I thrive on finding good challenges that stretch my thinking. I enjoy diving into problems to understand their nuts and bolts and devising strategies to solve them.

My journey began with my first love: art. I explored this path for a while and eventually found myself in Chicago as an emerging artist in a DIY contemporary art community. I was inspired by minimalism and technology, merging the two by creating pixelated paintings and showcasing my work in up-and-coming galleries. During the day, I worked as an art mover, and at night, I worked in my studio creating art. My time as a conceptual artist sharpened my ability to objectively explain my creative decisions—a skill that has been invaluable as a designer, where I often dispel the misconception that design choices are purely subjective.

As I continued my journey, I pivoted my love for computers and art into self-teaching web coding and learning Quark (remember that layout application?). This led to graphic design opportunities that brought me to Boston, where I worked for an educational publishing company, designing textbooks for high school students. Fast forward 14 years, and I found myself at CVS Health, part of a pioneering UX team that blended design thinking with business goals. Fueled by my passion for advocating design, I stepped into management to mentor young designers and lead impactful projects that delivered real results for businesses.

When I need a break, I turn to my hobbies, which include playing bass guitar in a jazz ensemble, golfing, and skiing. Life is good; I love spending my time with my wife, daughter, and our lively Australian Shepherd, whom I walk all over town with. 

Ultimately, what matters to me is achieving a healthy work-life balance and making a positive impact on those I work with, those I play with, and those I share my life with.