Design and construction software isn’t cheap. And it shouldn’t be—when it works, it pays for itself. But measuring value isn’t always straightforward. You’re not just buying features. You’re investing in time saved, risk avoided, and work that flows smoother between teams. Here’s how to figure out if your software is actually pulling its weight. Read more →

Sweat, Mud, and a Mission: Volunteering in the Peruvian Amazon When Stefanie and I were invited to join a Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV) project in the Amazon, we didn’t hesitate. It was a chance to do something meaningful, with amazing people, in a place few ever get to experience firsthand. We didn’t sign up for comfort—we signed up for purpose. What we didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would stay with us: hard manual work under a jungle sky, dolphins and drones, and a classroom that represents more than just four walls. It represents possibility and hope. Read more →

The last couple of months have been tough. Stefanie’s daughter had a serious medical emergency. She was in the hospital, went through multiple surgeries, and needed constant IV meds and antibiotics. It was a lot. Stefanie stayed by her side... Read more →

I grew up spending summer school vacation in southern California, soaking up the sun and making memories with family and friends. Seeing the recent wildfires tear through those familiar areas breaks my heart. Homes have been destroyed, and entire communities... Read more →

I kicked off the new year with a pre-dawn snowshoe hike up Tumalo Mountain. There’s something special about walking in the dark with just a headlamp and the promise of sunrise. I got to the trailhead near Mt. Bachelor at around 5:00 a.m. It was cold, maybe in the teens, and the forest was calm. My plan: climb 1,400 feet and catch the first sunrise of 2025. Read more →

As the year winds down, I want to take a moment to wish you all a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with loved ones. Here’s to reflecting on the adventures of the past year and... Read more →

It seems someone really really wanted the Delicate Arch model I created years ago that the National Park Service at Arches National Park recreated in a durable metal and installed near the trail head in the very popular national park. This tactile model helped people that were unable to see the arch or make the hike still understand the beauty of the natural arch. Hopefully the thief gets caught, but also a new one replaces it, and nobody steals that one as well. Read more →

Having been both a customer and user of Autodesk products, and as a member of product teams, I’ve had the unique experience of seeing things from both perspectives. I’ve been the voice of the customer, advocating for their needs, interpreting their sentiment, and translating real-world use cases into product strategy. Whether you’re a startup or scaling up, here are some lessons that might help you focus on what really matters. Read more →

After nearly two decades on the Twitter platform newly renamed as X, I’ve decided to delete my 25k tweets, & step away. Posted my last tweet for the foreseeable future and deleted all my 25,000+ tweets so they were not... Read more →

Our recent two-week adventure was everything we had hoped and had planned for—a perfect blend of awe inspiring landscapes, family, and unforgettable wildlife. Starting from our home in Bend, Oregon, we set off on a 2,300-mile loop that took us... Read more →

This weekend was my partners birthday. We went to a nice local Italian restaurant, Trattoria Sbandati. It was an amazing and authentic dinner with excellent service. If you are ever in beautiful Bend Oregon and want amazing Italian food and... Read more →

Fall is in full swing here in Central Oregon, and it’s not just the changing leaves that make this time of year special. Alongside the vibrant yellows and reds of autumn leaves as well as larch pine needles, the region’s... Read more →

Stefanie and I are gearing up for an incredible adventure in June 2025 with Be The Change Volunteers, a nonprofit that’s all about making a difference through education. We were invited to be part of this project thanks to Stefanie’s business connections, and we’re both beyond excited to join this volunteer project as “Changers”. Read more →

Today marks a big blog milestone—21 years of "Between the Lines Blog." What started as a simple idea has grown into a fun and trusted source for those in the AEC and manufacturing design technology industry. It’s wild to look... Read more →

While it might seem like an unlikely source of danger, bathroom and attic fans pose a significant fire risk if not properly managed. One simple yet often overlooked solution can help prevent such incidents: installing a timer for your bathroom fan. Many building codes require a timer on the fan in recent updates, but there are so many homes without it, and people may not be aware of the risk. Read more →

Last night, I was at a concert here in Bend, Oregon, with expectations set on seeing Citizen Cope, but it was an experience far beyond what I anticipated. I was there primarily for Citizen Cope, a band I’ve always enjoyed,... Read more →

This past weekend was all about the outdoors. On Saturday, I kayaked 8 miles on a crystal-clear Cascade lake, where the water was as cold as it was stunning. Then, on Sunday, we hiked 7 miles with a 2,000-foot elevation gain into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness. With a wilderness day permit in hand, We made it to the glacier on Three Finger Jack. The hike was made even better by the intoxicatingly sweet scents and breathtaking views of wildflowers along Canyon Creek and spotting a rocky mountain goat. Read more →

It has been a heatwave where I live in the mountains of Central Oregon and people including myself have been hitting the Cascade Lakes and river to cool off. I have never seen so many people floating the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District of Bend Oregon. Read more →

A few years ago in 2015, I wrote on this blog about the changing of the carpet design in the Portland Oregon International Airport. PDX Carpet Designs in AutoCAD DWG The new design was confusing and not iconic and fun like the classic design. Wikipedia on the PDX carpet design Well, roll forward to 2024 and they have finally heard my complaint, or the many others and are now returning to installing the old classic design carpet.The classic design was based on the airport’s North and South runways as seen by air traffic controllers at night in a nerdy artistic way. Read more →

I recently received a message from a person located in Panama, who was taking an English class. He wanted to know if this was really me in the textbook where they used a blog post as an example. It was... Read more →

So, while there was some navigating of the chaos due to canceled flights and last-minute changes due to weather and Boeing Max 900 issues— we made it to Mexico for a week and returned. We needed the sun-soaked beaches and underwater adventures to recharge our batteries and kick-off 2024 properly. Read more →

The past two weeks have been filled with unseasonably cold weather with a bunch of snow followed by freezing rain and ice. Here are a few photos of the growing snow at our home and playing in it. Now it’s... Read more →

As the Christmas holiday lights twinkle, we find ourselves at the cusp of transition, leaving behind a vibrant and adventurous 2023, while eagerly awaiting the promises of 2024. This year, more than ever, the holiday season feels like a much-deserved... Read more →

The local Bend Oregon fire department brought a fire engine and Santa to my neighborhood last night. They were doing a canned food drive. We donated some cans of food to the good community holiday effort and program to help... Read more →

In today's competitive business landscape, companies are constantly searching for that unique edge to differentiate themselves from the rest. While many strategies can lead to short-term gains, there's one tried and true approach that stands the test of time: being an authentic, customer-focused company. But what does that truly mean, and how can businesses achieve this? Read more →