Val is a true Internet veteran working on Internet projects since1994. He was a founder of AppletWare, Inc. - a software company based on his client-side search and retrieval technology -and the technology guru behind the TrueFire.com initiative and Mail Dog Manager - online system of permission marketing tools. He also worked in Aspen Interactive for high profile clients such as Diet Coke and J.C. Penney. Val's expertise includes but is not limited to web and database design, e-commerce, PHP, MySQL, Perl, JavaScript, ASP, Linux, PDF tools, streaming audio and video, DVD authoring, and everything web-related but not necessarily Microsoft-centric. He is also a SF writer and film/video maker. He is a founder of Indymedia Bulgaria and does journalistic work for them.