Ocean first. Builder always.
I live in Sand City on the Monterey Peninsula — one of the most biologically rich coastlines on Earth, twenty minutes from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, steps from the coastal trail, and a short drive from the best cold-water diving in California. The ocean shapes how I think: systems, patience, depth, and the discipline to go back again even when conditions are rough.
I am a PADI Divemaster — the first professional level in diving — and I dive Monterey Bay regularly. I own two boats: Pitter Patter, a Shamrock 260 express cruiser, and Pegasus, a CHB 34 motor cruiser. I race at MPYC on Wednesday evenings and weekends. I built the race management platform because the tools that existed were not good enough.
The same instinct — see a problem, build the solution — runs through everything here. Developer portals, monitoring agents, race systems, book series. If something is worth doing, it is worth building properly.
Mia Kingtide Ocean Adventures
An original conservation IP built from zero. Four novels, two illustrated children's books, four audiobooks on Spotify — reviewed by scientists at MBARI, Hopkins Marine Station, and Moss Landing Marine Labs, sailed aboard the restored Western Flyer to the Sea of Cortez, and featured in Monterey County NOW.
Mia Kingtide is a 12-year-old who lives on the Monterey Peninsula, dives, sails, and fights to protect the ocean. The novels follow her from Monterey Bay to the Sea of Cortez and back — tackling overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change through adventure-first storytelling with a deliberately hopeful frame. Written for middle-grade readers who are already paying attention to the world.
Scientists at MBARI, Hopkins Marine Station, and Moss Landing Marine Labs reviewed the books for scientific accuracy. Physical copies sailed aboard the Western Flyer— John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts' legendary vessel — on its restored voyage back to the Sea of Cortez. Featured in Monterey County NOW.
Pitter Patter Diving Ecosystem
A full media, tourism, and commerce platform built around the thing I care about most. Same discipline as building a developer ecosystem: find content-market fit, build the audience, convert across channels. Validated in the wild with real revenue and real community.
Community & Civic
The peninsula is not just where I live — it is where I show up.
MPYC Racing
I race at the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club on Wednesday evenings and weekends. When the race management software wasn't good enough, I built a replacement. Flutter + Firebase, 5 roles, 57 courses, live weather from 11 stations, GPS tracking, and Clubspot sync. Built for race season.
See the build on Work →Sand City Council
Ran for Sand City City Council in 2024. Lost by 3 votes. Endorsed by Monterey County NOW. The same instinct that drives building developer communities — show up, do the work, earn the trust — applies to civic participation. Running for Mayor in November 2026.