Bio: Shawn Mason

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Bio: Shawn Mason
27-Feb-2002 -- Susan Pichotta
 
This week, the Icetips News Network is pleased to present the second in our series featuring speakers from the upcoming Eastern Tennessee Clarion Conference. Unlike the other speakers, this guy will be on home turf: he lives in Tennessee. But when it comes to telling us about his presentation, he's a man of fewer words (saving it all for the conference, no doubt!), but he makes up for it by having quite an interesting collection of hobbies. He also talks about learning the difficult lesson of "sometimes the best thing to do is nothing".
 
Who do you work for?
I have worked for myself all of my life with the exception of a brief 11 month period. The idea of a paid vacation is one of those concepts which I cannot grasp.
 
What do you like best about what you do now?
I enjoy creating. I get a natural high hearing a client say something like
"Oh, that's easy", or "Man, I can't imagine what I would do without this system".
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in using Clarion?
Trying to create a Clarion program with FoxPro files. It was a long time ago when I didn't understand the importance of sharing in a development community like the one we are privileged to have.
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in business?
Getting unjustly kicked out of a partnership and learning that sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.
 
Do you use any computer languages besides Clarion?
Yes, I use whatever tool is most appropriate to the task at hand. If this is Delphi, or ASP, or Java... instead of Clarion then that is the tool I use. In light of that though, 85% of what I do is with Clarion.
 
When did you start using Clarion?
I started using Clarion back in the 2109 DOS days (around 1992). I had rented a copy of Clarion Personal Developer from a local software shop and was rather impressed by the Application Designer and knew the professional version would compile an exe. I had a friend who needed a program written to help him with his sales job but all he had was $200. I really, really wanted to purchase FoxPro version 1 instead of Clarion but I knew I would also need the compiler add-on for FoxPro. So, I chose Clarion instead. The rest is history.
 

River running by the outdoor pavilion where the Guidroz' dinner is served at ETC, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo courtesy of Mark Riffey.

You're going to be a presenter at ETC in May. What will you be talking about in your presentation?
My topic will be using Clarion with Sql Server Replication. I will be talking about several different scenarios while ending the session with an example app that we will setup to replicate.
 
Where did you get the idea for that topic?
It seems that almost every one of my recent clients within the past 3 years has requested this type of feature.
 
What do you think is important about technical conferences such as ETC?
The networking is vital especially to someone like myself. Also, if I get one idea that makes me a better programmer or wins me a new contract, then it's well worth the money I spent to get there.
 
What do you get out of, or bring home from, conferences like ETC?
Basically, it gives me a chance to better myself.
 
Have you done anything for a living other than software development?
Yes, I did a brief stint delivering pizzas for Domino's and I also used to photograph family portraits.
 

Tonnie and I aboard a canal boat in Amsterdam.

What are your hobbies/what do you like to do when you're not using Clarion?
I enjoy martial arts like Judo/Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling (which I coach). I lift weights on a frequent basis, enjoy playing fantasy role-playing games, and attending various Tony Robbins seminars.
 
Married, children, grandchildren, other close family you want to mention?
I've been married for over 15 years to Tonnie and have three lovely daughters ages 10, 6, and 4: Amanda, Ashlynn, and Alonna.
 
Where were you born?
Detroit, Michigan but I repented and moved south to live in Knoxville, Tennessee.
 
What's interesting about where you live?
No hurricanes, no devastating tornadoes (they break apart when they hit the mountains), no real flooding, etc. <g>. Ah, but really, looking around on all sides and seeing the lush mountain landscape...
 
Have you lived any other interesting places?
No.
 

Iao Needle in the Iao Valley on Maui

Which person, from past or present, do you most admire and why?
Abraham Lincoln. He was a man forged for the time. He spent most of his life seeming to fail yet he viewed it as preparation. He was a man plucked straight from the fiery forge tempered into a man of steel yet he still had compassion as soft as velvet. He could make the tough decisions required to be successful, yet still care for the nameless. He was quite an inspiration.
 
What is your favorite drink?
The nectar of the gods, commonly called Mountain Dew.
 
What is your favorite type of music?
I'll have to admit I must be kin to Bruce Willis's character in "The Last Boy Scout". To cause me real pain, just play some rap. Not fond of country either. But, I do enjoy all types of Rock and I guess my favorites would be the big band sound.
 
If Clarion never existed, what do you think you would be doing at this time?
I'm sure I would be developing software, but probably not for myself. Clarion has allowed me to be extremely productive and efficient.
 
Anything else you want to mention?
God is great, life is wonderful, and tomorrow can only be brighter (I'm feeling a bit poetic).