I love learning and am moved by a passion for music, agriculture, and design.

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where I earned two degrees and two certificates in four years. I studied History (with a thesis on oil sustainability) and Religious Studies (with a focus on Islam). The certificates are in Integrated Liberal Studies (Liberal Arts) and Global Studies: Global Sustainability.

After university and some life abroad I moved to San Francisco and like most young people steeped in the humanities I found myself in the service industry. I fell in love with the local music scene and played my part on the organizing end of things. I worked in operations and booking for two independent sister venues that were (and one still is) cornerstones of the Bay Area music scene.

Elbo Room was a staple bar and music venue in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. It operated for several decades as a popular destination for live music. The venue gained a reputation for hosting a diverse range of musical genres, including rock, punk, reggae, hip-hop, and electronic, featuring both local and touring acts.

I also joined the original operating team of The Knockout. The DIY venue quickly became a fixture in San Francisco's vibrant music and nightlife scene. Many underground groups graced the stage of The Knockout, contributing to its reputation as a venue that supported and showcased up-and-coming, dynamic talent.

At the same time I worked for Another Planet Entertainment in their stage production department, helping to produce major music events including:

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is an annual music festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world over a three-day weekend in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. It was founded with the vision to bring exceptional music to the public for free. The festival is famed for booking both up-and-comers and legends like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Billy Bragg, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, and many, many more.

Treasure Island Music Festival was an annual music festival held on Treasure Island and known for its dual-stage setup, with alternating performances that allowed attendees to experience continuous music without overlapping sets. The festival showcased a diverse lineup of artists from various genres, including indie rock, electronic music, and hip-hop. Over the years, TIMF hosted performances by renowned acts such as Outkast, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, Broken Social Scene, and Tame Impala.

Outside Lands Music Festival is a multi-dimensional experience featuring major music acts, comedy, interactive art installations, and a high touch food and beverage program with a focus on local producers. Outside Lands combines major headliners like Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar with local art, food, and community engagement to create a vibrant and inclusive experience.

With a rapidly changing music industry and a strong desire to pursue my interests in agriculture and food systems, I left the city for open pasture. I apprenticed with Charlie Cascio at Sweetwater Farm in Big Sur, California. The homestead housed a small herd of Swiss Saanen goats and was renowned locally for its raw milk artisanal cheeses. I was responsible for all aspects of tending the goats, which included feeding, herding, milking, as well as handling cheesemaking and the delivery of the final product to local establishments like Big Sur Bakery, Carmel Valley Ranch, and the three 3-star Michelin The Restaurant at Meadowood.

I then applied and was accepted into the educational program at Green String Farm, founded and led by Bob Cannard, who is revered as one of Alice Waters' earliest and primary suppliers for her restaurant Chez Panisse. The farm operated with the philosophy of working in harmony with nature, seeking to create a self-sustaining ecosystem on the farm. Green String Farm's commitment to sustainable farming and its dedication to preserving the health of the land made it a respected and influential presence in the local and regional farming community.

Over the last five years I’ve had the opportunity to work on two major renovation projects. The first is a Welsh congregationalist church built in the 1870s converted into a primary residence just blocks from Lake Michigan. We received first place in Milwaukee Magazine’s 2024 Home & Design Awards for Historic Renovation: link here.

The second project is in the early stages of development and involves the restoration of an abandoned ancestral home on the Portuguese island of Madeira.