I.T. Professionals Remain Vital To DFW's Ever-Evolving Tech Scene
If you're trying to decide what career path to follow or want to change from the one you have now, you may want to consider going into information technology. With an increasing global dependence on technology, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is forecasting a 22 percent job growth in I.T. through 2020.
Ross Moshell's education landed him a job at Reel FX, an award-winning animation, visual effects and entertainment studio in Dallas, where he currently is the director of business technology. Moshell attributes his success to a variety of factors, but it all started with a movie and a computer.
What inspired you to go into the I.T. field?
"I've been tinkering around with computers since I was in grade school, then I watched 'Jurassic Park' in 1995 and my mind was blown. It was the computer-generated imagery that made the visuals in 'Jurassic Park' possible. I knew I wanted to get into movies and I loved computers, so I decided to pursue something that merged those two things."
How did you get started?
"I went to Texas A&M University and received a bachelor's degree in computer science. The program provided me with a good all-around perspective on technology and the inner workings of computers and networks. I learned a good mixture of practical programming and computer science theory, both of which are necessary to develop good, maintainable software. My education also gave me an understanding of how to solve a wide variety of problems, how to work in teams and, most importantly, it taught me how to learn things by rolling up my sleeves to try them out for myself. After college, my first job was as a software developer with another company before I joined Reel FX."
How did you land your current job?
"I was referred to the company by a friend and was hired based on my abilities to design and develop web-based tracking applications. During my 10 years with Reel FX, I've had four different positions. First, I was a software engineer. I designed and developed Insight, our studio's web-based information tracking platform. I then managed the team of software engineers working on Insight before assuming additional responsibility for the production pipeline team that's in charge of the technology we use to create the imagery. I've been in my current position for nine months. It entails more responsibility on the business technology and facilities side of the company rather than the production side."
What do like most about your profession?
"The greatest part of my job is the joy of learning about the people you support and finding ways to make their jobs faster, easier and more efficient. With technology at the forefront of how the team produces its work, the solutions we create are even more rewarding because you get to see the impact of the work right away. By far, the best thing about my job is the people at my company. Reel FX is blessed with some of the most talented folks in the industry."
Ilene Jacobs is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. Ilene enjoys writing about a variety of topics, ranging from food, fitness and travel, to kids, pets and senior care. You can find some of her work at Examiner.com.
