I grew up on a large dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota, surrounded by cows, horses, chickens, pigs, dogs, and cats. Farm life wasn’t always easy, but it made for a childhood full of challenges, lessons, and great memories. I was always fixing, problem-solving, and figuring out how things worked. Which naturally led me to engineering. Taking care of animals taught me the value of hard work and responsibility, and those same lessons have stuck with me in my career. Today, as an engineer, I bring that same work ethic, resilience, and hands-on mindset to everything I do.
My path to engineering took an exciting turn when I was introduced to the Apple IIGS. In second grade, my librarian opened up a computer case, and seeing all those chips inside sparked my curiosity about how computers worked. That moment planted the seed for my future in technology. In high school, I helped build and maintain the school website and worked with the IT team to troubleshoot both Mac and PC. Those hands-on experiences only deepened my passion for technology and set me on the path to where I am today.
Choosing to study Computer Engineering at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota, was a big turning point for me. I originally planned to major in Physics, but after taking a couple of computer science courses, I was hooked on programming. After spending a few years in the profeshional world, I wanted to deepen my knowledge, so I went back to school and earned my Master’s in Software Engineering. That decision strengthened my expertise and fueled my passion for the ever-evolving world of software.
My passion for software engineering keeps me constantly exploring and learning. Whether I’m reading, watching videos, or attending seminars, I love staying up to date with the latest in technology. I dive into new programming languages, experiment with different libraries and frameworks, and break down how things work because I believe a deep understanding is the key to using technology effectively. I also prioritize design patterns in my coding to ensure my work is not only functional but also clean, maintainable, and testable.
I'm a strong believer in testing. Whether it's unit, functional, API, or manual testing. Testing is a key part of creating high-quality and professional code. I’m also committed to Agile practices like standups, feedback loops, retrospectives, TDD, continuous integration, and continuous delivery. These methods don’t just lead to better products. They create a more dynamic and collaborative development environment where teams can thrive.