While attending college, I gained invaluable hands-on experience by working part-time at Reynolds & Reynolds, an automotive retail services provider. As a member of the Business Analyst team, I played a key role in designing a new internal Enterprise Resource Planning system to replace two legacy systems used by the company. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration and communication when working on large-scale projects, and how to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

After graduating, I joined UES, Inc. as a Designer/Analyst, where I focused on developing a materials data management system. Overseeing the design, testing, and release of the system and its related toolsets, I gained extensive experience in project management and team leadership. In addition to my work on this project, I also served as a UI/UX Designer for Dayton's premier software factory. There, I designed the company website, created new tools for contracted projects, managed customer communications, and administered Atlassian spaces, gaining experience in a broad range of design and technical tools.

These experiences have allowed me to hone my design skills and provided me with a strong foundation in user research and testing, as well as the ability to effectively manage projects, lead teams, and communicate complex technical concepts to stakeholders.

I received my B.S. in Management Information Systems from Wright State University in December 2018. My studies focused on a range of topics including Data & Information Management, Data Visualization, Application Development, IT Infrastructures, Project Management, Technology & Society, and Leadership & Ethics.

In addition to my undergraduate degree, I completed a UI/UX Design Specialization from the California Institute of the Arts. This program allowed me to deepen my knowledge of Visual Elements of User Design, UX Design Fundamentals, Information Architecture, Wireframes, and Prototypes. The specialized curriculum and hands-on experience I gained through this program have been invaluable in my work as a designer and have helped me to better understand and meet the needs of users.

Growing up in a family of creative minded people, I was exposed to various forms of art and developed a passion for exploring different fields. My mom's sewing, my dad's cooking and gardening, and my sister's dancing all had an impact on me. As a curious child, I would often take apart home appliances and gadgets to learn how they worked. Through these experiences, I became the family's "tech guy," always finding solutions to any electronic problems.

Later in life, I met my fiancée, Cass, who has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation. Her dedication to pursuing her dreams of becoming a PA and her compassion for others have taught me valuable lessons about pursuing my passions and making positive impacts. Together, we rescued a Pitbull-Hound mix from a shelter, and named him Foster (but he also answers to the name "Stinky").

We're gearing up to get married in 2023 and soon after that, travel the world before settling our roots where life takes us!

My passion for creativity started with music, which blossomed after receiving my first drum set in 2005. Through years of practice, performing in school, and playing in groups, I discovered my love for the arts. This led me to explore other creative hobbies like cooking, hiking, whittling, interior design, short films, and game design.

While studying Computer Science in college, I realized that backend development didn't fulfill my creative ambitions. So, I switched to a major in Management Information Systems to leverage my skills and work with others to design creative solutions for their problems. With additional training in UI/UX design, I discovered that my passion for game design was merely the seed for my true passion in product design.