About Me

From the moment I could hold a wrench, I was hooked.

Some of my earliest memories are of crawling around my dad's shop, completely fascinated by tools and machines, even if I didn't know what they actually did. I spent hours messing with K'NEX, not to follow instructions, but to see what I could come up with. I didn't know it was called "engineering" but I just knew I loved building things and figuring out how they worked.

Fast forward a bit, and that curiosity turned into something real. 3D printers had been out for a while, but my dad and I were fascinated by the technology. He ended up investing in a Prusa I3 MK2 with the hopes that I would learn CAD and be able to make parts to justify the cost. Not wanting to let him down, I started to learn Fusion 360, initially with the help of Youtube tutorials (my go-to resource to learn anything they don't teach you in school). Eventually I was good enough to start making my own parts, some useful and some knick-knacks that were fun to bring to school and show to friends. I would make replacement parts for my R/C cars, prototype motor mounts for my homebuilt electric skateboard, and random replacement parts for appliances that broke around the house. However, it clicked for me that though I loved to work on machines and modify my toys, what I loved even more was the creative process involved in designing something completely original. That's what ultimately inspired me to pursue my then future degree.

Now I'm studying Mechanical Engineering at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, with a concentration in Propulsion. My classes cover everything from thermodynamics to controls, but what really drives me is hands-on work.

The makerspace has basically become my second home. I've spent hours learning CNC machining, metalworking, woodworking, and fabrication. My first project in college and also one of my favorites was designing and building a one-wheel electric skateboard from scratch. From sketch to CAD to machining and wiring, it was all me. It's buggy and has bucked me off more than a few times, but that trial by busted knuckles gave me real hands-on experience with systems integration.

Then there's the Datsun Roadster project.

What started as a father-son project turned into a full-on obsession. I reverse-engineered parts using 3D scanning, modeled components that bring a modern twist to a classic car, and fabricated parts myself. That project pushed my design skills, fabrication techniques, and (admittedly) my patience. But when we bolted the first dashboard prototype into place and months of planning and design came to fruition, it was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. I proved to myself that I could tackle open-ended, real-world engineering challenges and see them through.

That's the kind of work I want to keep doing — whether it's building hardware, restoring old tech, or developing tools that help others create. I want to be fully hands-on, constantly learning, and solving problems that don't have a right answer.

When I'm not working on a project, I'm outdoors mountain biking or golfing, tinkering with electronics, or going down bizarre Youtube rabbit holes about weird tech or the history they don't teach in school.