I grew up watching my father turn a lifelong passion for cars into a career. He didn’t just work on hot rods — he built relationships with his customers that lasted decades. Watching him run his shop taught me early that a successful business isn’t just about the work you deliver. It’s about understanding people, earning their trust, and making things right when things go wrong.

That lesson stuck with me through every chapter that followed — including a few unexpected detours.

I studied Oceanography at what was then Humboldt State University, now Cal Poly Humboldt, drawn to it because it felt like studying a completely different planet. I’d already changed my major four times — English, Psychology, Marine Biology, and finally Oceanography — each shift driven by genuine curiosity rather than a clear career plan. What I didn’t fully discover until I was out on research vessels was that I get profoundly seasick. The ocean was endlessly fascinating to me from the shore. On a research cruise in open water, it was a different story entirely.

It was that reality check that pushed me deeper into my Computer Science minor — a decision that quietly changed everything.

Creativity has always been the constant. In college I drew and made colorful artwork. In high school I taught myself guitar, then learned to record myself, which led to learning audio workstation software, which led to making electronic music and eventually DJing for a couple of years after graduation. Every time I found a new creative tool, I went deep into it.

When I encountered code it felt the same way. I’d already been teaching myself to program before I took a single computer science class — I could see smartphones and smart devices changing everything and wanted to get ahead of it. The CS courses gave me a framework for something I was already doing instinctively.

After graduating I leaned hard into development. In 2016 I founded Byte Jockeyz in Humboldt County and landed my first project — a mobile nutrient calculator app for House & Garden. From there I started working with local businesses, helping them build their digital presence, and discovered that combining technical development with visual design was where I was most effective and most fulfilled.

In 2019 my fiancée and I made the move to Los Angeles. Both of our families were in Southern California and we were thinking about starting a family — having that support network close made the decision easy. The move also opened up a much larger market and a new creative environment that pushed the work forward.

In 2020 I rebranded to Alkalyne. The old name — Byte Jockeyz — was a mouthful and felt limiting. Alkalyne was cleaner, more fluid, and didn’t box the business into a specific type of work. It just felt right.

Over the following years the business grew across web design, graphic design, branding, and packaging — working with clients ranging from cannabis distributors and restaurants to nonprofits, automotive shops, and entertainment venues. Ten years in, thirty-plus clients, and sixty-plus projects later, the business has evolved into something I’m genuinely proud of.

Alkalyne Design is the next chapter — a focused creative agency built specifically for small businesses who want design that works across every dimension.

I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of digital and physical making. Recently I’ve been collecting and working extensively with 3D printers — learning materials, tolerances, and processes with the same obsessive curiosity I brought to code and design. I recently added a machine with laser cutting capabilities, which opens up manufacturing possibilities beyond 3D printed objects. The vision for Alkalyne is a design house that works fluidly across digital and physical materials — websites, brand identities, packaging, and fabricated objects that all exist within a cohesive creative system.

My father turned his passion into his career. I’m doing the same thing — just with pixels, code, and a growing collection of printers instead of hot rods.

Where the physical side of Alkalyne comes to life.

Before I take on any project I make it a priority to understand the person behind it as much as the project itself. Knowing a client’s personality, their expectations, and their vision for their business means I can deliver work that actually fits — not just something that looks good in a mockup.

Every client relationship is built on the same foundation — consistent communication, genuine investment in your goals, and a commitment to delivering work that moves your business forward.

When I’m not working I’m playing video games, gardening, learning new skills, listening to music, and spending time with my family. They’re the reason I push as hard as I do.

If you think we’d work well together — I’d love to hear about your project. Tell me what you’re working on and we’ll take it from there.