My story starts with a purple crayon, a rock labeled “HAMMER,” and a childhood full of curiosity. Raised by a creative, determined single mother, I learned early how to build, fix, and design — sometimes successfully, sometimes at the expense of a household appliance. From installing flooring at eleven years old to building fences and structures on a seven-acre horse farm, hands-on problem-solving became my education long before architecture school ever did.

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After high school, I worked in road construction in Pennsylvania and later as a frame carpenter in New Mexico, gaining a deep respect for craftsmanship and hard work. That experience led me to pursue formal training in architectural drafting and eventually the University of New Mexico’s Architectural Program, where I combined technical education with real-world construction experience. I’ve since worked on hundreds of projects in roles ranging from laborer to project manager to design principal.