at a crossroads

posted this to LinkedIn today. reposting here for posterity (since this is my social media replacement)

To my Linkedin friends and colleagues.

For the first time in my career, I find myself in uncharted territory. Since I was 14 years old, I have always had my next step mapped out—whether it was pursuing a new skill, stepping into a leadership role, or driving the next big infrastructure project. But today, I’m in a different position.

After several successful years as the Infrastructure Lead at Infinite Campus, I transitioned into an architectural role at Western National, drawn by the opportunity to take a more strategic position. Western National had a culture I truly appreciated—I felt valued and supported in ways that I still reflect on today. However, I hold myself to a high standard, and I never felt like I was able to contribute at the level I expect from myself. The biggest mistake I made was not having open conversations with leadership about my long-term goals. Instead of discussing my desire to get back to hands-on leadership, I assumed I needed to make a move elsewhere. That was on me.

My next step was a management role at Cambria, but unfortunately, the culture and expectations were not the right fit for my leadership style. This experience reinforced an important lesson: when you’re in an environment that values open communication, use it. Talk to your leadership. Advocate for your own growth. Because not every company fosters that kind of dialogue, and I learned the hard way what happens when that’s missing.

Now, I’m focusing on finding an organization where collaboration, structured processes, and operational maturity are truly valued—and where I can bring my leadership experience, technical expertise, and process-driven mindset to help a team thrive.

Beyond my career, I’m a father of three boys and an Assistant Scoutmaster to a big troop of incredible kids. Mentorship and leadership are core to who I am, and I’m eager to bring that same energy to a team that’s ready to evolve and grow.

If you know of an opportunity that aligns with my skills and leadership style, or if you just have advice on navigating this transition, I’d love to connect. Thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey—I truly appreciate the support.

Lesson learned: If you’re in a company that values open communication, take advantage of it. Be upfront about what you need. Because not every workplace operates that way, and you don’t want to realize too late that you could have stayed somewhere great.