I understand the critical importance of housing stability firsthand. Growing up in the foster care system taught me just how fundamental safe, stable housing is to a child's well-being. Even after being adopted, those early experiences of housing insecurity shaped my understanding of how deeply housing impacts every aspect of life. The real turning point in my career came during my work with non-profits, connecting renters who had housing vouchers to community housing options. I noticed a disturbing pattern: 6 out of 10 of my clients were losing their housing within just six months, even though their rent was covered. This revealed a critical gap in the system – having rent assistance wasn't enough. What we needed was a solution that would work for both residents and housing providers. While pursuing my Master of Social Work at Metropolitan State University, I began envisioning a different approach. Instead of the traditional landlord-tenant dynamic, what if we could create a model where everyone wins? This led me to launch B-Konnected in 2018, using my student loans as seed funding. Our Resident Success™ certification and accelerator program transforms how properties approach housing stability. We help housing providers reduce turnover by up to 88% while improving residents' lives. Through real-time data collection and analysis, we offer concrete insights that benefit both sides: residents get the support they need to maintain stable housing, while properties see dramatic cost reductions and increased operational efficiency. By 2022, this win-win approach had proven so successful that we launched Konnected Technologies Inc. Today, we're not just helping people get housed – we're helping them stay housed while helping properties thrive. Our model has helped secure over $30 million in housing rewards for our partners while achieving an 88% housing stability rate. What makes me most proud is that we're redefining housing relationships. We're showing that when you invest in resident success, everybody benefits – properties see better returns, residents achieve stability, and communities grow stronger. That's the kind of transformation I wished for as a child in the system, and it's what drives our innovation at B-Konnected every day.

Thank you for asking! Since we last connected, something incredible happened—I was honored with the Best of 2024 award for my town, which was based entirely on client feedback about their experience working with me and my studio. It feels like the most rewarding gift after twelve years of dedication, hard work, and pushing to make a mark in this industry. Breaking into design wasn’t easy, but building meaningful connections with clients and creating spaces that genuinely reflect their lives has always been my driving force. This recognition from the very people I set out to serve means everything, and it’s truly inspired me and my team to continue delivering that level of care, vision, and quality in every project. I couldn’t be more grateful!

Sure. The idea for Join inCrowd was born out of a simple need: the ability to quickly and effectively share contact information. But as we watched how our users interacted with the platform, it became clear that their needs were changing. COVID-19 reshaped how people work and socialize. Remote work became the norm, and the gig economy grew exponentially. People are no longer just their job titles—they’re multi-faceted individuals. This shift is what inspired our latest updates.

That's easy. We all have childhood memories of food, family, friends, and gatherings that revolved around something delicious. Food has this incredible power to anchor us to moments that are vivid, warm, and unmistakably tied to connection. I remember the holidays in our kitchen like it was yesterday—my nana and all my tías working together, making tamales, laughing, telling stories, filling the house with this palpable buzz of joy and the rich, mouthwatering scent of masa and spiced meat. Then there were Sunday nights when my grandmother would lay out these full-blown Italian feasts. Picture it: her dining table loaded with homemade pasta, meatballs the size of a child’s fist, and sauces that had simmered on the stove for hours. Our family would come together, arguing in that loving, loud Italian way over who had the best sauce, and I’d sit back and just absorb the magic of it all. And how could I forget elementary school, during our multi-cultural day? Esteban brought empanadas from Argentina, and tasting them was like being transported halfway across the world. It was this eye-opening moment for a kid like me, who realized that food wasn’t just something you ate—it was something you experienced. It represented travel, adventure, and a world that was bigger and richer than I’d ever imagined. These moments were my early exposure to the world, to community, and to the idea that food can transcend everything—language, culture, even the generations between us. That's what sparked my lifelong appreciation of how food brings people together and builds a sense of belonging, and it’s exactly why this announcement we’re about to dive into means so much to me. It’s all rooted in that same desire to build something meaningful around food and culture.

I earned my BFA in Interior Design from Syracuse University and later pursued an MA in Design Management from SCAD. Before starting Thrive In Design, I spent about 10 years working in sales and business development for multi-million-dollar international interior product brands. Most of my career was based in New York City, where I gained invaluable experience in the design industry. A few years ago, I decided to return to my hometown of Baltimore, and that move inspired me to start Thrive In Design, where I could combine my passion for design and business to help brands grow and tell their stories effectively.

Absolutely, the inspiration behind what I'm about to announce today goes back to a pivotal moment in a Las Vegas conference room. I vividly remember sitting in the conference room of a project we were working on when I noticed and asked about several Instagram and Pinterest screen grabs pinned on what they called their "design wall." The answer surprised me—they were using social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to find design inspiration. It was that moment when I realized that while these platforms were great for general use, they didn't cater specifically to the needs of the design industry. That moment was my "Ah, Ha!" moment. I realized that there was a significant gap—an opportunity to create a social platform tailored specifically for the design community. Throughout 2011, I reached out to colleagues in the design space, gathering feedback on this concept. It led to my first attempt, a small business called "CPAD,". CPAD failed because at the time I did not know or understand the difference between a small business and a tech startup. After a major financial setback and having to start from zero, in 2014, I regrouped, formed an amazing team and launched my second attempt, a tech startup named "Dezignwall". The journey wasn't without its challenges. Pitching investors was particularly daunting; I often encountered responses like, "Oh, interior design? My wife designed our home!" Despite setbacks and lessons learned the hard way, we held onto Dezignwall until December of 2017, when we simply ran out of funding to stay open. Like I said earlier, I took several years to focus on other programs, ventures and projects. But I've remained steadfast in my belief that the design community deserves a dedicated platform. One where professionals can connect, collaborate, and access tools specifically designed to help them grow their businesses—something larger platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok simply still can not address. Which leads to this interview—an exciting relaunch under a new name. It's a project that embodies my passion for community and my commitment to empowering designers and industry professionals.