Professional Record

Architecture, Inquiry & Impact

A record of the systems I’ve architected, the organizations I’ve worked with, and the ideas I’ve contributed to the practice.

Professional Overview

From Concepts to Working Systems

I work at the intersection of information systems architecture, engineering leadership, and sociotechnical transformation.

For more than twenty years, I’ve designed and developed software systems, led engineering teams, and helped organizations change the structures through which they create and share knowledge.

My work spans platform modernization, event-driven architecture, content systems, APIs, and knowledge modeling. The common thread is connecting a conceptual understanding of what could become possible to the people, practices, and software that can make it happen.

Selected Architectural Work

Changing What a System Makes Possible

The Athletic

Architecting sports intelligence

The challenge was to evolve a monolith into event-driven, stateful, real-time sports intelligence while building the capacity to deliver a larger product vision. As Principal Architect, I designed and developed the transformation, prototyped capabilities with product and design, and helped establish architecture practices across teams.

The work connected product possibilities to implementation: technical strategy, operating practices, and prototypes that enabled new experiences and exploration of new markets.

The Construct

Designing a different kind of discourse

An independent platform for intelligent discourse needed communication patterns that conventional social software did not provide. I architected the platform and led the team building it with Firebase, Flutter, and integration services.

We developed a state-aware application for asynchronous events, translating a different model of social engagement into working communication infrastructure.

Wikimedia Foundation

Knowledge beyond the web page

As Principal Systems Architect, I established an architecture practice and designed approaches to modernizing a system built around a monolith. I architected Wikimedia Enterprise to provide real-time, scalable access to Wikimedia knowledge for large technology companies and other organizations.

The architectural work supported knowledge distribution beyond its original publishing environment, including use in knowledge graphs and language models.

The Economist

Reimagining editorial infrastructure

The Cedar Programme required replacing business-critical authoring systems while preserving editorial continuity. I modeled the existing architecture, connected technology decisions to editorial and business capabilities, and developed the technical vision and roadmap for the new authoring workflow.

Working with editors, stakeholders, and a cross-functional team, I led proof-of-value and planning work, presented the business case that secured funding, and provided architectural governance for the transformation.

Professional History

Organizations, Roles & Contributions

Consulting engagements and employed roles overlap. The dates below preserve that history.

Mentrix

Principal

August 2015–present

I lead architecture and engineering engagements, from conceptual direction to production-ready systems. Alongside consulting, Mentrix publishes books, talks, training, and tools for people transforming systems. Engagements include The Construct, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Global Strategy Group, and The Economist.

The Athletic

Principal Architect

May 2025–August 2026

Designed and developed the transition toward event-driven sports intelligence. Contributed to leadership strategy, established architecture practices, and worked with engineering, product, and design on new capabilities and prototypes.

Wikimedia Foundation

Principal Systems Architect

July 2020–July 2022

Established an architecture practice, architected Wikimedia Enterprise, and designed approaches to software modernization and scalable knowledge distribution.

The Economist

Content Systems Architect

August 2016–June 2018

Directed the architecture of content authoring platforms and their integration with media and distribution systems. Led technical discovery, vendor evaluation, stakeholder workshops, proof of value, and the funded business case for the Cedar Programme.

Amazee Labs

CEO, Austin

January 2014–August 2015

Launched the group’s US company in cooperation with its Zurich team. Built a financially viable development business, attracted clients including Drupal.org, developed the team’s expertise, and architected enterprise solutions.

Astonish Design

VP of Engineering

November 2012–September 2013

Led engineering strategy, solution architecture, recruiting, and professional development. Established development, delivery, security, and operational practices while balancing client outcomes with a healthy engineering environment.

Four Kitchens

Director of Development and Professional Services

March 2009–October 2012

Progressed from developer and team lead to director. Built features for Wikimedia and The Economist, developed client strategies and architecture, and led team development. Created an international training program and served as Global Chair for DrupalCon trainings.

Mooncougar LLC

Owner and developer

December 2003–December 2011

Architected and developed websites for small and medium-sized organizations, including custom PHP/MySQL applications, content management systems, and CiviCRM installations. Also owned an independent bookstore and a henna body art business offering products, services, and training.

Independent practice

Freelance developer, writer, trainer, and actor

1986–2000

Created web content, published articles, provided technical writing, developed and delivered training, and wrote for and performed in theater productions.

Books & Publications

Thinking in Public

Published · O’Reilly

Learning Systems Thinking

Essential Nonlinear Skills and Practices for Software Professionals. A book about developing the capacity to recognize relationships, reason through complexity, and learn with others.

Work in Progress

Knowledge Flow

An exploration of the infrastructure through which knowledge moves across people, practices, architecture, and software.

Work in Progress

Writing as Thinking

Writing as a practice for discovering, developing, and examining what we think.

Ongoing Publication

Systems ReArchitected

Essays, resources, and practices for questioning assumptions and changing how we understand and design systems.

Previous Publications

Before learning to code, I was a freelance writer. I trained in creative nonfiction at the Stonecoast Writers Conference and completed a year-long mentorship with Professor Diana Hume George. My work has appeared in print and digital publications including Linux Journal, Cisco’s Packet Magazine (now defunct), and Sage Woman.

Explore selected writing and publications →

Selected Speaking & Public Engagement

Thinking Together, Worldwide

A selection of keynotes, conference talks, and professional workshops.

KotlinConf · Keynote · 2025

Qualities of a Well-Functioning System

Resilience, self-organization, and hierarchy as challenges to familiar assumptions about software systems.

QCon London · Talk with Cat Morris · 2025

The Friction Fix: Building Collaborative Relationships Between Teams

How knowledge flow can bridge product and architecture perspectives and improve collective decisions.

OOP · Keynote · 2025

Mindshifts: Thriving in the Systems Age

Changing the mental models that shape our response to relational complexity.

Explore DDD · Keynote · 2025

Architecture Is Designing Knowledge Flow

Moving from individual knowledge stock toward the relationships that enable shared understanding.

O’Reilly · Live online workshop · 2024

Learning Systems Thinking

Hands-on nonlinear skills and practices for software professionals: systems goals, mental models, reasoning, and communication.

Explore events → Watch selected talks and conversations →

Education & Professional Practice

A Practice Across Disciplines

Education

  • University of Southern Maine — BA, Media Studies, with a computer science subfocus.

Open Source & Teaching

Former Global Chair for DrupalCon trainings. Conceived and built an international professional training program at Four Kitchens, alongside contributions to the Drupal community through development, presentations, and published writing.

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