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Lifelong Democrat

• Born in Lansing, Michigan in 1965 to Bonnie and Paul Blatt as the middle child with an older brother and younger sister
• Raised in the small town of less than 5000 people, Eaton Rapids, Michigan
• Attended the First United Methodist Church as a member of the Youth Choir
• Played saxaphone as member of Eaton Rapids High School Marching and Concert Band
• Served in the Boy Scouts of America, reaching the rank of Life Scout
  • Also served in the Explorer Scouts, associated with the local Police department
• Graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1983 as a member of the National Honor Society
  • Also attended community college while attending high school
• Enlisted the U.S. Army in 1983, expecting to serve at least 2 years in Europe as a member of the Military Police
  • Was injured during training and was discharged from the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge under medical conditions
• Graduated with an Associate's degree in Business Data Processing from Lansing Community College in 1986
• Worked his way through college with part time and full time jobs
• Worked in Information Systems field for 18 years, working sometimes as an employee and sometimes as a consultant for all 3 branches of government at the state and local level and multiple Fortune 500 companies
• Met and married a wonderful woman named Tricia in 2001.
• Tricia and Doug adopted two dogs, Simba and Bagheera, from the humane society shelter
• Started an independent Pack & Ship business from scratch, taking it to profitability in less than 6 months and sold it a year later to return to Information Systems field
• Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix in 2004
• Continued in Information Systems field for the next 5 years
• Graduated with a Master's in Business Administration from Texas A&M University at Commerce in 2009
• Currently working in Information Systems Development field for Houston based Fortune 500 Company