I was born and raised in western Pennsylvania, and spent most of my childhood in Pittsburgh. Growing up I split my time between a close group of friends, playing sports (football and wrestling), and indulging in my nerdier side (video games, comics, etc). I graduated from Penn State University in 2009 with an engineering degree, and have worked in many different fields since then. I moved to Philadelphia in 2012 for a new job and have come to really love the city of brotherly love.

I was lucky enough to have a mom with a taste for adventure, so I've been on a lot of fun and fascinating trips, including a tour of Italy, hiking in Scotland, surfing in Guatemala and more. I also spent a year living in Australia and traveling through Indonesia. I've always had a love for nature and everything it has to offer. I really enjoy the more adventurous activities out there and pushing myself, and have done a string of the new "Adventure Races" in addition to a lot of rock climbing and other hobbies.

I'm definitely a bit of a goofball with an offbeat sense of humor, but I enjoy making people laugh and just getting to know them through hanging out and having some great conversation. I consider myself a glass-half full type of person and definitely think that you can get whatever you want out of life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

One of my favorite things about traveling is meeting new people, and couchsurfing seems like a great way to do that. I love getting the insider secrets and hidden gems from locals for somewhere I'm visiting. It's also great to have a chance to develop a feel and appreciation for the culture through a good conversation too.

Interests

I'm a huge movie and music fan, especially for the newer indie movies that have been coming out lately. I play guitar and ukulele and always find it fascinating and fun to share music with others who play an instrument or have an appreciation for it.

I really enjoy trying new food, and more recently have developed a passion for cooking too; I'm no iron chef but I've been told I make a great kitchen assistant. One of my favorite things to do with friends is sitting around and talking while cooking, drinking, and joking. I love to learn and happily geek out with people who are passionate about a subject, regardless of what it may be.

I'm very active and climbing and hiking have always been two of my favorite activities. When I'm not doing those, I'm usually running, lifting, or playing soccer, or hanging out at the local rock climbing gym.

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• running
• drinking
• comics
• movies
• video games
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• adventure races
• surfing
• sports
• wrestling
• rock climbing
• soccer
• engineering
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies
-Star Wars, The Avengers, Batman, The Bourne Series, Her, The Man from Nowhere, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Airplane!, Cinderella Man

Music
-The Black Keys, Future Islands, The Avett Brothers, Bright Light Social Hour, Jack Johnson, Mumford and Sons, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Books
-Ender's Game, Tai Pan, Shogun, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Good Omens, Into Thin Air, The Martian

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked down into the grand canyon and slept at the base of a waterfall for a few days; amazing doesn't quite do it justice.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a jack of random trades, and happy to teach or share whatever you're interested in, whether that's music, movies, science, the outdoors, or whatever else. Learn to play ukulele? Sure. Explain 3D printing? I'd be happy to. Try some fun and useful knots for the outdoors? Of course.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A good sense of humor, cooking skills, and a strong ability and desire to fix things around your place (the curse of the engineer). I make a good adventure or hiking partner and sous chef, and am generally a really easy going person to hang out with.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States