My first glimpse at the outside world came through a dialup modem in the mid-90s. I joined early online communities on Usenet, before forums and social media.
In the early 2000's, I organized open source LEGO CAD developers building LDraw, which remains the de facto virtual LEGO building format.
The LEGO Group recruited me in 2011 to build the crowdsourcing and open innovation program LEGO IDEAS, a key building block of their massive growth among adult consumers.
My frequent work trips to Denmark inspired a love of cycling and urban design. This also highlighted the gaps in American infrastructure. I’ve found purpose advocating for safe streets for people walking and biking, and denser, more vibrant, and more equitable American cities.
I help early-stage companies develop their community and partnership strategies. I'm also a citizen advocate and neighbor in Oakland, CA.
My focus is on regenerating cities with people-centric streets, improved government services, and vibrant local economies using every tool available—from bicycles to blockchains.
New products and technologies must be inclusive and accessible by design. I know that you get what you build for, and the magic happens at the intersections.
Interests
Cities for People
General Aviation
Scandinavian Design
Fitness
LEGO
Past Projects
Hartford Streets / Founder
SocialDevCamp Chicago / Co-Founder
Virtual LEGO / Lead Author
LDraw.org / Co-Founder
Certifications & Licenses
Foundations in Design Thinking / IDEO U
Scrum Certified Product Owner / Mountain Goat Software
Private Pilot, Instrument Rating / FAA