Sweat, Mud, and a Mission: Volunteering in the Peruvian Amazon When Stefanie and I were invited to join a Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV) project in the Amazon, we didn’t hesitate. It was a chance to do something meaningful, with amazing people, in a place few ever get to experience firsthand. We didn’t sign up for comfort—we signed up for purpose. What we didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would stay with us: hard manual work under a jungle sky, dolphins and drones, and a classroom that represents more than just four walls. It represents possibility and hope. Read more →

I just returned from two unforgettable weeks deep in the Peruvian Amazon with my wife Stefanie, volunteering with Be the Change Volunteers. We traveled long—flying into Iquitos, then heading 60 miles upriver into the protected Tahuayo River reserve. No roads.... Read more →

If you’ve driven past 27th Street lately, you’ve seen it—Bend’s new Stevens Ranch Library is rising fast. Construction is really moving. The main structure is up, and crews are making steady progress toward what’s going to be a beautiful and much-needed 100,000 sq feet community space. The temporarily closed stretch of 27th Street should reopen soon, which will be a big relief for those of us who’ve been dodging detours for the past several months. While we still don’t have an official opening date, the exterior is looking close to done. And what has me excited? The mass timber design inside. I haven’t seen it in person yet, but judging by the plans and the early renderings, this is going to be one of the most architecturally interesting public buildings in Bend. Read more →

You don’t eliminate risk -you manage it. That starts early and never really stops. Here’s how to stay ahead of the problems that cost time, money, and your reputation. Read more →

Real-world advice for making tech actually work where the work gets done. Tech can speed things up—or get in the way. It all comes down to how you use it. Here's what works out in the field, where the signal... Read more →

Let’s get this out of the way: AI will change how we work. It already is. But change doesn’t mean disaster. It doesn’t have to mean job loss or a cold, automated future. I’m betting on the opposite. If we... Read more →

Want to Build Community? There’s a video from Sasquatch 2009 where one guy starts dancing alone on a hill. He looks funny and an outlier. Then someone joins him. Then a third. Then a wave of people run in to join the dance party. Suddenly, it’s not weird -it’s a party or a community sparked by one lone dancer. Read more →

There’s a lot that can go wrong on a construction site. But four hazards account for most of the serious injuries and deaths. OSHA calls them the “Focus Four.” I call them the stuff you don’t ignore. Read more →

Construction is risky. Weather, delays, cost overruns, safety hazards, you name it. But AI and modern tools are helping teams get ahead of problems instead of just reacting to them. Read more →

The last couple of months have been tough. Stefanie’s daughter had a serious medical emergency. She was in the hospital, went through multiple surgeries, and needed constant IV meds and antibiotics. It was a lot. Stefanie stayed by her side... Read more →

Whether you're managing a skyscraper or building a software product, the core ingredients are the same. The tools and outputs might be different, but the moving parts, the people, and the deadlines are all very familiar. Here’s the recipe to keep your project moving without falling apart. Read more →

For decades, I’ve tracked every AutoCAD release and its codename from the early 'White Album' to the latest release, AutoCAD 2026 'Watt.' It’s a fun look back at how AutoCAD evolved and the internal project names. Read more →