About Me
Rooted in Washington state, forged in service, and grown in Calamus, Iowa— my journey has always revolved around technology, community, and resilience.
Early Passion for Computers
I grew up in Washington State, just across the water from Seattle. At 8 years old, in 1996, I built my first computer with the help of a friend. That early experience lit a spark that guided much of my childhood—fixing neighbors’ computers and learning the ins and outs of technology while still in school.
I achieved my Eagle Scout rank at 17 after years of service to the community, all while growing up in a bustling household of nine, with five sisters, my brother, and me. Surrounded by mentors who encouraged my interest in technology, I built strong foundations that would carry into my career.
In high school, I competed in SkillsUSA events, representing my state at nationals in both American Spirit and Web Development. My team placed 6th in American Spirit and 13th in Web Development my first year, and the following year we climbed to 4th in American Spirit and 8th in Web Development.
Service in the Marine Corps
After graduating high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a 5974 Tactical Data Systems Administrator. For five years I was stationed primarily in 29 Palms, California for training, and later with MTACS-38 in Miramar, California.
It was during this time that I was formally trained in system administration. In 2009, I deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. After sustaining injuries, I was medically separated in 2012 following years of surgeries and recovery. Even through that, I pursued studies in game development and system reliability, preparing for the next chapter of my career.
From Help Desk to Reliability Engineering
After my honorable discharge, I transitioned into civilian IT roles, working in Help Desk, Tier II Service Desk, and as a Network Administrator. These roles built the foundation for my eventual leap into System Reliability Engineering (SRE).
I later joined a gaming company in Seattle, where I built solutions to keep massive player-facing systems online. My work spans webpage development, CI/CD pipeline deployment, and designing server systems to support modern gaming environments. My strength lies in solutions engineering— identifying problems and crafting reliable, scalable systems to solve them.
When COVID hit, I moved my family to Calamus, Iowa, bought a home, and continued my SRE and DevOps work remotely. That move reshaped my mission: to take the expertise I built in large-scale tech and use it to support local communities and businesses.
Family & Community Roots
Today, I live in Calamus, Iowa with my two children who attend school here. I believe deeply in teaching them the practical application of the things they learn in school— problem-solving, creativity, and community service.
I love this area and the people in it. My mission now is not just about technology, but about empowering local businesses and organizations with modern tools that help them thrive. Whether it’s a new website, IT support, or systems consultation, I want to see our community grow together.
Our Mission & Principles
At the heart of Calamus Creative Solutions, I carry forward the lessons that shaped my life. These principles guide every project, every client relationship, and every solution we deliver:
- Always leave things better than you found them — a value instilled during my time in the Boy Scouts.
- Always be learning — never stagnant, always applying new knowledge, inspired by my high school science and math teacher.
- The things we do today are for our families tomorrow — a guiding family belief that drives both my work and parenting.
- Take the good and apply it, learn from the mistakes of the bad — the essence of resilience and growth.
These aren’t just words — they are the foundation of how I approach technology, problem-solving, and community support.