Story Time
Passionate About Creating Lasting Change
I’ll be honest: this started because I wanted to look good in my wedding pictures. I worked hard, got married, and eventually slipped back into old habits. But the question stayed with me: how do you make a positive change that actually lasts?
That question became much more personal when my mom was diagnosed with cancer and, later, my daughter faced health challenges of her own. I wanted to learn everything I could and be useful to the people I loved. Somewhere in the middle of trying to take care of everyone else, I realized I needed to take care of myself, too. I wanted the energy, patience, and strength to be present—not just get through the day.
Losing my mom changed me. So did seeing my daughter get the chance to enjoy the playgrounds and adventures we had worried she might miss. Those experiences put things in perspective. My mom taught me to “be the light and inspire goodness.” Over time, that became a way to think about the kind of dad, friend, teacher, and colleague I wanted to be.
Happy Healthy Dad grew out of that chapter. Health coaching gave me a way to share what I was learning and support other people as they worked toward changes of their own. I no longer actively offer health coaching, but that desire to help people move forward has stayed with me—and helped me recognize the thread connecting the different parts of my career.
I could see it in my teaching. Whether I was teaching computers, robotics, theatre, or physical education, knowing the material was only part of the job. I had to understand the person learning it. Where were they getting stuck? Did they need a clearer explanation, a different approach, or the confidence to try again? Watching someone go from “I can’t do this” to “I’ve got it” never gets old.
My work in technology brought that same challenge into a different setting. At TechSoup and RealScout, helping people understand and use technology meant making complicated things more approachable. The more I worked with people, the more interested I became in improving the experience itself: the instructions, the process, the tools, and the small details that make something easier to use.
That interest is what draws me to design and optimization today. I enjoy taking something confusing and giving it a clearer structure, whether it’s a website, a curriculum, or an everyday workflow. I’m also exploring how AI and thoughtful prompt design can support that work, with human judgment and review built into the process. What matters to me is whether the result actually helps someone.
My volunteer work with Rough Rider Youth gives me a place to put those ideas into practice. On the field, I’m teaching skills, encouraging players, and helping kids learn to support each other. Behind the scenes, I’m helping run a nonprofit: building relationships, developing resources, working on grant applications, and making information easier for families to find. A clearer website and a well-planned practice serve the same purpose: helping people participate, grow, and feel supported.
That’s why “Passionate Optimizer” feels like me. I care about how things work because I care about the people they affect. Sometimes a positive change is a simpler process. Sometimes it’s a better lesson. Sometimes it’s taking the time to listen and noticing what someone needs.
The wedding pictures were the starting point. What followed changed how I think about my health, my career, and the way I show up for other people. I’m still learning and figuring things out—F Perfect is a fitting reminder of that—but my mom’s advice still gives me a direction: be the light and inspire goodness.