About Me

I live in Portland, Oregon 🌲 with my partner and two kids.

Over the past 17 years, I’ve led engineering teams that build software and platforms that people rely on every day. In my roles at companies like Fullscreen, New Relic, Jeli, and PagerDuty, I’ve helped launch global streaming and e-commerce products, improved developer platforms that power how teams ship and operate software, and guided teams through the complexities of startup growth, acquisition, and large-scale infrastructure evolution. Along the way, I’ve learned that great engineering leadership is about creating the conditions for people to do their best work. I thrive at the intersection of people, systems, and strategy, helping teams approach complex problems with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

I love to read. I’m partial to science fiction and fantasy, but I enjoy anything that helps broaden my perspective. Check out books that have had an outsized impact on my thinking and / or What I Read in 2025. I also subscribe to a bunch of RSS feeds and newsletters that challenge my ideas and deepen my understanding of the world.

I’m interested in many things, but I spend most of my time learning about communication, leadership, mindfulness, mycology, natural science, neurology, philosophy, and psychology. I’m also passionate about cooking, music, and personal growth.

Check out what I’m up to now 👀

Working With Me

I’m a collaborative, empathetic leader who believes people are an organization’s greatest asset. Here’s a small collection of feedback I’ve received over the years that paints a picture of how I lead.

You’ve set the bar for what a truly well-integrated acquisition looks like. But more than the work — it’s your energy, thoughtfulness, and grounded leadership that have left a bigger mark. You bring such a positive presence and high EQ to every situation.

– Senior Director of Engineering, 2025

Drew is the kind of leader who elevates everyone around him. He motivated the team, created clear growth paths, and built a culture of excellence and accountability. His customer empathy stands out. He listens, understands the why, and makes sure we ship solutions that matter. Even in high pressure situations, he stayed calm and positive, which kept the team focused and moving forward. He combines technical depth, cross functional leadership, and people first management, and he made a lasting impact on our team and our customers.

– Senior Product Manager, 2025

You’ve led the team with such empathy and supported us all along the way—from startup days, through the acquisition, to now at PD. Your positivity shaped how we approach difficult situations. I’ve appreciated our conversations, your guidance, and how much you’ve helped me grow as an engineer.

– Senior Software Engineer, 2025

You grew so much as a leader in the last year, which meant getting comfortable and developing expertise in areas outside of engineering, and understanding how crucial your role was to the success and viability of the business. You also leaned in when things were challenging and I felt I could rely on you as a partner all the way through.

– Director of Product, 2024

You are the leader I strive to be — collaborative, supportive, empowering, reasonable. This has felt very much like a partnership since day one and that is to your credit..

– Engineering Manager, 2023

You stepped into a high-functioning team that had been severely buffeted; you quickly assessed the situation, providing much-needed insulation from the winds while respecting the team’s ability to make good decisions and build cool shit. Your way of building trust has been to earn it, step by step, with your curiosity, technical insight, and grounded compassion.

– Senior Software Engineer, 2020

Check out my manager README for more on my leadership style. If you’ve worked with me in the past and would like to share your feedback, please reach out.

About The Understory

In a forest, the understory is where life quietly unfolds—layered, interconnected, and often unseen. I’ve spent my life drawn to similar places beneath the surface, asking why things are the way they are and what’s hidden just out of view. I believe there is mystery and magic there, waiting to be discovered. And so, the understory is my home.