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Applied geophysics, software, and AI-driven knowledge systems
I am an independent developer, architect, educator, and geophysicist who builds functional websites, web applications, and AI-assisted knowledge systems. My work focuses on making complex information easy to find, easy to understand, and easy to use – for the people who run organizations and the people they serve.
My credentials include AA, BS (honors), and an MS in Geophysics, and over 31 years of Internet development, software engineering, and teaching. Over that time I’ve worked with HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, jQuery, and Ajax, and more recently with AI-powered assistants that sit on top of those same technologies. This site showcases a sample of that work and the approach behind it.
Before “off-the-shelf” tools were common, I developed custom modeling and contouring software for applied geophysics, including one of the first desktop seismic modeling applications (MASA) and work that contributed to the first documented oil discovery using a desktop computer in 1984. That same mindset – building the tools that don’t exist yet – still drives what I do today.
I don’t install “one-size-fits-all” templates. I design and build custom solutions that follow best practices, respect web standards, and address real business and educational constraints. That includes careful attention to accessibility and compliance so clients can reach the widest possible audience for their products, services, and programs.
I’ve long worked with standards recommended by the W3C, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Whether I’m building a traditional website, an online SQL training environment, or an AI-driven assistant wired to internal documents, the goal is the same: clear structure, reliable behavior, and accessible design.
Current focus: AI, education, and applied systems
In addition to my client work, I teach programming, databases, web development, and mobile apps at Lansing Community College, where I design and maintain courses and hands-on tools for students. That teaching work led to Ask Sage, an AI assistant for students and faculty that runs on college infrastructure and focuses on course support and learning.
Separately, I developed Ask Tedd, an AI framework for organizations and the general public. Ask Tedd is designed to work with a client’s own documentation, procedures, and codebase, turning existing materials into practical, conversational help for internal teams and external users. While Ask Sage grew out of my teaching responsibilities, Ask Tedd is an independent system aimed at public and commercial work.
The same skills that go into a well-structured website – clean data models, thoughtful UX, and careful error-handling – also power these AI systems. I help clients use AI in ways that are private, explainable, and grounded in their own policies, procedures, and source materials.
Roots in applied geophysics
My original training is in geophysics, including early work in seismic modeling, synthetic seismograms, and contouring of subsurface structure. My MS thesis at Michigan State University documented shear-wave anisotropy on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica at a time when such effects were still largely theoretical.
That background continues to inform how I think about problems: start with the data, be explicit about assumptions, and build tools that help real people make real decisions – whether the question is about the subsurface, a business process, or an educational system.
How I can help
Depending on your needs, I can:
- Design or modernize accessible, standards-compliant websites.
- Build custom web applications backed by PHP/MySQL.
- Develop or refine AI-assisted tools that use your existing documents, processes, or code to answer questions and guide users.
- Consult on courseware, training systems, and educational tools that blend traditional web technologies with modern AI.
- Review and present technical and geophysical results, including graphics and explanations suitable for stakeholders, investors, or legal settings.
If you have a problem that sits at the intersection of web technology, data, and human understanding – or you need to turn complex technical work into clear decisions – that’s where I work best.