When I started there were not many classes available on web site design. As a matter of fact, the term "webmaster" was still being defined. I searched the Internet for tutorials and visited my local bookstores, buying manuals that inspired my level of expertise (beginner) and allowed room for growth. I spent countless hours every night studying. I was so excited. This venture became more than a challenge but a real thrill, as I continued learning about this completely brand-new medium that was so captivating. I had discovered a breeding ground for innovative thoughts and ideas. After having worked for the same company for 16 years, though a blessing in itself, had grown quite predictable and nothing on my job excited me like learning web site development.

About six months into my self-study program, I was completely overwhelmed. I found web site development to be much more than "glorified desk top publishing." Though I started with a specific area to study each night, I always found myself somewhere else, rarely touching the night's planned lesson. It was at this point that I stopped and screamed! I felt as though I was in the middle of a raging river, Internet technologies (html, Internet protocol, javascript, java, cgi, perl, web servers, databases, design, graphic optimization, community building, etc.) coming at me from every direction! I'd gone too far to turn around, and the other side looked so far away. What had been a pleasant challenge, turned into a very demanding one. After investing so much and savoring the accomplishments already made, I had no choice but to continue.

In order to understand all of these technologies, I needed a platform where I could practice and showcase my skills as they developed. So in 1997, I purchased destee.com. (Domain names were $100.00 then! Mandatory 2 year purchase at $50.00/yr.) Destee was (and is) my screenname on AOL, so it seemed a logical choice for a domain name. At that time I thought I would create an online community, where like-minded folk could come together.

During this same time period, I was the host of a black entrepreneur chat room (it wasn't necessary to be an entrepreneur to host the chat), and was afforded the privilege of being in the company of business owners. I used destee.com as a way for us to get to know each other, inviting the business owners to add their business card to the site. (All the while, this provided me the opportunity to grow in my understanding of web site development). It was this same group of individuals that I offered to make a web page for free. I wanted to see if I could deliver what someone else wanted and/or needed. There were only five people that took me up on this free web site offer. Of course they were kind and said nice things about my effort, but I doubt those pages are still being used. They are loaded on destee.com, but you'll have to email me for their URL's (and convince me to show you these first works!).

My studying gave me a great appreciation for this medium and the opportunities it can provide. Business owners are able to present their services and/or products to the entire world, no longer hindered by natural bounderies. For potential customers, a web site is often the first indicator regarding the quality of a product or service offered. Surfing the Internet I was disheartened by the many pages with broken images, misspelled words and less than professional presentations. It was at this point, in 1997, that Destee Design and Publishing was started, with a sincere desire to help develop effective, professional and beautiful web sites.

That's how Destee began five (5) years ago. It has been a gradual progression from making free web site pages to charging $50.00 - $100.00 per hour, depending on the technology incorporated and/or the detail required to design the site.

A great percentage of my time is still spent mastering the ever increasing technologies that make up the Internet. I have recently started teaching web site owners, one on one, in an effort to help them better understand and/or maintain their own sites. Whether you are interested in learning or having your web site developed, it would be my pleasure to help.