I made this to give people a clearer sense of how I operate: how I think, how I work, and what tends to lead to great outcomes when we’re collaborating. It’s a blend of values, preferences, and patterns I’ve seen over time, meant to reduce friction and increase flow.

About Me

  • I’m a founder and builder at heart. Since the age of five you could find me behind my Mac working on my latest scheme to take over the world, Chicago, or at least a large portion of the local playground.
  • I’ve spent the last two decades starting and selling businesses. I started with One Design, an award-winning design and strategy agency. I later founded Chicago’s first coworking space, which led to Deskpass (which we recently sold). A lot of my time has been centered on rethinking the way (and where) we work.
  • I’m a Manifesting Generator (Human Design) and an ENTJ (MBTI). That means I move fast, think big, juggle a lot, and iterate constantly. I’m most alive when I’m creating, optimizing, or simplifying.
  • I see things as systems. I love to break things down, see how they fit together, and rebuild them to work better.
  • I care deeply about design, not just how things look, but how they feel and function. Copy matters. Brand matters. Experience matters.
  • I live in vision mode but execute hard. I’ll launch something at 80% if it gets us moving, and we’ll refine from there.
  • I’m a connector and I love making introductions, especially when it comes to people. I pride myself on a large network of fabulous humans that I always love to connect.
  • I pride myself on my ability to see the future. I love learning about new concepts and connecting the dots with other concepts. I’ll often pick up on a trend or inevitable reality before the average joe.
  • I work best with people who are autonomous, thoughtful, proactive and good communicators.

How to Work With Me

  • Be clear, be direct. I don’t need fluff. I appreciate brevity and smart context.
  • Be vulnerable with me and I will be vulnerable with you. That’s where the magic happens.
  • Bring me options, not just problems.
  • If something’s urgent or stuck, please don’t be shy. I’d rather hear it sooner than later.
  • I value self-starters. If you take ownership, I’ll have your back.
  • I try to process things fast, but I also reflect deeply. After an intense meeting, I may need a little space before I have a fully-formed take.
  • I don’t need a lot of meetings. I prefer async where possible, especially when paired with crisp writing and quick meetings when action is needed.
  • I move fast, so if I miss something, a nudge is welcome. It’s never personal.
  • Comedy and levity are always appreciated. Life has plenty of innate suffering, let’s enjoy our time together.

Communication Preferences

  • Email: Best for anything that needs thought, record, or substance.
  • Text: Great for quick logistics or casual check-ins.
  • Phone: If it’s urgent, nuanced, or you just want to jam.
  • Slack/DMs: Fine, but I prefer things that don’t disappear.
  • I tend to compartmentalize. I’ve got young kids, so I really try to respect family time as family time. I’ll protect yours too.
  • I often do deep work in bursts; mornings and late nights are my best creative zones.

What I Value

  • Speed, but not at the expense of quality
  • Clear, intentional communication
  • Great design and strong writing
  • People who take initiative and follow through
  • Systems that scale, stories that stick
  • Curiosity, autonomy, and deep focus
  • Vulnerability. Honesty with kindness
  • Building things that feel inevitable

What I’m Focused On Now

  • Building what’s next. After selling my last business Deskpass to Yardi, I’m always exploring new opportunities at the intersection of technology, real estate, and experience design, particularly autonomous spaces that rethink how we gather, create, and collaborate.
  • Designing for autonomy. I’m interested in systems that run smoothly with little friction or intervention, blending physical space with smart tech and autonomous interactions, thoughtful simple interfaces, and real-time data.
  • Advising and investing. I’m supporting a few early-stage founders and scouting opportunities that align with my values: clarity of purpose, unique systems, and strong brand execution.
  • Simplify. Whether it’s a pitch, a product, or a process, or my life. I’m looking for ways to weed out the unnecessary and stick to the simplest form.

Outside of Work

  • I’m based in Oak Park, IL, with my wife, our two kids, and two cats I am slowly trying to win over.
  • I’ve always got one eye on design: experience, spaces, tools, brand.
  • Adventuring. Always finding a good reason to travel somewhere new, especially if it’s centered around great food.
  • I genuinely identify as a “Manifesting Generator” through and through: I’m happiest when I’m juggling a few meaningful things, following energy, and making fast progress.
  • I love throwing great parties, always centered around excellent humans and wonderful spaces.
  • I believe in creating memorable experiences, investing in community, and leaving things better than I found them.