I've always been curious about how things work.
More accurately, I've always enjoyed figuring out why things don't work.
I was never the kind of tech who took things apart just to see what was inside. What fascinated me was troubleshooting—understanding why something wasn't working, finding the root cause, and making it better than it was before. Whether it was a computer, a business process, a website, or a marketing campaign, I found the challenge rewarding. I still do.
Like so many of the projects I take on, it often starts with a simple question:
"I wonder if there's a better way to do this?"
That question has shaped nearly every chapter of my life.
Family First
Family is at the center of everything I do. My wife, Christine, and I are raising our son, William. Caring for aging parents has also reshaped my perspective on time, priorities, and what truly matters.
William & Matthew
Behind the Bar
Long before I worked in advertising or technology, I was tending bar at Pizzeria Uno in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn while attending Baruch College.
I wasn't the bartender inventing new drinks or putting on a show behind the bar. My thing was consistency and attention to detail. Customers would often tell me I made the best versions of some of the more complicated drinks, like a Bloody Mary or a Long Island Iced Tea. Looking back, I realize it wasn't really about the drinks—it was about taking pride in getting the details right and always trying to make something just a little better than it had been before.
No, don't ask me to make one now. It's been a long time.
Into Advertising
My career began in traditional advertising as a Media Planner, working on national accounts including Blockbuster Video, Denny's Restaurants, and Burger King. Over time I became something of a retail specialist, developing media plans that often had to be completed just days before airtime. It was a fast-paced environment where priorities changed quickly, deadlines were constant, and there was never a shortage of new challenges. Looking back, it was the perfect training ground for learning to think on my feet, communicate clearly, and solve problems under pressure.
Into Technology
Eventually, that same curiosity led me into enterprise information technology. My first role was with Cheyenne Software, where I supported ARCserve, one of the industry's leading backup and recovery solutions at the time. It was my introduction to enterprise data protection and reinforced just how critical reliable systems are when businesses depend on their technology every day.
Full Circle
Not long afterward, I returned to the same advertising agency where I had started my career—but this time I wasn't planning media. Armed with my newly earned Novell Certified Engineer (CNE) certification, I joined the agency's IT department, where I supported, maintained, and eventually rebuilt the company's entire Novell NetWare infrastructure. It was an opportunity to combine my understanding of the business with a growing passion for technology, and it confirmed that I'd found the career I wanted to pursue.
Disaster Recovery
That experience opened the door to a career in Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery. After earning my Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) designation, I designed and implemented a global disaster recovery platform that protected more than 350 servers across four continents. It reinforced a belief that still guides my work today:
Technology isn't valuable because it's complicated. It's valuable when it solves real problems for real people.
A New Chapter
After nearly 20 years with the advertising agency, I left in 2015—Felix Unger style. After taking some well-deserved time off, I joined a good friend at Stone Media Consulting, where we spent two years helping businesses build their online presence before I decided it was time to build something of my own.
Building Boxer Media
In 2017 I founded Boxer Media Services Corp. Originally, Boxer Media focused exclusively on social media marketing. As clients began asking for help with their websites, I partnered with another web developer. After losing a few clients in the process, I decided to bring website development in-house. That decision fundamentally changed Boxer Media.
Today, website design and development sit at the center of what I do, supported by search engine optimization, content strategy, blogging, social media management, and digital consulting. I primarily build websites using Wix, where I've earned Legend Partner status, the platform's highest level of corporate partnership. I've also developed websites using Squarespace, Weebly (now Square Online), and Shopify. A recent project modernizing an older hand-coded website reignited my interest in writing code directly and ultimately inspired the very website you're reading today.
Marvin & Maddi
Boxer Media has a story behind its name. The company is a tribute to Marvin, my late deaf white Boxer, who remains, in my admittedly biased opinion, the greatest dog in the world. Anyone who has loved a great dog knows they leave their mark long after they're gone, and Marvin certainly did.
That spirit lives on today through Maddi, our deaf Boxer-Pit Bull mix. Maddi has appointed herself my full-time shadow. If I'm in the office, she's under my desk. If I get up for coffee, she's already following me. Wherever I am, Maddi usually isn't very far behind.
Marvin
Maddi
Understanding ADHD
The work has changed over the years, but the motivation hasn't. I enjoy making things better.
Several years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD—Predominantly Inattentive Type. Instead of explaining away decades of habits, the diagnosis helped me understand them and taught me to build systems that work with my brain instead of against it.
The Long Game
One lesson has remained constant throughout my career: the long-term approach almost always wins.
Beyond the Desk
Outside of work, I'm every bit as curious as I am when I'm sitting behind a keyboard.
I love classic rock, especially Pink Floyd and The Beatles. While I'm working, there's a good chance SiriusXM is playing Classic Vinyl, Classic Rewind, 70s on 7, or The Beatles Channel.
When it comes to The Beatles, I grew up with them thanks largely to my uncle. My mom was an Elvis fan while my dad leaned toward The Rolling Stones, so discovering The Beatles through my uncle felt like finding something that was uniquely mine. I always considered myself more of a Paul McCartney fan, largely because of my love for Wings. Maybe I'm Amazed was Christine's and my wedding song, while she walked down the aisle to a classical arrangement of Yellow Submarine.
My favorite Pink Floyd albums are Wish You Were Here and Animals, and one of my favorite songs is the eighteen-minute Dogs. David Gilmour is a guitar genius, but I'll happily argue that Nick Mason's drumming is the secret ingredient that makes the song work.
M*A*S*H has always been my favorite television series. I can quote most of the show's eleven seasons from memory. My favorite episodes are The Interview and Dreams, and I'll happily defend Dreams as one of the finest episodes they ever produced.
I've loved Star Trek since watching The Original Series in reruns as a kid. My favorites include The Next Generation, Voyager, Lower Decks, and Strange New Worlds. Christine and I also enjoy Ted Lasso, Shrinking, The Amazing Race, and The Traitors.
I also enjoy geocaching, the occasional needlepoint project, exploring new technology, and disappearing down the occasional rabbit hole simply because something caught my attention.
Why Field Notes
This website exists because not every idea belongs on a business website. Field Notes is where I collect observations, experiments, lessons learned, and questions worth exploring.
I don't expect to have all the answers, and honestly, I hope I never think I do. What I do hope is that these notes encourage someone else to ask a better question or enjoy following a thread of curiosity for a little while.
So, welcome to my notebook. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let's see where the next field note takes us.