Coury Richards

Where I am now: I have an Associate's degree in Computer Networking Systems. Currently I am attending Kent State University for my Bachelor's Degree. I am enrolled in the School of Digital Sciences pursuing two degrees (Software Development and Telecommunications Infrastructure) and should graduate by the end of 2014.

I am involved with the hackSU group on campus. The group aims to give its members a real world experience for collaborative software development. Personal opinion it (we) rock. I am currently the Leader of Student Relations and we will be holding our first ever "Mock-a-thon" in just over a week.

I currently work for DATATRAK International a Clinical Research EDC company. I started as a Solutions Center Specialist about a year ago and recently moved up to Trial Designer. It is probably one of the most amazing companies I have had the chance to work with and I look forward to many more years here.

5 Year Plan: Finishing my degrees, taking another leap to Software Development or Technical Service at my current company and also, getting my business plans started. A simplified web/mobile based Ticketing/Bug tracking system; an all-in one place platform that is not weighted down with unnecessary features. Then it will be back to school for my Master's Degree.

My Passion: Open Source and free communication.

Open source flourish on the web. A giant think tank of all skill levels can come together and tackle new problems or solve old ones. Software in this environment evolves rapidly but not chaotically. There is no shortage of innovation but a large removal of unnecessary ?? (A word I cann't think of).

The Web has opened up so much. The world is no longer landmasses separated by miles but rather milliseconds. Events happening now are known about and felt around the world. Online communities can stop laws in their track and force governments to listen. The world has changed and will continue to. How we communicate will forever be different.