Experienced entrepreneur and eight year Microsoft alumnus with expertise in software development, social media, journalism, publishing and communications.
I'm a serial entrepreneur and software industry project manager with eight years of experience as a Microsoft Program Manager and Group Program Manager. I helped lead the technology team which launched MSN News and MSNBC.com. Since then, I've worked twelve years in startups, journalism, social media, and nonprofit efforts.
I'm a published freelance writer with a wide variety of clips in technology and culture. I also have a unique and diverse portfolio of grassroots PR and guerilla marketing success. I'm a regular volunteer teacher with Street Yoga.
I'm currently available for consulting related to strategy, technology, communications or capacity building, short term projects or the right full time opportunity. I am willing to relocate and open to international work.
Evan Ratliff wrote a story about how people disappear in the digital age. Then he went on the run himself, with Wired readers trying to track him down. I used Facebook application technology as a honeypot to find Ratliff in New Orleans and connect with locals to catch him on the ground. Learn more.
Received $689,471 in grants to develop open source Facebook application software for media organizations and research news engagement. Learn more.
Highlights of my writing include three cover stories on Microsoft's technology, its corporate citizenship and my own socially responsible investing for Seattle Weekly.
Working as a consultant and experimenting with startup concepts such as Geogram.com. Web development in PHP and Yii Framework.
Managed the implementation of three Knight Foundation grants related to Facebook, journalism and social media research.
Built web-based services for nonprofits. Raised more than $580,000 for ActionStudio from The Omidyar Foundation and Aspiration. Later acquired by Groundspring (now Network for Good).
Left Microsoft, raising $2 million in venture capital to found GiftSpot.com, an electronic gift certificate company. Built team of forty-five within three months. Company acquired by GiftCertificates.com within one year.
Helped lead technical launch of MSN News (1995) and MSNBC.com (1996) among other projects.
Founded two not for profit coffeehouses in Seattle to engage the community in local philanthropy. The effort received widespread media coverage:
A research project creates experimental applications for Facebook to learn whether the news habit can be fostered online and lead to civic engagement. Read more
Co-authored essay on the strategy of the Occupy movement Read online | Buy
Class of 1991
Class of 1987
I volunteer regularly teaching yoga to teen boys in recovery through Seattle's Street Yoga. Completed Yoga Works RY200 (2011), Pacific Yoga RY500 (2013) and Off the Mat Into the World's Basic and Advanced Leadership Training (2012).
I'm a co-op investor in Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate provider Equal Exchange and have traveled to Peru to meet their farmers and learn about their supply chain. I am also a founding investor in Upstream 21, which operates with a socially responsible corporate charter.
Hiking, running, snowboarding, photography, travel, gardening, vegetarian cooking and scrabble.