Hi, I’m Rudy Valencia, a lifelong Northern Colorado resident with a passion for technology and its power to transform how we live, work, and connect.. Growing up in a region rich with both natural beauty and innovation, I developed a deep appreciation for hands-on learning and creative problem-solving.
My history with computers goes back to 1989, when my dad brought home a HeadStart Explorer from Montgomery Ward. Through the ’90s, I tore into whatever I could get—hand-me-down PCs, thrift store finds, even the occasional roadside rescue. In 2001 I bought my first new machine, a Pavilion 551w-b from Walmart, and since then I’ve kept up the habit with custom desktops, whether built, bought, or passed along.
Over time, I branched out into Linux systems and shell scripting, picked up the basics of web and graphic design, and dug deeper into virtualization, home lab networking, system administration, and domain management.
Today my home lab runs on a Proxmox virtualization host with Active Directory for centralized authentication, an Asterisk PBX, and a reverse proxy directing external traffic to internal web servers. I integrate Linux clients into the domain with SSSD, mirroring the cross-platform environments common in enterprise IT. It’s my space to expand skills, troubleshoot complex systems, and collaborate remotely with peers.
Outside of tech, I enjoy time with friends, music, rolling dice on a custom-built 36×72″ craps table, and cruising Colorado’s scenic roads. I’m eager to channel my hands-on experience with virtualization, networking, and system administration into a professional role — and keep building solutions that make a difference.