Bios

Robbie is the founder of Category5 Technology TV.

Follow Robbie's Microblog: [Twitter] [Identi.ca]

Flavors.me: [Profile Page]

Facebook: [Fan Page]

Appears in Chat Room as: RobbieF

Web Site: [robbieferguson.net]

Robbie Ferguson is a professional PHP programmer from Barrie, Ontario.

In 2000, Robbie met Bekah IRL after they chatted on ICQ for a couple months. One year later, the two were married.

For the first few years of their marriage, Robbie and Bekah produced music as the duo called soulcleansed (see soulcleansed.com). Once their first child (Tali, 2005) was born, they performed one last show with their friend Lauren B (see youtube.com/soulcleansed) and put the project on indefinite hold in order to raise their family.

They now have 3 kids.

It was during that time that Robbie and Bekah began planning, and decided to launch Category5 TV in an effort to continue helping people—in a very different way—on a global scale.

Robbie is a passionate cook (see RobbieFerguson.net), a wannabe opera singer (see youtube.com/RobbieSings4u) and the founder and host of Category5 TV.

Founding his first full-time business at the age of seventeen, Robbie has been working with computer hardware, software, and general technology in a professional capacity all of his adult life.

Robbie's media experience stems from radio. He began his work in FM radio at the age of fifteen, writing and producing a weekly radio broadcast for a small FM station in Huntsville, Ontario, where he also broadcast his own singing over the airwaves (with the radio station's permission, of course). After a few radio and DJ jobs, he was hired as a full-time on-air personality at a much larger station (20,000 Watts), where he worked for more than three years before leaving to pursue his career in technology.

Robbie has always tried very hard to provide outstanding service to his clients, and Category5 is an extension of his vision to be able to provide professional-level, personalized support to those who need it. No matter who you are or where you're from, Robbie makes himself available for live q&a each week through this unique, interactive medium.

Going way back...
Robbie's first "computer" was a pre-PC; a Commodore Vic 20. Robbie got this system when he was four years old, and by the age of five was coding software in the integrated BASIC language. Robbie later began working on XT systems, which had a 4.77 MHz processor, and later the PS/2 from IBM, which carried a screaming 8 MHz processor.

The PS/2 was Robbie's first PC build experience. Constantly swapping in and out peripherals such as Adlib sound cards, Robbie became familiar with many of the inner workings of the PC.

At the age of fifteen, with a number of years of hardware and software experience under his belt, Robbie was hired to maintain the computers at a retail store. During this time, he dealt with the onslaught of the early computer virii such as NATAS, and other BSV's.

Then, at seventeen, his full-time business was formed. He was registered with the Canadian government as "The Computer Guy", and trained customers twice (or three times) his age how to use computers.

Apprenticeship, field education, and experience have brought Robbie to where he is today.

From 2002 thru 2009, Robbie ran Prodigy Digital Solutions; a successful IT solutions company. In 2009, he closed down his company when a local IT firm hired him on as the head of their web development department. Now, Robbie's professional focus is on advanced PHP development, as well as hosting Category5 Technology TV each week.

Likes: helping others, irish tin whistle, hot sauce, electronica, ubuntu linux, compiz fusion, rock band, jawbone, home-made pasta, fishing, making wine, cooking over a wood fire, friends, colm wilkinson, portable media, technology, star trek tng novels, linux, les miserables, thermaltake, big computer monitors, tiny laptops.

Dislikes: impatient people, stores that allow people to play lottery tickets like a casino while you wait in line, customers who pay late, running out of hard drive space, dishwashers that won't clean your dishes properly unless you pre-wash them, audio anomalies, back-splashing coffee pots, the way dempsters pre-sliced bagels are actually only sliced about 2/3 the way.

Would Like to Meet: Colm Wilkinson

Goofy Facts: As a late-teen, Robbie played Frederic in the Pirates of Penzance, and the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, both for opera house musicals in Gravenhurst, Ontario. Robbie met his wife on ICQ instant messenger. Robbie runs a number of companies, one of which is a publishing company to print and distribute novels which his wife has written. Robbie used to have hair. As a teen, Robbie lived in foster care. Robbie moved to Barrie to work in radio, but had to work as a grill-chef for about a year before finally getting hired as a radio DJ. Robbie left radio largely due to the fact that his web development company was taking too much of his time when a boom in clients occured after he mentioned it on the air. Robbie started Category5.TV to help friends and local clients—the global boom was completely unexpected, yet welcome.

Appears in Chat Room as: Christa (and derivatives thereof)

Web Site: [cwellsdesigns.com]

Christa Wells is a professional Graphic Designer from Barrie, Ontario. Her friends see her as a professional finger painter.

Christa has been designing ever since she can remember; creating the remarkably abstract rainbow images on the fridge as a child. It only seemed appropriate that she would take it a step further and become a professional Graphic Designer. After 4 years of college Christa embarked onto the road of freelance design and hasn't looked back since. There is no longer a billboard, website, business card or logo that Christa can look at without immediately silently critiquing. For the past 4 years Christa has been freelancing, but has her sights set on one day, opening her own design firm.

Category5 has become a fun way for Christa to get out of her element. Usually stuck behind a computer, Christa has found that being given the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with people from around the world has really been amazing. Regardless of her obvious Mac obsession, Christa is thrilled to learn new things about PC technology and support methods every week.

Christa grew up in small town Saskatchewan where wheat fields were abundant and your parents heard you were going to skip class before you had even considered it. Avid in sports, Christa played volleyball, badminton, curling, coached figure skating and was in rhythmic gymnastics. In 2003 Christa was presented with an amazing opportunity and she tried out for Team Canada in rhythmic gymnastics where she went to Portugal for an International Gymnaestrada. Although the small town will always be home, Christa felt that she needed to hone her design skills and treaded out to Barrie, Ontario where she graduated with honours from the Graphic Design program. It was here where she became friends with her soon-to-be long term boyfriend; Brad.

Christa has an older sister who kept her on her toes as a kid, but who quickly became her best friend once she left for college. She also enjoys photography, hiking, camping and biking and tries to get out of the city as often as possible.

Christa is proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite using Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. She is currently taking night classes at the local college to spruce up her skills in HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and Dreamweaver. Christa makes use of these skills not only for her profession, but also on a regular basis to design as a hobby on her "down time."

Likes: Apple computers, ice cream, CCR (most classic rock for that matter), beer, four legged critters, camping, rhythmic gymnastics, the prairies, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, green, the smell of dirt after it rains, sarcasm, the Big Bang Theory, sunshine & lollipops, hiking, a well type-set poster, wheat fields, freshly mowed grass, skating, clouds that look like things, pantone 368 C, fresh bread, fluffy puppies, Aurora Borealis, country music, witty banter, biking, rain, climbing trees, wine, being barefoot, clever logos, splashing in puddles, old barns, rhubarb pie, How I Met Your Mother, Robert Munsch stories, skiing, my kitties (Pasta & Cricket), snap dragons and sour watermelon candies!

Dislikes: non Apple computers, logos created in Photoshop, paper cuts, rude people, black liquorice, medium sized spiders, smoking, drivers who don't know how to use their turn signal, hypocrites, taxes, humidity on a sunny day, Pantone 1625 C, wearing shoes, the cost of gas, uncomfortable pants, searching for stock photos, weak handshakes, sand in my shoes, accidentally swallowing bugs while biking, difficult clients, hat head, mosquitoes and toothpaste tubes squished from the centre.

Silly Facts: Christa has 4 screws in her jaw and has only about 60% of the feeling in her bottom lip. This is due to the jaw surgery that she had when she was 18 where she had to drink liquified food through a straw for 3 weeks! Christa has dreams of rebuilding a 1928 Studebaker. Christa's hair has been just about every colour including blue, black, brown, red, purple, pink and blonde. Christa's school was so small that her graduating class had only 7 people.... and that was one of the largest classes in the school. Christa once dislocated her knee while limboing. Contrary to popular belief, Christa believes she can NOT sing—although she puts on one awesome karaoke concert while driving in her car. When Christa grows up, she wants to be a fire truck (or a super hero)!

I’m a guitar picking-teaching-repairing, country-folky singing, computer geekish I.T. guy, foodie, hockey playing, father of three, who hails from Barrie, Ontario.

The first gig I played in a licensed establishment was when I was 15 (I didn’t get asked for ID and I definitely was “over-served”). I went on the road at the ripe old age of 19 to play music professionally in some of the best dives this country has to offer. For most of my adult life, music paid for my rent and my groceries. Around the time my third child was born, I went back to school to get a degree in Computer Information Systems. Sadly, this led to the dreaded “day job”. For almost a dozen years I was the I.T. Manager of the local television station. The station was purchased by a major television network, which flattened the management structure significantly. This, of course, left me flattened.

For now, I’m still involved in various aspects of I.T.; I play music in local pubs, repair instruments, and try to pass along some of what I’ve learned to some of my guitar students.

I think it’s my good looks and charm that has Robbie wanting me to be his beloved co-host, but I’m really not sure how that came about. I have limited experience in front of the camera, but as a road musician I learned to not be afraid of making an ass of myself in front of other people. That is, I’m not camera-shy.

I am also passionate about food! I enjoy the many cuisines from all corners of this planet. Not only do I enjoy the consumption of great food, I also love to make it.

I have three great kids, who have their own talents, but seem not to be interested in computer technology beyond the Internet, social media and iTunes.

I quit playing hockey when I was 11 years old, and took up the guitar. More than twenty years later I was asked by some of the guys at work if I played hockey. I said, “yes”... I’ve been playing ever since, but still have the ability and skill of an 11 year old house-league hockey player. Oh well, it sure is fun!

I’ve traveled around lots, but Barrie is home, and it’s the place to which I always return.

Appears in Chat Room as: Hillary

Hillary Rumball is a class act, and a class clown, all in one.

Hillary joined the Category5 Team in January 2010.

Hillary was once an advice columnist for her highschool newspaper. She has completed various promotional videos along with her sister and business partner. These videos promote a variety of efforts from Canadian Motorcycle Training Services, Motocamp, the Bob Rumball Camp of the Deaf, Barrie Free Methodist Church, as well as wedding and birthday memoires.

Hillary has tapped into a few areas of media prior to joining the Category5.TV team. She has written articles for local newspapers, and has been published in MXP Magazine. She has been featured on an episode of GoRiding TV, and was a model in a Dove Self-Esteem Campaign in 2007 as well as for Hannah's Makeup Artistry. Hillary has big plans to become a YouTube phenomenon in some capacity or another.

Hillary enjoys being involved with Category5 TV not only because of the free tech support (thanks Robbie!), but she also welcomes the chance to learn and interact with people all over the good ol' world wide web. Hillary feels it important to me to be a part of something "bigger than herself". She finds pleasure in helping others, and appreciates the opportunity Category5 TV presents to do just that.

Hillary is a jack of all trades... but master of none. She has a keen interest in music, and plays the saxophone. Coming from a musical family, Hillary loves to jam and "rock out" when she can. She enjoys water sports—such as knee boarding and wakeboarding—and secretly wants to put on a water rigata, while sporting a sequin swim cap and holding a flare. She loves going to concerts, and loves photography and video production. Some of her best friends and her have created a secret alter-ego webshow featured on YouTube. Considering her brother and sister her best friends, Hillary claims they do alot of nonsense together.

Hillary has had a great deal of experience with Adobe Premiere editing software, as well as Photoshop. Not only being able to edit, she also loves to tell the story, and shoots videos in her spare time for fun. In addition to having a high degree of fluency in Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Excel (the joys of being a student), she also claims to love "Paint", and can't understand who wouldn't.

Hillary is a full-time student, who is nearly completed her BA in psychology. During the summer, she serves as the Program Coordinator for a camp for deaf individuals. As such, she is fluent in American Sign Language. In addition to this, Hillary works as a Deafblind Intervenor, assisting individuals with their activities of daily living in the group home setting. She loves working with children and special needs adults. She also works with students at a college as a Learning Skills Assistant and Peer Tutor. She also feels it important to volunteer and be active in the community. She does so by being a youth leader at her church, participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, helping out with Battle of the Bands competitions, and the Youth at Risk Diversion Program.

Likes: contests, catch phrases, tacos, music (Hawk Nelson is my favourite band, EVER! Well, that plus my dad's rockin' band from the 80s), YouTube,The Office, Flight of the Conchords, reading, the Bible, Crash Bandicoot and Princess Peach, renovating, SUMMER!, wakeboarding.

Dislikes: onions, the man (he's always bringing us down), snow down your back when playing outside, wet socks because of winter slush at your front door, rude dudes, interupted internet service (I could name names, but I don't think I will), professors who don't use spell check on exams, fake school, her brother putting her in armbars, kneelocks, and rear-naked chokes—consequently she dislikes UFC!

Goofy Facts: Hillary has seen every episode of the OC... that's not fun, it's actually tragic. Hillary has broken her left arm 2 different times, but doing the same thing... falling off an ATV. Hillary is also looking for "Goldberg" (Shaun Weiss) from the Disney Mighty Ducks Movies. Apparently he lives in London, Ontario. If you find him, let her know!

Rachel Xu started working with the Category5.TV team on January 5, 2010 as the artist who created some of the graphics you saw on the old Category5 site. She joined the on-air team for Season 5, beginning with an appearance on September 20, 2011.

Rachel on deviantart: speckledgoblin.deviantart.com

Rachel works doing illustrations, cartoons, paintings, portraits, graphics, photo touchups and murals for a variety of clients.

Rachel's previous media experience involves a photo of herself dressed as a cow printed in the newspaper. We decided not to ask questions or expand on this further.

When asked what she likes most about being a part of the Category5.TV team, Rachel says the M&Ms in the green room make it all worthwhile.

Rachel loves art in all forms but prefers painting and working in Photoshop and Flash, but remembers the days before Flash when she had to do digital art in... MICROSOFT PAINT! egad. These days though, Rachel is working on an art collection and hopes to start selling prints of her work in the near future.

Likes: painting, photo manipulations, reptiles, martial arts, computer games, anything made of chocolate and inserting the words "pickles" and "cheese" into as many conversations as possible.

Dislikes: filling out questionnaires, forwards, lineups, people glued to their cell phones and of course the evil gnomes that constantly steal her paints and socks.

Goofy Facts: Rachel has a phobia of warm spots in the water at the beach. She was once blackmailed by her own sister for two weeks, and once abandoned her sister in leech-infested water to save herself.