Although I left our class in the 11th grade to pursue studies abroad, I've always felt a strong connection to our shared roots and the classmates who shaped those early years of my life.

After moving to the United States, I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University, which opened the door to a lifelong career in the tech industry.

I began at IBM in 1967, working on some of the company's earliest integrated circuits. In 1970, I became a founding engineer at Amdahl Corporation in Silicon Valley. Over the next ten years, I advanced to Director of Technology, leading 250 engineers in the development of IBM-compatible mainframe systems.

In 1981, I joined STC Computer Research as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. We were developing a mainframe system compatible with IBM's 370 architecture, using custom CMOS technology at a time when most companies still relied on bipolar circuits. I oversaw all major operations—hardware and chip development, software tools, chip fabrication, system manufacturing, and customer service—managing a team of 600 employees.

In 1984, I founded Vertex Semiconductor, a fabless chip design company focused on high-performance computing. We secured $14 million in venture capital and built successful partnerships with companies like IBM, Apollo, Loral, and Toshiba. I personally negotiated a strategic alliance with Toshiba, which eventually led to the company acquiring Vertex in 1991.

I later joined Tandem Computers (which became part of Hewlett-Packard), where I held senior executive roles in technology and business development. I spent several years based in Shanghai, leading operations across 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It was a demanding but fulfilling time, working with major financial institutions and stock exchanges from Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur.

Now retired, I live in Northern California with my wife, Ann. We have two children, David and Amberlin. I recently completed a full-length memoir titled "Destination: Silicon Valley – From Broom Shop to Supercomputer," which will be published soon. Writing it has been a meaningful way to look back at a life shaped by family, mentors, hard work, and opportunity.

Though I didn't graduate with the class, I look back on those school years with gratitude and affection. I'm thankful to still be connected with you all after so many decades.