Cal Thixton

Background

About Cal Thixton

Profile: 35+ year veteran in the networking, security, database, web, mobile and cloud industry. After 5yrs as Sun Microsystem's first field tech hire, then first billable consultant, was recruited away for 8yrs at NeXT Computers (yes, argued with sj many times), also as first field tech and billable consultant. Later, recruited by ThoughtPort Authority to design, build and manage a nationwide backbone for media services for the entertainment industry. Spent 15+yrs vetting, acquiring and running regional B2B ISP’s, data centers and web design house. Acquired SpeedSite Online in 2001 and several other local/regional ISP’s over the following years. Assumed control and majority ownership in 1997 and continued as CEO until sold in 2011. Started technical career at 14yo, giving up a promising brick cleaning career, fix-it shop and paper route, to become a technician for a local video equipment manufacturing firm VAMCO, then as a junior tech at a robotic materials handling engineering firm, CBSI, testing and repairing micro-processor and memory circuit boards at 16yo. While at ThoughtPort, kept a hand on the technical side of the house by taking support calls, normalizing schemas, thwarting international DOS attacks, managing security, performing forensics, pulling fiber to government agencies and scaling data centers, now spends most of his time on enterprise, cloud and mobile solutions, c-suite advising and heading an international team of seasoned designers and engineers for commercial, medical, financial and governmental agencies. Now providing executive, board and angel level consulting coordinating mobile, web, security and cloud projects for domestic and international clients like Cmed, MedAptus, Forbes, Hancock, Andersen Windows, LG HiMacs, Burger King, AOL, CAEP.org, Sungard, Techbarn, Financial Times, Language Automation, PCS International, OMRON, Alto.co, James John Group, Chicago Public Schools, and Interactive Data Corporation with his team.