Burness Ansell has always had a fascination with astronomy, but his interests didn't blossom until he purchased an 8-inch telescope while in college. Even though Burness wasn't an astronomy major, he landed a job as a physics lab assistant teaching observational astronomy at the Virginia Tech observatory. In 1985, he moved to Denver and began work in aerospace engineering. Burness has worked on numerous space-related projects including work on the Mars Global Surveyor program. Burness has performed volunteer work at Gates Planetarium until 2000. In 1990, I helped establish the International Association for Astronomical Studies. Burness earned his Extra Class Amateur Radio license in 1995. Currently, Burness is Director of Aerospace Technologies for the International Association for Astronomical Studies, the former host of the Colorado Astronomy Net, now host of the SkyHubLink Astronomy Net and webmaster for the IAAS Monthly Astronomy Newsletter and works for a provider of commercial high resolution earth imagery products and services.