could along my path.

I quickly enrolled in the Computer Engineering Technology course at Central Piedmont Community College when I returned home and earned my Associates in 2015. I was fortunate to begin a long career at Red Ventures while finishing my degree; I worked there for the following 10 years, eventually leading the team that I started on and implementing positive change with the help of some of the smartest people I've had the pleasure of knowing.

As one door closes, another one opens and after being laid off in June of 2025; I began the journey that I hope will soon lead to me helping you in some way! I am a firm believer that we never stop learning in life, so I am excited to learn just as much, if not more, from you if our paths cross.

I believe we are at a tipping point when it comes to tech equity in the world. With the AI boom growing larger and larger each day, it is becoming ever more difficult to protect ourselves from bad actors in the tech world. I firmly believe that EVERYONE deserves to be armed with the knowledge to protect themselves and their families and I hope to have the opportunity to help you in the near future. That's all for now, if you made it this far kudos to you! Writing is something that always came naturally to me and going forward I will do my best to keep these posts organized in a way that will allow you to quickly grasp the concept and learn something within 2 minutes of your time. Until next time, Brian LaBombard Silver Circuit, L.L.C.

Fond memory from my military service, the first time flying in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.