Who’s this guy?

I’m a pretty ordinary person – lucky to have a loving family and group of friends. I’ve somehow managed to make an OK living despite my fine arts and humanities degrees.

Flushing-ite

I grew up in a unique area of Queens, NY that happens to be the most diverse place on earth. It provided me with an opportunity to develop a global perspective of humanity and deepen my guiding principles of diversity and inclusion.

Humanitarian

My guiding principles led me to AIDS activism and helping out with the founding of Housing Works in 1990: A nonprofit providing housing and healthcare to people living with HIV and AIDS. It’s unfortunate that Housing Works is still necessary, but I’m awestruck by their continued growth and impact.

Academic

I received my BFA from Cooper Union, worked for a while, then pursued a PhD in Visual Culture at the University of Rochester. I taught art classes there and valued the opportunity to mentor and coach students. I left the exclusivity of fine arts and academia with lots of knowledge and a terminal masters.

Designer

After grad school, I started my long career as a digital product designer. From agencies to corporations, I’ve been a top performer and process junkie focused on results: An early adopter of human-centered design, design thinking, agile methods, web standards, web accessibility, and responsive design.

Leader

I have the reputation for being a collaborative product design leader with a knack for getting things done and managing large diverse and talented teams. My projects mark a journey from one corporate environment to another. I hope they paint a picture of my increasing commitment to my teams, to the business, and to customers.

MAMIL

I’m a long-time cyclist and recent “Middle Aged Man In Lycra” impressing myself and my non-cyclist friends with 20-30 mile weekend gravel rides. (Not such a big deal to your average cyclist.)