Mariner was a parole officer for about a year when the Department of Corrections ran an in house ad for a new position. Mariner got the job! (Job 16) The job was as the coordinator to implement new data systems that met new Federal guidelines. The job reported to the Systems Manager who reported to the Secretary for Corrections and Probation.

The popular acronym was CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System). Mariner’s job was to visit every prison, jail, police department and judgeship (who were resistant to baring their trial records) for the purpose of teaching the new data relationships, advise computer technicians and arrange a coordinated relationship with the state project. He had a team of two systems experts, a coordinator and an attorney.

This job lasted four years until a new Republican became Governor and mariner was let go.

Fortunately he had made friends with a few managers at the Federal operation. Slowly, mariner began getting contracts to teach project management to States who requested this service. (Job 17 and 18) This is the moment when mariner became an independent consultant and the job numbers start to climb rapidly.

So readers, do you remember when you felt really happy and fortunate when you were given a break in the work world? What was the name of the person who gave you the break? How did you celebrate your new break?

Ancient Mariner