A Few Words About Me
Nothing beats having a blank digital page on which to write stuff. That was the fun of the early internet: add your own style, your own thoughts, your own spin on things. No need to be efficient with words—this is my page to shamelessly ramble. 🙂
Writing & Research
Long before I worked in web design and development, I spent much of my time reading and writing. A lot!
I studied History and Foreign Languages at Eastern Illinois University, where I completed bachelor's degrees in both subjects along with a minor in Latin American Studies. Somewhere along the way I learned that the most valuable part of an education is not necessarily the information, but learning how to research, analyze, and ask better questions.
Writing has remained a constant theme throughout much of my life. Over the years I have written academic research, video game guides, website content, blog articles, and more than a few emails (and bio pages) that probably could have been shorter.
In the early 2000s, I published a number of video game guides on GameFAQs, including two FAQ of the Month (Revenant and Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter) award winners. Looking back, those guides were some of my earliest experiences creating long-form content for a global online audience and remain an important part of my writing history.
One of the projects from my university years that I have preserved on this site is my history thesis, The Black Death: Baneful or Beneficial?, which examined whether one of Europe's greatest catastrophes also produced unexpected social and economic change.
In recent years I have also returned to writing regularly, posting articles on this site. You can check them out in my blog.
Technology & Design
My interest in computers started early. I was fortunate enough to grow up with access to one and spent countless hours exploring software, breaking things, fixing things, and generally satisfying my curiosity.
The real turning point came when I discovered the internet. My adventures in basement computer lab land found me searching on the internet (pre-Google) for information on how to create a website. Little by little I began to piece together HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP…. I always had a fascination with computers from an early age, being fortunate enough to have had access to one. Started with Windows (Windows 1!) and after more than 20 years of that, I hopped on over to Apple. Lots of programs have come and gone. If you’re interested, check out some must-haves that I recommend.
I still enjoy building websites today, particularly clean, minimalist sites that load quickly and focus on content rather than distractions. Over the years I have worked on websites, digital products, ebooks, print materials, and a variety of other projects for clients in Chile and abroad.
Since 2017 I have been part of the team at Optuno, where I work remotely as a Web Designer and Product Manager. In parallel, I continue to design websites, write articles, and spend an unreasonable amount of time exploring technology and the internet.
Life in Chile
In 2008 I boarded a plane with two suitcases, spent part of the journey sleeping in the Atlanta airport, and arrived in Chile thanks to a program called TeachingChile.
My first position was in the city of Chillán. Not long after arriving, I met my wife. Two years and one magnitude 8.8 earthquake later, our child was born.
I later transitioned away from classroom teaching and began working remotely, first helping coordinate programs for TeachingChile and later moving more deeply into web design and digital work. And my time working in language institutes came to an end in Valdivia – to this day, it's the last time I had to physically go to an office.
Today I live near Villarrica in southern Chile and continue to work remotely with clients and teams in different parts of the world.
Travel & Exploration
One of the advantages of remote work is the ability to explore.
Over the years I have enjoyed traveling throughout southern Chile and neighboring Argentina, particularly Chiloé and the Argentine Patagonia. Some places leave a stronger impression than others, but I have always enjoyed the opportunity to discover new landscapes, cultures, and stories.
Traveling around has also reinforced a random idea - the world is usually much more interesting - and much more complicated - than it appears from a distance.
You Made It! Want To Read More?
If you'd like a more detailed overview of my professional experience, education, and published work, you can view my Résumé.
You can also explore my early writing on GameFAQs, where several of my guides were published in 2001, including two FAQ of the Month award winners.