Russell McClinton

Ever since I can remember, my father would have computer components, coding books, and boxes of PC peripherals, among other computer-building items littered around our home in Birmingham, AL. It made sense because he was a very tech-savvy guy and is still the sole owner of Urbanham.com which he made in 1992.  I remember the day we moved closer to my high school and my mom made sure all those items never saw the light of day and stayed in our unfinished basement/garage. This changed my whole world because it was like a lab for my dad and he would show me all types of cool things computers could do and how to make them do these things. It's like a whole new world opened up for me and that's my origin story.

I've built and refurbished PCs and PC components for myself, friends, colleagues, and clients, and I love every moment of it. I thoroughly enjoy explaining the different build options and prices since it's always cool to see what people may want vs what they need. 

Also, to further my career options, I've been putting myself through coding camps and certification programs to open up more opportunities to clients and friends alike in the near future.

I've worked in the customer service field for over 12 years, generally dealing with IT and IT-related issues. During this time, I started building and tinkering with my electronics (game controllers, consoles, televisions, etc.) until 2017 when I started building, customizing, and refurbishing computers for friends. In 2018, I set off to make my first budget PC for $500 and it exceeded my expectations, I realized I enjoyed the hands-on experience more than the IT over-the-phone handling of issues. Since then, I've worked in the same field I know well, IT, but I'm very excited to transition into this new path that will always be close to my heart and one that I have been around since I was born.

My most relevant education is my Associate's Degree in Graphic Design. 

Presently, I am participating in the Google IT Professional Support Certification Course and the various certifications for Front-End Development. The certifications should be finished within the month, but I will update my profile as I go.