Acknowledgments

Tom Thomas: Special acknowledgments go to my good friend and the best editor, Chris Cleveland. His insight, abilities, and editorial comments take a rough manuscript and gave it life beyond what a simple nerd was able to envision. I have had the pleasure of working with Chris for many years, and I do not think I would ever want to write a book without his involvement.

As always, I would like to thank my technical editors for their friendship, insight, and awesome comments. Your knowledge helped to fine-tune my thoughts. I know that this book will help many people, and that was the goal. Thank you.

Don, we have been friends for years and you have always been a part of my life through the good and the bad; I am lucky to call you brother.

Donald Stoddard: I would like to extend a great thank-you for a great staff: Brett Bartow, Vanessa Evans, Chris Zahn, Chris Cleveland, and the technical reviewers (James Risler and Phil Lerner); without your patience and attention to detail this book would not be in the hands of readers today. Honestly, without you to guide, push, and correct, none of this is possible. Thank you all for your hard work and contributions throughout the long months from start to finish...truly this has been a marathon, not a sprint, and it has been a pleasure from the beginning.

And finally, I want to acknowledge a man who has guided my career and life for a long time. Tom, we’ve known each other for many years, and you have always been there to guide me when my career was derailed. You have been an inspiration. I will always remember you telling me to get focused. In fact, I think your words to me were, “...Don, you know what your problem is? You lack focus....” We’ve never been people who mince words, have we? I have focus now, I have a plan, and I have a career set before me all because of you. Thank you for your professional guidance and your friendship.