Hailing from a small island in Lake Erie, Ben spent his formative years accompanying his father to work at the local arcade, learning to roll quarters and play Pac-Man and pinball. So it was no surprise that he developed an affinity for technology early on that eventually culminated in a degree in computer science and engineering. A life-long fan of fantasy and science fiction, he parlayed his coding skills and penchant for storytelling into the applied application of user experience on the Web. Nowadays Ben can be found practicing appreciative inquiry and information architecture, taking the time to speak, coach, and teach on these subjects whenever possible. His wife keeps him grounded while indulging his fancy for gadgets, geek culture, and Game of Thrones and together they do their best to raise their three boys.