My Career
Journey

THE JOURNEY: STRATEGY, EXECUTION, AND A RETURN TO CRAFT

My career has always been driven by a fundamental question: How can we use information to make better decisions?

I began my journey in the technical heart of Business Intelligence—architecting SSAS cubes, managing Master Data (MDM/MDS), and building complex ETL pipelines using SSIS. My early work focused on delivering enterprise-scale reporting through SSRS, Cognos, and third-party applications, ensuring that data was not only accessible but accurate.

Through a series of advancements at a global financial institution, I built a deep foundation in data engineering, eventually rising to senior leadership where I directed the daily execution and strategy for enterprise-scale data platforms. While my leadership years sharpened my ability to scale teams and align data initiatives with business priorities, I realized that I missed the hands-on work and the technology. I missed the 'build'—the technical challenge of transforming raw, fragmented data into structured clarity.

After over two decades of navigating the evolving data landscape, I made the intentional choice to return to my roots in BI. I combine a career’s worth of experience in architecting high-performance data ecosystems and complex data movement with a refined, modern analytics toolkit. I don’t just build dashboards; I ensure the underlying integrity that makes data accurate, repeatable, and highly useful for the people who rely on it.

Technical Mastery & Certification

I am a Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300), a credential that reflects my expertise in the entire data lifecycle—from ingestion and modeling to visualization and deployment. This is supported by a foundational certification in Azure Fundamentals and the Google Professional Data Analytics certificate, ensuring a broad, cloud-forward perspective on modern data ecosystems. My technical toolkit includes:

• Full-Lifecycle Data Engineering: Extensive experience navigating the journey from source system extraction to consumer-ready delivery. I focus on the core principles of ETL and data movement that remain constant, whether using traditional enterprise tools or modern cloud-scale processing.
• Data Modeling & Architecture: A deep background in designing robust structures, from Relational Star Schemas to Multi-dimensional Cubes. I prioritize data integrity and Master Data Management (MDM) to ensure a "single version of truth" for the business.
• Modern BI Ecosystem: Core specialization in the Microsoft Data Stack, featuring a robust technical command of Power BI, Power Query, and complex DAX development. I focus on building sophisticated models that turn complex datasets into clear, interactive insights.
• End-to-End Delivery: Beyond the technical build, I am dedicated to ensuring data is actually useful. This means bridging the gap between raw numbers and the intuitive dashboards that leaders need to make informed decisions.

The "Growth Mindset" in Action

I’ve been in this industry long enough to know that while the tools always change, the core logic of good data stays the same. My focus is on taking everything I’ve learned about enterprise data over the last two decades and applying that knowledge to the modern data stacks we use today.

Lately, I’ve been diving into the "modern" side of the house—sharpening my skills in Advanced DAX, Python, Databricks and the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem. For me, it’s not just about learning a new interface; it’s about ensuring that as we move into AI-driven analytics, the underlying data remains accurate, reliable, and actually useful for the people making the decisions.

Beyond the Data

I’ve always believed that the same curiosity that keeps me exploring modern data toolsets is what drives me to keep growing personally. I’m constantly looking for ways to apply what I’ve learned over the last two decades to the new technologies hitting the market today, ensuring I can always provide clarity in a fast-moving industry.

When I’m not focused on data, my life is centered around my family. You’ll usually find us at a game or a competition—whether it’s watching my son play college baseball or supporting my daughter at a high school cheer event. My wife also keeps us grounded through her work with a local non-profit that provides essential housing and support for abused women and children. For me, staying sharp professionally is about more than just the tech; it’s about being a reliable partner for my family and the organizations I serve.