DadOfTheClan
More Than Just Code
I'm Caleb Lopez—a full-stack developer, cloud infrastructure engineer, father of five (with one watching over us from above), partner, gamer, history enthusiast, and lifelong learner. This is the story of how all those pieces fit together.
The Professional Journey
My story in tech didn't start in a prestigious university or a Silicon Valley garage. It started with fixing printers. That's right—paper jams, driver issues, and the eternal question of "why won't it print?"
But here's the thing about starting at the bottom: you learn that every problem has a solution, and curiosity is your best tool. From that printer closet, I climbed to deploying desktop applications, managing VoIP systems, architecting cloud infrastructure, and eventually leading a team of 10 engineers.
Over the past decade-plus, I've worked across manufacturing, healthcare, insurance, and municipal government. I've led server farm upgrades, domain migrations, multi-site network deployments, and complex cloud integrations—all while maintaining near-zero downtime and keeping clients happy.
As a consultant, I've generated over $70,000 in revenue in less than a year, with relationships that continue to grow. But the metrics that matter most? The problems solved, the teams mentored, and the infrastructure that just works.
My Philosophy
"IT is only draining if you aren't a curious lifelong learner. For some, the rate of change and new things are exhilarating, not exhausting."
I genuinely believe this. Every new challenge—whether it's learning a new cloud platform, debugging a complex network issue, or mentoring a junior engineer—is an opportunity to grow.
That mindset has kept me passionate about technology for over a decade, and it's what I bring to every project and every team.
The Dad of Five
Before anything else, I'm a dad. Five children—four who fill our home with chaos, curiosity, and pure joy, and Alicia Mae, our little goose who watches over us from above. Being "DadOfTheClan" isn't just a username; it's my primary identity.
Alicia was born on June 14th, 2025, perfectly healthy with bright blue eyes that defied genetics. She smiled constantly, loved mornings and Barney with her big sister Bean, and never stopped staring—looking through you, not just at you. On November 5th, 2025, at just four months old, she left us to save others through organ donation. Her legacy lives on in every life she touched, every day she made brighter, and in the way she reminds us what truly matters.
Parenting—especially through profound loss—has taught me more about leadership, patience, resilience, and empathy than any corporate training ever could. Coordinating four active schedules, managing different personalities, honoring one precious memory, troubleshooting sibling disputes—it's like being a systems administrator for the most important network I'll ever manage.
My partner Sarah and I are a team. Whether it's coordinating schedules between work and school pickups, managing the bedtime routine for four kids with different needs, planning weekend activities that work for everyone, or just tag-teaming through those chaotic dinner prep moments—we make it work together.
I'm active in parenting communities like r/daddit because I believe in the power of shared experiences. We're all figuring this out together, supporting each other through triumphs and tragedies, one dad joke and one milestone at a time.
Family Stats
I'm not just looking for a job—I'm looking for an organization that values both technical excellence and healthy work-life integration. One that understands that life's perspective comes from both its joys and its challenges.
The Human Behind the Keyboard
Tech and family are huge parts of who I am, but there's more to the kaleidoscope
Gaming Enthusiast
From exploring virtual worlds to managing Project Zomboid mods, gaming is my creative outlet. It's where I decompress and let my mind explore new challenges in a totally different domain.
History Enthusiast
Active in r/CemeteryPorn and fascinated by local history, abandoned places, and the stories behind forgotten monuments. I love puzzles like translating old inscriptions just because it's interesting.
Community Builder
Active on Reddit as u/dadoftheclan, I engage in tech forums, parenting communities, and local Lansing discussions. I believe in helping others and learning from shared experiences.
Eternal Student
Whether it's translating cemetery inscriptions on my phone or diving into a new programming language, curiosity drives me. Every day is a chance to learn something new.
What I Believe
Authenticity Over Perfection
I show up as myself—whether that's admitting I need help carrying groceries from the bus stop or cracking jokes about code comments. Real is better than polished.
Collaboration > Competition
The best solutions come from teams working together. I'd rather mentor someone through a problem than hoard knowledge. We all rise together.
Resilience Through Love
Life throws unimaginable curveballs—systems crash, kids have meltdowns, projects get complex, and sometimes we face profound loss. Finding strength through love, humor where we can, and focusing on what matters gets you through. Adapt, honor, solve, continue.
Long-term Thinking
I spent nearly 8 years at Celink and 2 years at Infinisource because I believe in building something lasting. Quick wins are nice, but sustainable growth matters more.
Empathy in Action
Whether supporting a widowed dad on Reddit or walking a client through a complex migration, understanding people's real needs makes all the difference.
Balance is Non-Negotiable
I love what I do, but my family comes first. I'm looking for organizations that understand that great work happens when people have fulfilling lives outside the office.
Based in Lansing
I'm proud to call Lansing, Michigan home. My family is spread across the country—from Texas to Michigan and everywhere in between—but this is where we've planted our roots and built our life together.
I'm engaged in local communities online, contribute to discussions about the area, and believe in being an active part of the places we call home.
That said, I'm open to relocation anywhere for the right opportunity—one that aligns with my values and offers long-term growth for both my career and my family.
Why I Do What I Do
At the end of the day, technology is just a tool. What matters is what we build with it and who we help along the way.
I fix systems, write code, and architect infrastructure because I love solving problems. But the real reward? It's when a client's business runs smoothly, when a junior engineer has that "aha!" moment, when a team ships something they're proud of.
I'm the guy who will dive into a cemetery inscription translation just because it's interesting. Who will mentor a stranger on Reddit about their IT career. Who celebrates when potty training finally clicks (even if it took cookie bribes).
I'm not looking to be the smartest person in the room. I'm looking to be part of a team that makes each other better, builds things that matter, and creates a culture where people actually want to show up every day.
Life Doesn't Pause for Work
2025 has been the hardest year of our lives. Losing Alicia Mae. Being fired twice without cause—once after her birth and my grandmother's passing, once a week after losing her. But tragedy doesn't erase a decade of technical excellence or the commitment to show up even when everything hurts.
I'm looking for an organization that understands that resilience isn't a liability—it's exactly what makes someone a better leader, colleague, and human.
The Kaleidoscope, Focused
So there you have it—the full picture. I'm a tech professional with a decade of experience leading infrastructure transformations. I'm a dad to five incredible children—four who keep me running and one who reminds me why we run in the first place. I'm a partner to Sarah who makes it all possible. I'm a gamer, a history buff, a community volunteer, and someone who has learned through both joy and profound loss that curiosity, kindness, and perspective will take you further than ego ever will.
I'm not just looking for a paycheck—I'm looking for a mission-driven organization where I can contribute strategic technical leadership, mentor others, and continue growing while maintaining the work-life balance that lets me be fully present for my family. An organization that understands that the best employees are whole humans with rich lives, deep values, and the resilience that comes from weathering real storms.
Because at the end of the day, I'm not just a full-stack developer—I'm a full-stack dad.
