Meet Joseph Cisneros | Tinkerer & Technologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Cisneros and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am originally from Harlingen, TX. My parents were young and moved around quite a bit moving all over Texas before I was 8yrs old. We lived in Harlingen, San Antonio, Houston, Waco. My dad was later offered a job in Albuquerque, NM that took us there for a few years then eventually ended up in Phoenix, AZ.

Sadly after a few years in Phoenix my parents separated and eventually divorced. So at one point it was my Dad, younger brother and myself. My Dad was having rough times and looking after my brother became a large part of my responsibilities, making sure he was fed, getting to school, etc. After a time my Mother remarried and my brother went to live with her, it was overall better for him. I moved back and forth better my Mom and Dad until I eventually dropped out of High School, got my GED and joined the Army a few months before turning 18.

There is so much to cover I feel in my life, I feel that the youngers years in my life had helped me to become self reliant, learning the value of what I wanted in life and how to work towards it, granted I might not be where I want quite be in my life, but I have accomplished a good amount so far.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been a creative type. Over the years I have dabbled in things like drawing, making woodworking projects, of 3d art and animation. Right before the start of the pandemic I was introduced into 3d printing in mid 2019. I bought my first printer in January 2020 and now in August 2022 I have I have 7 3d printers, 2 resin and 5 filament based. I have have very much enjoyed this and love sharing what I do with others via streaming, twitter or instagram. I have learned a lot about 3d modeling and cad design as well as additive manufacturing over the last couple of years. I have made my own parts for my 3d printers to making parts and accessories for boat owners. It is always a nice challenge to make a solution for problem. I have been working on teaching my children about this, as I feel that it is a good skill to learn for possible future careers. Eventually I would love for this become something more so I can enjoy more of what I like to do, but things like that take time.

Since about 1981 I have been around computers, from the Commodore VIC-20, 64, Amiga computers up through the years of the current PC’s I have always loved technology. Pretty much everything I have learned over the years was self taught, I never attended college, couldn’t afford it. If I wanted to learned something new I would apply my self to it, read and learn from hands on.

I have had various jobs through the years, mostly in Information Technology roles. Learning and transitioning into corporate level roles was not easy with no degree, but made up for it with my applied experience, I never tried to BS anyone in interviews and would admit to not knowing something, but would research a solution to the best of my ability. That has worked well over the years and still for my current employer I have been with for about 13yrs now. Over the course of that time I have learned that communication and honesty is the best, don’t embellish yourself where you might not be able to deliver, there is cockiness and then is confidence, I have learned to be humble on what I know, but to dissent when needed without coming across as someone with an ego issue.

From this I feel that people should know that, even though you might not be able to attend a higher education, that you can still succeed in life and still be happy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Funny, I have mentioned this to a friend that lives in Boston.

Fly out to Phoenix, would show him so of the cool local areas here in town, indulge in some of the good local brew pubs here, have some good food, drink and conversation.

Would do a road trip and show him the back roads of the the Arizona desert, some off roading, view some old ghost town sites. Up to Crown King and Jerome, old mining towns that have an old time rustic feel. Of course a trip to the Grand Canyon, no hiking it though, haha. Maybe Hoover damn tour, then south to Tombstone for a old western adventure, plus there is a killer brew pub in Bisbee.

If time allowed, maybe some boating and or jet skiing. Would be a blast.

Might also have a couple of friends along as well. If they all road motorcycles, we could road trip it all on adventure bikes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many things to think about on this. Largely I would say that it was my step father that inspired me to be a good and better person in my life. He was there for me more than when my real dad was. Meeting his friends that were either police officers or career military men inspired me to do the same by joining the Army.

My mom has always been supportive of what I have wanted to do in my life and always reminds me that I am her baby and that she will always love me. Sadly my step father passed away in 2009 shortly after my daughter was born, he never got to meet her. He is still missed and sometimes have dreams of him that help me through times that are difficult, he always assures me that things will be ok.

Organization wise, for many years I was involved with a local computer club that we would hold “LAN Parties” for computer gaming and raised money for charity, with parts going to the Shriners and United Way equally. This was a labor of love and was always fun to do. Sadly with the pandemic and other life obligations these stopped leading in to 2020.

Website: https://www.twitch.tv/papabearaz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realpapabearaz/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/papabearaz

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBuQHGxXeZiOmSzPoC5pKrQ