The Michael Reyes Journal

Real work.
Real people.
Lessons worth sharing.

From helping government agencies move surplus assets to supporting children and exploring technology, these are the experiences that shape the way I work and give back.

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01 / GOVDEALS

Government Surplus

Auctions, asset management, and the people who keep government surplus moving.

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02 / REYES MORA YOUTH CENTERS

Giving Back

Experiences supporting under-resourced children and families in the Dominican Republic.

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03 / HARDWAREGEEKS.COM

A Life in Technology

Reflections on hardware, publishing, and lessons from my years at HardwareGeeks.com.

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From the journal

Technology

When HP Put the HardwareGeeks Logo on Their Laptops, I Knew Someone Believed in Me

October 28, 2026

There are certain moments in your life that you don’t fully appreciate until years later. Not because they weren’t important at the time, but because when you’re young, you’re so busy chasing the next opportunity that you sometimes forget to stop and appreciate what’s happening right in front of you. For me, one of those […]

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Technology

The HP Media Server Was Easy. Getting Mom on Camera Took Four Hours.

October 26, 2026

Back when I was making videos for HardwareGeeks, I had what I thought was a simple idea. I would ask my mom to show people how easy it was to set up an HP Media Server. I wanted viewers to see that you didn’t have to be a computer expert to get it working. My […]

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Government Surplus

Short on Staff? Your Surplus Does Not Have to Stay on Hold

October 25, 2026

I understand why surplus sometimes ends up at the bottom of the list. Your department may be short on staff. The people you do have are covering several responsibilities, and there are only so many hours in the day. Taking pictures of an old truck or sorting through equipment in storage can wait when something […]

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Philanthropy

Making Every Dollar Count: The Reality of Running a Small Nonprofit

October 25, 2026

When people hear that my wife and I run a nonprofit, they sometimes assume we have donors, corporate sponsors, and a budget to cover the work. The reality is that Arlett and I pay for most of what we do at Reyes Mora Youth Centers International ourselves. We help because we know the needs of […]

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Philanthropy

Why We Started Reyes Mora Youth Centers International

October 25, 2026

My wife, Arlett Mora, grew up in Cancino Adentro, in Santo Domingo Este. It is a community she knows well, and when we looked at the needs of children and families there, we saw an opportunity to help. We would see children playing around the neighborhood without shoes or wearing clothes they had outgrown. Many […]

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Technology

Before Unboxing Was Everywhere: My Years at HardwareGeeks.com

October 25, 2026

There was a time when opening a box, taking pictures of what was inside, and sharing your thoughts online was still something new. I got to be part of that time through HardwareGeeks.com. Looking back, those years gave me much more than the chance to try out new technology. They gave me opportunities to travel […]

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Government Surplus

Just Because You Don’t Use It Doesn’t Make It Trash

October 25, 2026

There is a difference between something your department no longer needs and something that has no value. That truck parked behind the garage might not meet your needs anymore. The desks in storage may have been replaced. That equipment taking up space might not have been used in years. But none of that automatically makes […]

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A little about me

Different fields. The same focus on people.

I'm Michael Reyes, an Account Manager at GovDeals, a nonprofit leader at Reyes Mora Youth Centers, and a former Editor in Chief of HardwareGeeks.com. This is where I share what I learn along the way.

Real work.Real people.Lessons worth sharing.

Government Surplus

Giving Back

A Life in Technology

From the journal

When HP Put the HardwareGeeks Logo on Their Laptops, I Knew Someone Believed in Me

The HP Media Server Was Easy. Getting Mom on Camera Took Four Hours.

Short on Staff? Your Surplus Does Not Have to Stay on Hold

Making Every Dollar Count: The Reality of Running a Small Nonprofit

Why We Started Reyes Mora Youth Centers International

Before Unboxing Was Everywhere: My Years at HardwareGeeks.com

Just Because You Don’t Use It Doesn’t Make It Trash

Different fields. The same focus on people.

Real work.
Real people.
Lessons worth sharing.