Meet Your Technology Steward
Honor. Respect. Commitment.
The Same Values I Teach Cadets Shape Every System I Build
Two Decades of Translating Technology for Real People
I started helping people with computers in 2002, back when "tech support" meant showing up with a bag of cables and a lot of patience.
Over two decades, the technology changed dramatically. The patience? That stayed exactly the same.
What I've learned in all that time is that most technology frustration isn't about the technology—it's about communication. Experts speak a language designed to impress other experts, not to help the person sitting across from them.
I decided early on that I would be different. Every explanation in plain English. Every question treated as valid. Every client treated as capable of understanding their own technology, given the right guidance.
What the Naval Sea Cadet Corps Taught Me About Teaching Technology
Several years ago, I became an officer in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC)—a youth leadership development program sponsored by the Navy League of the United States.
Teaching cadets changed how I approach everything.
When you're training a 14-year-old to tie a bowline knot under pressure, or explaining nautical navigation to a teenager who's never been on a boat, you learn something crucial: the instructor's frustration is never the student's fault.
If a cadet doesn't understand, the instruction needs to change—not the cadet.
That principle transformed my technology practice. When a senior struggles with their email, that's not a failure of the senior—it's a prompt for me to find a better way to explain. When a business owner can't grasp a networking concept, I don't simplify the concept; I find the right analogy, the right example, the right entry point for their particular way of learning.
Honor
I tell you the truth about what you need, even when it means recommending less expensive solutions or admitting I'm not the right person for the job.
Respect
Your questions are valid, your pace is appropriate, and your intelligence is never in question. Age and technical background don't determine capability.
Commitment
I don't disappear after the invoice clears. I remain available for questions, follow-up guidance, and the ongoing stewardship your technology deserves.
Building Systems of Character
Most technology is built to extract—your attention, your data, your money.
I build technology to protect.
Every system I design, every recommendation I make, every tool I introduce starts with a simple question: Does this serve the person I'm helping, or does it serve someone else's agenda?
That's what I mean by "systems of character." Technology infrastructure that:
- Protects privacy by default, not as an afterthought
- Respects attention instead of demanding it constantly
- Builds independence rather than dependency
- Values longevity over planned obsolescence
- Empowers users to understand and control their own tools
This philosophy isn't anti-technology. I love technology. I've spent my life immersed in it. But I love people more—and I believe technology should serve human flourishing, not undermine it.
Background & Expertise
Experience
- 2002–Present: Independent technology consultant serving individuals, families, and small businesses
- Two decades: Supporting seniors with patient, dignified technology guidance
- Active NSCC Officer: Training young leaders in discipline, communication, and character
- Apple & Windows certified: Deep expertise across platforms
- AI practitioner: Specializing in local, privacy-respecting AI implementations
- Web developer: Building modern, accessible websites for professionals and organizations
Specializations
- Senior technology advocacy and education
- Privacy-first AI systems (Ollama, local LLMs, RAG)
- Small business data sovereignty
- Home and business networking
- Scam prevention and digital security
- Modern web development (Netlify, Cloudflare)
When I'm Not Helping With Technology
I live in Idyllwild, California—a small mountain community where neighbors still wave at each other and technology exists to enhance life, not replace it.
I believe in the power of local community, the importance of intergenerational wisdom, and the value of taking things slow enough to do them right.
When I'm not helping clients or training cadets, you'll find me on the trails, with a book, or working on projects that may never ship but teach me something new.
Let's Have a Conversation
I'm not right for everyone. If you want someone to "move fast and break things," I'm not your person. But if you value patient guidance, privacy protection, and technology that serves your actual life—we should talk.
Schedule Your Discovery Call