Past Employment - Trades - Businesses

** In Argentina **

- In 1974, since my young age I was a trained and a certified lifesaver (Red Cross International with the National Education Directorate).
-From 1977 to 1981, at my 21 years old I worked at the Technical Division at the (former) National Gas Co. in Rosario, Argentina.
I had experience in office, a broad spectrum of general clerical / administrative and technical fields. I used to translate to Spanish from English manuals, technical specifications, and imported goods. I prepared draft tenders (for Senior revision), their sub-contracts with our National Gas company, Terms & Conditions, dealt with many gas-network pipeline contractors, their own plans at my office and done on-site inspections. I was trained into safety and high-risk ignition procedures, flame/ spark & detonation arresters, fire extinguish procedures, public safety, UHF radio-contact with police, ambulance, fire brigade, gas leak emergency crews, traffic blockade minimizing, shut-down procedures & sabotage control. I've done audits for compliance with national and international ISO standards. I prepared Reports for stakeholders and Senior management of equipment inspections and plans.
- I was directly involved as a team leader in safety, repair, and shut-down procedures for natural gas supply by underground steel and PVC pipelines, as well as directly drafting projected plans for city network gas network pipeline extensions and regulation chambers, etc. I have experience in design & technical drawings, gas and electrical circuitry, city street drafting for gas network, inspections of earth-lightning protection devices for ships, storage cylinders, and transport railway tracks. I done onsite measuring of proposed network layouts, construction projects, survey land calculation revision, quality control to report results & inspection on-site of works performed. I was trained on 1st. Aid procedures several times, emergency procedures on high risk areas, explosion & Fire control, use of oxygen + mask in operational emergencies, shut-down procedures, gas-leaks control and emergency. I drew safety & electric installation plans for cathodic (anti-corrosive) protection systems and rectifier chambers, transformers, and anode replacements - Inspection and record keeping of high-pressure to domestic regulator chambers, valves in conformity with national (Argentine) IRAM and international ISO standards - Etc.

Carlos drafting at the Gas Co. Technical Office
together with fellow staff
( Click on the photos to enlarge them )

Example of one of the many safety plans I drew.
Here, specifications to discharge lightning strikes and anti corrosive protection for large gas storage tanks
and freight wagons.

Private Electrical &
Carpentry Contractor:

- From mid 1981 to 1986, I resigned from the National Gas Co. to start my self-employment as an electrician and carpentry contractor for major high-rise, multi-storey units and interior decorations (both trades) in partnership. I've acquired extensive experience in: quotation and contract dealings with architects, interior decorators, small private extensions and larger new buildings. I was a fully licensed electrical contractor (Class A - up to 15Kv) in high-rise, general main switchboards and servo-systems, domestic conduits, cabling, water pumps, TV antennas and intercoms.
- I've installed solid wood (decorative) roof trusses (combined with steel bolts & plates) and installed decorative ceiling and wall panels (similar to the ones I've installed at the New Parliament House in Canberra ACT, Australia inside the Members Hall). I also done, shelving , quite often combined with decorative lighting systems also installed by myself.
- I still maintain all records of those licenses and works completed, which were also thoroughly translated and revised by the Australian Embassy.
- In September 1986, I migrated to Australia with my family.

** In Australia **

- I came to Australia in September 1986 with my family. Just a few months later, I started working as a cabinetmaker & joiner in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) at the New Parliament House (still under construction) until its total completion. Soon after I started there, I was a Team Leader doing paneling on the roofs and walls at the Member's Hall. Later, I was assigned to "Specials", which were specific jobs at the Prime Minister's suite, Senate chambers, about repairs and touch-ups.
I did fine joinery - cabinetry work, veneering, laminate repairs and fit-outs and cut-to-size jobs at: Prime Minister’s suite, several Senator’s chambers and their suites, Media Rooms glass door closers, cafeteria, panel ceilings + walls, moulded skirting with solid timber and brass handrails and desks. I also done "specials" at the Reception Hall on ground, 1st, and 2nd. floors, some of the Great Hall walls, staircase solid timber handrails, shelving, cupboards, wardrobes, custom-made and re-adaptation of factory made furniture cut-outs to mach many wall curves. I have also done hand-French (shellac) re-polishing on many repairs in-site.
The photos below show my first, the best, and the most beautiful combination of all works I have ever done in Australia so far. I am truly proud of that, as my first contribution to this beautiful country.

( Click on the photo-gallery to enlarge )

Private Manufacturer & Cabinet Maker - Shop fitter Contractor:

- After the New Parliament House completion in 1988, I have also worked in large factories as a cabinet maker, in furniture, custom office + computer desks, bookshelves, credenzas, filing storage cabinets, folding tables, partitions, screen systems, kitchens, wardrobes, special designs, etc. I was a team leader of 10 men In Ergofurn P/L and installations supervisor. I've also worked in a door & window factories in Canberra.
- In 1993, I've also opened my own business (Stand Art") with a workshop and manufactured my own designs "AIPO" registered (Former "National Patents Office"'). I've made equipment for artists and children school desks in large stocks.
- In 1996 I moved with my family to the Gold Coast (Queensland), where I worked as a fitter and shop-fitter self-employed contractor for many years, whilst I run an educational establishment in partnership with my wife.

Canberra 1993 - Making a custom-made
kitchen at CFM
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Canberra 1995 - At my own workshop
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

- Around this time I fell in love with computers. So, I study a Certificate IV and a Diploma in nighttime in order to prepare my own Business Plan, advertising material, database, cash flow, etc.

On The Gold Coast (Qld.):

- In 1996 I moved to the Gold Coast - Queensland with my family where we live for 20 years.
- I kept on working in cabinet making, employed as manufacturer, and later as a subcontractor installer for several factories.
- On evenings, I've taught Spanish at the educational establishment I had in partnership with my wife.

Click here to see more photos of
completed cabinet making projects ***

- From 1997 - 2000, I worked as interpreter and translator for Centrelink (Government organization) while I starting to study Computer Graphics and Information Technology at TAFE on evenings
- Since 2000, while working as a cabinetmaker, I was also a successful co-owner of an educational establishment “Grial College of Fine Arts & Languages” at Bundall on the Gold Coast for 5 years.

Spanish Teaching:

- On evenings, I've designed and taught Spanish courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. I applied my wealth of knowledge and experience by designing my own courses in a very practical way with emphasis in conversation. I also applied my computer skills on assembling new computers, preparing my classes, our Business Plan, cash-flow, cost analysis, trends, charts, marketing, web page, advertising, logos, photo-edit, etc.

Here, I am teaching Spanish to Beginners & Intermediate level students. The last photo shows my farewell with Advanced students at a Latin-Night on the Gold Coast practising with native Spanish speakers.
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Two samples of newspaper's advertising
2 and 3 columns - (Not to scale)
These are my own designs among many others.
(Click on the photos to enlarge)

“Any fear is an illusion.
You think that something is standing in your way,
but nothing is really there.
What is there, is an opportunity to do your best
and gain some success”.
Michael Jordan -US Basketball champion-