About Me

My programming story started in 1986 with an IBM 8088 and a curiosity that wouldn't quit. What began as a teenager tinkering with code has evolved into a 25+ year career where I've had the privilege of building systems that scale, leading teams that deliver, and mentoring engineers who've gone on to do incredible things.

Since turning professional in 1999, I've learned that software engineering isn't just about writing code. It's about solving real problems for real people. Whether it was developing custom WordPress themes for The Geekie Awards, creating open-source plugins like Bookshelf-scopes to make database querying easier, or architecting scalable solutions at HARMAN International, each project taught me something new about both technology and leadership.

Throughout my career, I've worn different hats, from individual contributor to engineering management. But I've always found my greatest satisfaction in the craft of building software. There's something deeply fulfilling about architecting elegant solutions, mentoring fellow engineers, and seeing code transform into products that people actually use.

As a Principal Software Engineer at HARMAN International, I get to focus on what I do best: solving complex technical challenges, designing scalable systems, and helping teams deliver exceptional software. Whether I'm deep in TypeScript functional programming, building React applications, or exploring the latest AI development tools, I'm energized by the endless possibilities of what we can create.

Over the years, I've worked with 15+ programming languages, not because I collect them like trophies, but because each one taught me a different way to think about problems. These days, I'm particularly drawn to functional programming patterns in TypeScript, finding they lead to more maintainable code and fewer bugs in production.

My technical certifications (SQL Pro, JavaScript, Problem Solving, OpenStack Essentials) reflect my commitment to continuous learning, but the real education comes from building systems that need to work under pressure, scale with growth, and be maintained by teams that change over time.

These days, you'll find me working on two very different but equally exciting projects. First, I'm building Roblox games with my daughter. There's something magical about sharing the joy of creating with the next generation. Our latest game, Fire Storm, has been a fantastic father-daughter coding adventure.

I'm also deep into building AI-powered starter repositories, exploring how we can use intelligent tools to help developers bootstrap projects faster and better. It's the kind of work that gets me excited about the future of software development, not replacing developers, but making us all more effective.

After 25+ years in this industry, I've learned that the best engineers aren't just great at solving technical problems. They're great at solving human problems with technology. They mentor junior developers, communicate clearly with stakeholders, and build systems that their future selves (and teammates) will thank them for.

Whether you're an engineering leader building teams, a developer navigating your career path, or someone who shares my passion for well-crafted software, I'd love to connect and share experiences from the journey.