Before changing my career to graphic design I worked in a variety of technical positions in the last 20 years ranging from developer to QA engineer to technical marketing to sales engineering.
I am well versed in coding in a number of object-oriented languages including Java, Javascript, and Actionscript. I have designed a number of web sites and web interfaces. I also have extensive experience in database schema design and performance tuning.
In addition to all this I have graphic design and illustration skills which I believe make for a powerful combination.
And yes, I do occasionally play pool. It teaches quite a bit about strategy, planning, and whether to hit hard or use a light touch.