I'm a husband, father, friend, volunteer, home designer, angler, paddler, biker, hiker, camper, punk rocker, and baseball fan.
Around the age of 10, my Grandfather gave me a pad of graph paper, some home design stencils, and some mechanical pencils. I've been hooked on architecture ever since.
In my late teens and early twenties, I played bass guitar in several punk rock bands. The DIY ethic and tight knit community of the underground music scene has served me well. After giving up my dream of becoming a rock star, I went back to school and studied Architecture in Milwaukee.
Upon receiving my Associates Degree in 2005 ,I went to work in an architectural office on the north side of Milwaukee. Our projects ranged from custom homes to 4-story hotel renovations. It was here that I realized I was much happier working on residential projects and decided to focus my career on this type of work.
During the recession, I took some time to stay home with our young daughter. I was working part time with a Home Energy Auditor in Milwaukee thru the ME2 program (Milwaukee Energy Efficiency). When the construction industry started to pick up again, I took a job working as the lead designer for a home builder in the Milwaukee area. This opportunity has given me valuable insight into the way the home building industry operates.
2014 was the pivotal year of change. My wife took a job at the University in Madison and we moved our family to Monona, WI - conveniently located just across the lake. About this time our youngest daughter was born and I jumped at the opportunity to become a stay at home Dad again - this time running Guideline Studios from my home office. My official hours are "nap time and bed time" and I'm grateful to be able to spend so much time with my family and still be able to pursue my residential design ambitions.
I've always had a passion for the outdoors, and I feel most at home when I'm knee deep in a trout stream. I've been an active member and volunteer leader for Trout Unlimited, a non-profit group working to ensure that future generations have access to cold, clean, fishable water. As part of my TU efforts - I started teaching disabled veterans at VA hospitals how to fly fish. I've logged over 750 volunteers hours in the Milwaukee and Madison VA hospitals since 2009. Spending time with our veterans has been one of the most humbling - and rewarding - experiences of my life.
Now that you know a little bit about me, I think it's time I learned a little bit about you - and how we can make your new home project or addition / remodel a reality.
