Mahalo Keeper Club

This is my thank-you page. Thanks to my friends, mentors, and the culture.

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s you are a bridge. You carry two worlds. A world that moved slower with more intention and watched the world accelerate with enormous opportunity but also endless noise.

Millennials everywhere

My Wife

  • Michelle Muldong

    Thank you for teaching me to live in the moment and celebrate life while you still can — while also standing by me through the hardest times and deepest losses, and being my partner to build the life we both want.

Family

  • My Mom

    For teaching me what a strong single mother looks like... A woman who works hard to forge her own way as an IT expert in a world dominated by big egos.

  • My Step Dad

    For supporting my interests in science, computing and sports. While also teaching me about the world through his USS Enterprise Naval stories.

  • My Grandparents

    For being an anchor during the hardest times of my youth — teaching by example with patience and clear expectations, yet still giving me the freedom to find my way.

  • My Aunties

    For teaching me the value of setting boundaries with a kind heart.

Mentors

  • My Dad — master mechanic, lumberjack, contractor, and libertarian with Montana roots

    For teaching me that no one owes you anything, to be self-reliant, and that knowledge will come when you get your hands dirty.

  • Curt Schurgers — Teaching Professor at UCSD ECE and a Director of Engineers for Exploration

    For teaching me to be a better communicator.

  • Ryan Kastner - hardware security expert and e4e champion @ UCSD

    For creating opportunities for everyone to shine!

  • Rick Gessner — one of the Firefox web browser pioneers in the 1990s, now teaching Systems Engineering at UCSD

    For teaching students how to navigate complex systems and communicate with curiosity first.

  • Ramsin Khoshabeh — AI professor at UCSD, and Director of the UCSD ECE MakerSpace

    For bringing genuine joy, curiosity, and brilliance to engineering.

  • Eric Lo — Robotics Engineer applying embedded systems to cultural heritage and conservation work, at CHEI and ALERTCalifornia, the public safety program CHEI hosts

    For his deep expertise and guidance on building low-cost power management systems.

  • Astrid Hsu — now Lead Climate Advisor at Ørsted (2024 – present); before that, Environmental Sustainability Manager at The Walt Disney Company (2022–2024), helping implement projects toward Disneyland’s 2030 Environmental Goals. Started as a marine ecologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Aburto Lab) and National Geographic Explorer, studying mangrove ecosystems in Baja California with drones and satellite monitoring — research profile

    For being the hardest-working sustainability advocate I have ever had the privilege to call a friend.

  • Luca De Vivo Nicoloso — I watched him pioneer the core technology for Limber Prosthetics at Calit2 while doing his PhD, back in winter quarter 2017. His research combined structural design with bio-mimicry to build novel 3D-printed structural systems — two published papers on continuous-fiber composite 3D printing and fiber-orientation optimization, alongside a box-wing solar UAV project for long-endurance remote imaging

    The most well-rounded Doctor I have ever had the honor to work with — any organization would be lucky to have Luca as a leader. He works with endless energy. - Big love brother.

  • Jo Dee Jacob Naval teacher & UCSD faculty

    For facilitating the most inspiring display of social entrepreneurship and truly grounded business ethics.

  • Albert Yu-Min Lin

    The trailblazer who created Engineers for Exploration at UCSD — the multi-disciplinary engineering that had been pulling at my soul ever since my first brush with death in Santa Cruz, CA - 2004. Where I nearly died from a MRSA infection after swimming in the ocean following a storm..

A black runner-style cap with a diamond-shaped leather patch reading Mahalo Keeper Club, Live Well, with a buck's head silhouette in the center.
Mahalo Keeper Club — Live Well.

The Culture

Sports

Music

Writers & Producers

  • Steven Spielberg
  • Jon Favreau
  • George Lucas
  • John Muir
  • Audrey & Ted Geisel
  • …and more
Two Mahalo Keeper Club patches: an embroidered arch-shaped patch with a floral border reading Mahalo Keeper Club, Est. MMXX, Moab, Utah, and a simpler white patch reading Mahalo Keeper Club with a mountain icon.

To anyone who is drowning in the darkness, or struggling to find their way — Think about where culture started, honor those that came before you. Explore the spirit of those listed above, they did their best to leave behind beauty, kindness and curiosity.
- Just because someone trips and falls, does not mean they are lost forever.
Mahalo Ripple

Mahalo Sun.
Mahalo Water.
Mahalo Mother…

Anchors of Inspiration

  • Start with first principles.

  • Serenity Prayer.

  • Iron sharpens iron.

  • Love is patient, love is kind, love is forgiving.

    1 Corinthians 13

  • People make decisions with their feelings first…

  • What’s the next most important thing?

  • Be kind to your future self.

  • Do not take life too seriously; you will never get out of it alive.

    Elbert Hubbard

  • The mind shapes our actions; our repeated actions shape who we become.

    Philosophy blend

  • Overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness.

    Dhammapada, Buddha

  • As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat.
    This wind is blowin' my mind...

  • If you grew up in the 80s or 90s you are a bridge. You carry two worlds. A world that moved slower with more intention and watched the world accelerate with enormous opportunity but also endless noise.

    Millennials everywhere