I am a LEED accredited, Chicago-based designer with experience in the residential and commercial design markets.

Many years ago I began a mental shift of making personal decisions based on bettering the environment. So when it came time to expand this concept into my professional career, it seemed, well….only natural! It was over the 2008 holiday season that I decided to do it and in June 2009 I accomplished my goal of becoming a LEED accredited professional.

I was born and raised in Chicago and have lived here most of my life. I spent 4 years in Phoenix and 4 more in New Jersey starting a family but we always knew we’d move back to raise our family in the Midwest.

I am basically a simple person. I believe in treating all people with respect and expecting people to do the same for me. I believe in the basic principles of honesty, trust, and a hard day’s work.

I’m passionate about being green, not only in my career but in my everyday life too. I am a fastidious recycler of all garbage in my house. I love shopping and supporting stores or products that practice solid green principles and I rarely take a bag for my purchases. It’s about being ever-conscious of my environment. Not just for my immediate surroundings, but for the bigger global picture as well. I know I’m just an insignificant drop in a very big ocean, but I don’t let that be an excuse for complacency.

I love seeing artists creatively reuse materials to make something new & modern – things that are simple, natural and uncomplicated. I love old buildings for the same reasons - the trimwork, the built-ins, the craftsmanship and artistry that has been, by and large, lost with the times. There is a sense of rarity rooted in the knowledge that they just don’t make ‘em like they used to. I often wonder about the people who have been in a place before me or how an old building looked when it was brand new.

I believe in working hard but also know that there is a need for balance in life too – time to relax and recharge so you can come back to a task refreshed and renewed. For me this relaxation comes in the form of art, music, cooking, and reading lots and lots of books. My idea of a relaxing moment includes being in nature, sitting in a comfortable chair or canoe, feet up, sipping a drink with my nose in a good book.