About Lou Marino
My name is Lou Marino, and I will be your instructor for this course. As the one who will be responsible for guiding you through this course, I would like to share a brief history of my professional career and personal journey to help you understand what it is that has placed me directly in the path of your future. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding my background and experience. I would be happy to have a discussion at any time.
Academics/education
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to teach this Web Graphics course. I have a BS degree in Finance from St. John’s University in New York. My interest in computer programming and graphics was inspired by a mandatory introductory class in my junior year of college. After a few classes, I actually dropped the course thinking it was too difficult. However, I did know that I would need to take it to fulfill core requirements.
Something did click with me even though the course seemed a bit out of reach at the time. I already had the required course book and began to review it. Eventually I actually learned most of the course work before I had to take the class again. Taking the class a second time was quite different from the first. With very little effort I was able to easily earn an A grade.
Although inspired by computer programming, I was too far along to change my major.
Professional/career
My first job out of college was with Irving Trust Company (a major New York bank at the time that eventually merged with Bank of New York). I continued to dabble with computer programming using a home computer and eventually learned enough to be hired by Merrill Lynch (brokerage). From Merrill Lynch I moved to Schering Plough (pharmaceutical company that eventually merged with Merck).
With my skills improving I became an independent contractor working at several companies (Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, American Reinsurance) primarily doing Windows programming. With the onset of the internet, I moved from strict Windows programming to web development using ASP (Active Server Pages).
I was again hired by Merrill Lynch as a full time employee and, without realizing it, I got Jedi mind tricked into a management role. Now I was managing developers rather than coding. As much as I missed the hands on development, it was a good career move. I was with Merrill Lynch as an application development manager for over 9 years. Eventually Merrill Lynch was taken over by Bank of America and, as you may suspect, Bank of America started to slowly eject Merrill Lynch people from the organization.
I again became an independent contractor, but this time I reinvented myself as a project manager. I took contracts with Merrill Lynch (yes, again), eBay, HighPoint Solutions and the American Board of Internal Medicine in Philadelphia. I currently work for ABIM as a full time employee having converted from a contractor in 2015. I am currently a project manager and scrum master in the IT applications development department.
Personal
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to New Jersey when I was four years old. About 10 years ago I moved to Doylestown, PA and currently reside in Chalfont. I have three grown daughters, two are married.
I am an avid motorcyclist and sports fan, hockey in particular . Although I now live in Pennsylvania, I am still a fan of the New York Rangers. You will probably hear me making references to motorcycles and hockey during my lectures.