Kate's Trinkets and TreasuresI'm Alan Kaplan. Welcome to my family's web site. Here you will find my wife's jewelry business, my blog, and some information about me and my work.
I have been electronics hobbyist since my early teens, and became a computer hobbyist before the PC was marketed by IBM in 1982. I graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a degree in Philosophy, and went on to UNC Law School. For 16 years I was a practicing attorney in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a general civil practice. My practice included family law, personal injury, contract, and other general civil litigation matters. I ran child support collection court in Mecklenburg County for over 10 years.
Although I was a competent and well regarded attorney, I never learned to "love the law", as I had been promised in law school. I had a part time computer consulting business for many years. In 1998, I ran for Clerk of Superior Court for Mecklenburg County on a technology platform against a multi-term incumbent. (Thanks to the 65,853 people who voted for me). After losing the election, I closed my law practice and became a full time computer consultant. I am very fortunate to have been able to make my hobby my living.
After four and one half years working as a consultant for the VA, I became a Systems Security Specialist at the Veterans Health Administration VISN 6 (Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network). There I support the NT administrators for eight hospitals and their associated clinics. I am responsible for ensuring that security mandates are implemented, and for internal testing of security. I also run the Microsoft SMS, MOM, WSUS and ISA servers, and generally do ad hoc administrative scripting.
As a computer guy, I have specialized in security and in the remote management and inventory of workstations. I write VB Script files using Windows Script Host, complex NT command files, WinBatch and SMS Installer executables. You can download a sample of these files from AdminTools.
Many years ago I authored macros for WordPerfect 5.0 and 5.1, which were favorably reviewed by both PC Magazine and PC World. I am a member of the Carolina IT Professionals Group. I live in Matthews, North Carolina, (map) a small town contiguous with the southeast of Charlotte with my wife, Kate, and two children, Josh and Kayla.
Note: I am admitted to the Bar of the State of North Carolina, but am inactive and no longer have a private practice. If you are looking for an attorney, please call 800/662-7660 for the North Carolina Lawyer's Referral Service, or the Mecklenburg County Lawyer's Referral Service at 704/375-0120.
As most web sites, these pages are a continuing effort.
What this site lacks in flash, I hope it makes up for in substance.