4Trades.ai was born from a simple but powerful question:
"What can I do to strengthen the trades that keep our communities running and our local economy healthy?"
I grew up in Rainier, Oregon, in a family where work meant something, not a title, but the willingness to do things the right way. My dad used to say, "If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all." That shaped how I see integrity, effort, and honoring the work in front of you.
As an adult, I always found myself talking with the tradespeople who came to work on my home: electricians, HVAC techs, fence builders, plumbers. Even though my background is in technology and education, I've always felt more at ease with people who work with their hands. There's a clarity and straightforwardness in the trades that I've always respected.
At the same time, I was working with business tools and software and kept wondering how small businesses were supposed to make any of it work. Even with my experience, it took hours to understand how these tools fit together. If it was frustrating for me, it had to be overwhelming for others.
So I asked trades workers about the systems they used. The answers were always the same:
"We wish we were using this better."
"We don't have time to set it up."
"It feels like one more thing to manage."
The turning point came in 2025, after joining the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce and meeting trades owners face-to-face. One conversation with a local fence and construction company owner made it undeniable how hard they were trying to adopt technology, and how little the tools were doing to support them. That moment made the opportunity unmistakable.
I brought together developers who shared my values and we started building tools for the people I've always resonated with most: hardworking trades professionals who show up every day with integrity, skill, and pride in their craft.
Today, that work continues through 4Trades.ai, designing simple, reliable systems that lighten the load, reduce friction, and help independent trades businesses stay local, strong, and thriving.