After 19 years in information technology, I've been fortunate to see a lot of cool things happen. The one thing that has stayed consistent is that companies can't run without us, the guys that actually build things.
<img style="float:right" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-12" title="us" src="http://reybango.wordpress.com/files/2009/04/us.jpg?w=300" alt="us" width="300" height="225" />
I'm supported by the best wife in the world, Maggie, who along with my kids motivates me daily to be better.

My interests lie in:
<ul>
	<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reybango/sets/72157614502470953/">My family</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://jquery.com/">jQuery</a></li>
	<li>JavaScript</li>
	<li><a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/">Mozilla Add-ons</a></li>
	<li>The social interactions of the web</li>
</ul>
I'm immensely proud to be a member of the <a href="http://docs.jquery.com/Contributors#Rey_Bango_.28Florida.2C_United_States.29">jQuery JavaScript library's Core Project Team</a> as well as a writer for the top Ajax &amp; JavaScript online publication <a href="http://ajaxian.com/">Ajaxian.com</a>. I'm equally blessed to be the Add-ons Community Lead for <a href="http://mozilla.com">Mozilla</a> helping add-ons developers be successful as well as spreading the message of open web technologies.  Most recently, I was listed by <a href="http://thinkvitamin.com">ThinkVitamin</a>.com as <a href="http://thinkvitamin.com/dev/40-web-developers-to-follow-on-twitter/">one of the top web developers to follow on Twitter</a>. That made me a little giddy. :D

Evangelism is one of my main strengths and when I'm passionate about something, you'll know. But by the same token, I'm objective enough (in most cases) to listen &amp; explore other possibilities. It's an ability that's allowed me to create some amazing relationships with very smart people who many times don't see eye to eye with the things that I support.

People who I feel have made a lasting impression on me for various reasons:
<ul>
	<li>John Resig (I can't thank him enough for how much he's helped me)</li>
	<li>The whole jQuery project team</li>
	<li>Dylan Schiemann - Sitepen/Dojo Team</li>
	<li>Pete Higgins - Dojo Team</li>
	<li>David Walsh (the 1 person who I couldn't convince to use jQuery &amp; is now in my role with the MooTools team)</li>
	<li>Basil Hashem</li>
	<li>Ben Nadel</li>
	<li>Aza Raskin</li>
	<li>Paul Rouget</li>
	<li>Elliott Kember</li>
	<li>Ryan Carson</li>
</ul>
The list is not all inclusive just people that have recently made a big impact on my life and I'm grateful to know them.