I grew up in the Bay Area, California, and later studied mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, so I consider both California and Colorado as home. I was raised in Danville, California, with my mom, brother, and sister, where I was always encouraged to explore, play, and build things. From a young age, I had countless projects in progress—whether it was building my first PC, setting up a trebuchet in the backyard, or experimenting with damming the local creek. These early experiences sparked my love for creating, researching, and tackling challenges.
When I moved to Colorado for college, I took on new challenges and refined my skills. While studying mechanical engineering, I worked as a motorcycle mechanic, which quickly turned into much more than just a job. Shortly after I started, the shop’s original owner left, and the team went from four full-time mechanics to just me and Wes, the head mechanic. That summer, Wes and I ran the shop alone, working long hours and handling everything ourselves until we were able to bring on new technicians, who became some of my closest friends. After Wes moved on, I took over as the lead technician at what was the only motorcycle repair shop in Boulder. This experience allowed me to work on some of my favorite projects, like building The Ultimate Adventure Bike, and it taught me a lot about teamwork, problem-solving, and thinking on my feet.