Tom and Deb Shinder were ahead of their time. Long before Match.com and other online dating sites, they met in an AOL chat room in the early 1990s. Both were computer enthusiasts who later became IT professionals, making their connection feel more like serendipity than coincidence. They married in 1994.

Tom grew up in Culver City, California, earned his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, and received his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was introduced to Texas during his internship in Galveston, then completed a neurology residency in Oregon before practicing neurology in Arkansas for several years.

Deb is a fourth-generation North Texan who has lived in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex most of her life.  She served as a Seagoville police officer, police academy instructor at NCTCOG and Eastfield College, was a member of the North Texas Crime Commission and its Cybercrime Subcommittee, chaired the Eastfield College Criminal Justice Training Advisory Board, and contributed articles to Law & Order magazine during her law enforcement career.

After returning to Seagoville in 1997 to be closer to Deb’s recently widowed mother, Tom and Deb found themselves at career crossroads. Their longtime passion for computers and technology had grown beyond a hobby, leading them to become recognized experts who authored more than 25 books on computer operating systems, networking, and security. They took a leap of faith and founded TACteam (Trainers, Authors and Consultants), a successful technology consulting company.

In 2010, Tom joined Microsoft as an engineer and Data Center Security Specialist, working remotely until his retirement last month after almost 17 years. Deb pursued her passion for writing and technology. Many of her writings focused on Microsoft technologies, for which she was awarded the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award in the field of enterprise security for 14 years in a row.

In 2004, Tom and Deb began searching for a home in the Rockwall area and found the perfect lakeside home and property in Rowlett on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard. They lived there for 21 years, becoming deeply involved in the community. Deb served on numerous boards and commissions and on the Rowlett City Council from 2022 to 2025 and ran for mayor in May 2025.

The Schinders are empty nesters—daughter Knicki lives in Washington with her military husband, and son Kris lives in Colorado and serves as a second to American chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. With retirement approaching after Deb’s council term ended, Tom and Deb decided to come back home to the Rockwall/Heath area. They began house hunting in June 2025 and quickly fell in love with Buffalo Creek.  After touring several homes, they found the perfect fit on White Buffalo, overlooking the golf course. Following many months of renovations, they moved into their new home last December with their beloved pets: Suki, their 16½-year-old Japanese Chin dog, and Meow, a rescue cat they nursed back to health after an injury.

Tom and Deb enjoy entertaining at their new home, especially poolside in their outdoor kitchen overlooking the 17th hole. Tom proudly serves as the grill master, known for his succulent steaks and chicken. They also enjoy date nights at Blue Koi in Heath or their favorite new Rowlett restaurant, Ollie’s Azul House, and wine tastings at Rossini Vineyards. They are part-owners of the racehorse Transom Bay, in keeping with Tom’s lifelong interest in horse racing.

Tom and Deb continue to write, including fiction, poetry and even songwriting. Tom plays guitar and Deb plays piano. As they embrace retirement and settle into their new home, they look forward to becoming active in the Rockwall and Heath communities. For now, they’re enjoying neighborhood walks, meeting neighbors, and making new friends. We welcome Tom and Deb to Buffalo Creek and look forward to getting to know them in the months ahead.

To learn more about how you can become a partner with Stroll Buffalo Creek please reach out to Teri Preas
teri.preas@n2co.com
https://linktr.ee/marketingsolutionsbyteri