Before launching TechStart.ai, I worked with innovative tech companies like Uber and Instawork, gaining insight into the transformative power technology holds for individuals and businesses. The pivotal moment came when I saw how many talented people—especially those facing unique life challenges—struggled to access economic opportunities due to a lack of tech skills. That realization sparked a passion to create a platform where technology could empower everyday heroes to thrive economically.

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!

Our Memories in Motion was created in 2007 but the story starts long before. I had a cousin who was always into technology. If there was something new in the tech world he had it. He introduced me to the world of video editing and slide show creation. Unfortunately, we lost my cousin to AIDS and I decided to continue his legacy of video editing and the rest is history. I started Our Memories in Motion just doing slide shows for family and friends and progressed to converting VHS tapes. I started getting asked if I did cassette tapes and records and the services kept growing. The next logical step was to get a website and being the frugal person I am, I decided to research website design. I fell in love with designing my website so I started offering this service to local businesses as well.

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.