Msmetzger's Blog

My name is Michael Samson-Metzger, a senior in the TELS program and will be graduating next summer.  I have always joked around with my friends and family that I am on the twenty year plan but the truth is, I did not take the traditional path in attaining a college degree.  During my senior year in High School, I work at a computer repair shop as a technician and soon after graduation, I was fortunate enough to get a job with a temp agency that place me at Texas Commerce Bank (TCB) now know as JPMorgan Chase bank in the IT department.  Within the first three months of service, I was offered a full-time position with TCB.  I spend the next six years with Chase building my professional portfolio.  I was involved in several huge projects namely Y2K compliancy project, the transition from actual checks being mailed to customers with their monthly statement to including images of checks written by customers within their monthly statements.  I also took advantage of the tuition assistant program by attending a nine months Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification program.  At the end of the certification program, I successfully pass all seven exams to obtain my MCSE credential and went on adding several more certifications from Apple and Cisco to my professional portfolio. In early 2003, Chase decided to move part of their IT operation to Florida and was given the option of move or taking a severance package. I took the package and went on to obtaining and Associate Degree from Wharton County Junior College in 2005.  

I am currently working as an IT Manager for Microsoft Solutions Provider Company located here in Houston with three additional branches in Palo Alto CA, Bethesda, MD and at Houston Johnson Space Center (JSC) as a contractor.  One thing I love about my job is that fact that I am confronted with different problem each day and the most gratifying part of it all is being able to provide an immediate solution without the average user noticing their was ever an issue.     

 A fun facts about me is that I enjoy riding my motorcycle on weekends, playing Wii with my eleven year old brother, and love to make people laugh.