ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Philip Conrod started programming computers in 1977 after he borrowed a personal computer from his middle school math teacher over a long summer break.   He enjoyed programming so much that during high school he attended a two year Computer Programming For Business certificate program at WarrenTech where he graduated with honors in 1982.  Since then, Philip has authored, co-authored and edited numerous computer programming books for beginners.   Philip holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems and a Master's certificate in the Essentials of Business Development from Regis University.  He has also held various Information Technology leadership roles in companies like Sundstrand Aerospace, Safeco Insurance, FamilyLife, Kenworth Truck Company, and PACCAR Inc.  Today, Philip serves as the Chief Information Officer for a $2B manufacturing company based in Seattle, Washington.  In his spare time, Philip still enjoys  publishing computer programming books and serves as the President & CEO of Kidware Software, LLC.    Philip makes his home with his lovely wife and three "techie" daughters in Maple Valley, Washington.

Lou Tylee has been programming computers since 1969 when he took his first Fortran course in college. Lou Tylee holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering.  He has written software to control suspensions for high speed ground vehicles, monitor nuclear power plants, lower noise levels in commercial jetliners, compute takeoff speeds for jetliners, locate and identify air and ground traffic and to let kids count bunnies, learn how to spell and do math problems. He has written several on-line texts teaching Visual Basic, Visual C# and Java to thousands of people. He taught a beginning Visual Basic course for over 15 years at a major university. Currently, Lou works as an engineer at a major Seattle aerospace firm. He is the proud father of five children and proud husband of his special wife. Lou and his family live in Seattle, Washington.