November 13th 2007 was a big day in history. Two friends got together and talked about the profession they loved so much.
In the discussion, the topic came up about the lack of knowledge sharing in the industry. As many SBE members know, there are often "meetings after the meetings" where market engineers talk about war stories, exchange tips and tricks, and offer assistance. Often though, that's where is ended. If you didn't attend those meetings, or weren't in a position to be an SBE member, you didn't reap the benefits of those "meetings".
Those two friends, Kent and myself, saw something else. We saw the decline of an "art". Engineers are retiring in droves. Very few people are entering the profession. Those that are entering need to draw on the experience of those leaving. The talent pool is shrinking, and we thought something needed to be done.
That was the talk that started the Virtual Engineer.
It is truly a labor of love. I pay for the hosting myself, and neither of us make a penny. While we sometimes talk about involving engineering-related sponsors in a non-traditional way, from day one we decided that if we can afford to do it without traditional advertising, that's what we need to do. We simply wanted to create an on-line "meeting after the meeting" for everyone.
Speaking for myself, it's been very rewarding to see this site grow. Often you see sites like this have a burst of activity when they go live, then fade into obscurity. It's because of each of you that this site still exists.
I would like to take a moment to thank all of our moderators, who take time out to spur conversation, and make sure that things go smooth. They do it for free, and it's often a thankless job.
I'd also like to thank Mike Fitzpatrick (NECRAT). He has done a lot to get people participating, and from day one he has not been afraid to be brutally honest when I float crazy ideas out there. Lots of times, forums like this lose their way because the moderators are "yes-men" to the creators. When Mike and I disagree, he's always been respectful, and I appreciate it.
Thanks to all our members. If it weren't for you, this would be a boring place! I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge.
Most importantly, thank you Kent. You are a great friend, and I'm glad that we can share this together. Even if I destroyed you in our processing wars in Milwaukee!
Here's to many, many more years of lively discussion!
