Chris Matthews
Geek is a label the current Washoe County webmaster wears with pride.
"Hey, geeks rule the world," comments Chris Matthews, basking in the light of his computer monitor.
The road to geekdom has been a natural one for Chris, who has owned a computer since he was 11 years old.
While possessing a degree in English education, web design was a given. "Are you kidding? I get to draw pictures and play on the computer. What could be better than that?" smiles Chris.
Chris has been engaging in web design for over seven years, but the wonderful world of government is a new experience for him, having previously worked for a prominent local design firm, and for several large private companies.
Chris' web experience has been varied, having built everything from school websites to a site for Russian mail-order brides, but finds government by far the most intriguing.
"Normally, a single website wouldn't occupy more than an hour of time a week. Washoe County has over 30 departments, each forging ahead at its own pace. I never know what to expect when I open my email each morning."
Design work has allowed Chris to increase his knowledge in graphic design, programming, and computer hardware, while keeping his writing and organization skills honed.
"We're a weird bunch," Chris says of designers. "Web design, by its very nature, relies heavily on both left (logical) and right (creative) brain thought processes. Normally, people lean heavily towards one side of the brain or the other, so finding someone who works well in both mindsets is really unusual."
In those brief moments of time Chris is not working on his cathode-ray tan, he cycles, sketches, and stalks sunsets with his camera.
