Born and raised in small-town Minnesota before moving across the country during childhood, I was exposed to a wide range of social and economic environments—from suburban sprawl to declining towns. These experiences shaped my empathy for different backgrounds and helped me to see potential in overlooked places. My passion for architecture began in college, leading to a foundational education at Oklahoma State University and further experimental studies at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles. Over my career I've worked on several transformative projects, including Oakland's Uptown Station and San Francisco's I. Magnin Building. With over 15 years in architecture, my experience spans adaptive reuse, hotels, high-end homes, and more, all with a focus on thoughtful design that embraces diversity and rejects one-size-fits-all solutions.