Over the course of my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with talented people, build meaningful brands, develop products, and lead exceptional teams. I’ve learned a tremendous amount through those experiences and I remain grateful for every chapter along the way. But somewhere in the back of my mind, there was always the feeling that something was missing.
As I entered my 50s, I started thinking more deeply about the kind of work I wanted to spend my time doing. Not just professionally, but personally. I began asking myself different questions. What do I truly care about? What kind of company would I build if I could start from scratch? What values would guide every decision? What legacy would I want to leave behind?
At the same time, I found myself becoming increasingly intentional about how I live. I developed a deeper appreciation for sustainability, quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and buying fewer things that are made better. I became less interested in disposable products and fast trends, and more interested in products that endure. Products that are designed with purpose. Products that become part of your life over many years instead of being replaced after one season.
That shift in perspective became the foundation for SustainGear.
I did not want to create another brand built around marketing slogans or surface-level sustainability claims. The world does not need more greenwashing. Consumers are smarter than that, and frankly, so am I.
I wanted to build a company where sustainability is not a campaign or a checkbox. It is part of the DNA of the business. A company grounded in respect for people, respect for craftsmanship, and respect for the planet. A company obsessed with thoughtful details, enduring quality, purposeful design, and transparency.
SustainGear was born from that vision.
One of the most formative experiences in my career was serving as CEO of Levenger more than a decade ago. It remains one of my favorite chapters professionally because it was deeply connected to product, design, creativity, and community. We created products for readers, thinkers, writers, and intellectually curious people. There was something incredibly rewarding about building products that customers genuinely loved and used for years.
During that time, I worked closely with many talented employees, designers, and manufacturing partners. Some of those relationships continue to this day. We focused heavily on quality and craftsmanship, and we genuinely cared about creating products that mattered to our customers.
But looking back, I also realized something important. While sustainability mattered to us, it was not central to the mission. We were better than many companies, but sustainability was not yet embedded into every layer of decision-making in the way I believe it should be today.
That realization stayed with me.
More recently, my career shifted into leading marketing organizations within B2B software companies. I enjoyed many aspects of that work and learned a great deal about strategy, growth, leadership, and building teams. But over time, I began missing the creative energy that comes from developing physical products and building consumer brands from the ground up.
I missed the process of creating something tangible.
I remember one particular weekend while working on the tech pack for our Vela Sling bag. I sat down to make progress and completely lost track of time. Fifteen hours later, I was still refining details, adjusting dimensions, thinking through functionality, and obsessing over how the product should feel and perform in everyday use. I was completely immersed. It did not feel like work. It felt energizing.
That experience reminded me of something important about myself. I love building products. I love the intersection of design, utility, materials, storytelling, and customer experience. I love sweating the small details that most people never consciously notice but absolutely feel when they use something well made.
That passion became impossible to ignore.
What excites me most about SustainGear is the opportunity to build a company intentionally from day one. Every decision matters. Every material matters. Every supplier relationship matters. Every product detail matters. Every customer interaction matters.
We are building a brand around principles that we genuinely believe in.
We believe quality itself is a form of sustainability. Products that last longer create less waste. Products that are thoughtfully designed are used more often and valued more deeply. We believe people should buy fewer things, but better things.
We also believe great design does not need to shout.
As a brand, SustainGear is rooted in understated elegance, timeless design, and lasting quality. We are not interested in oversized logos or chasing trends that disappear six months later. We want our products to feel refined, functional, and quietly confident. We want them to integrate naturally into people’s lives whether they are commuting to work, traveling internationally, exploring a new city, or simply navigating everyday life.
Our philosophy is simple. Buy thoughtfully. Design responsibly. Build products that endure.
We know our approach is not for everyone, and that is okay.
There will always be lower-priced alternatives that cut corners on materials, construction, labor standards, or environmental responsibility. Competing in that race is not our goal. We are focused on creating products with integrity. Products made with intention. Products that reflect the values of the people who choose to carry them.
This journey is deeply personal for me because SustainGear represents more than just a business venture. It represents alignment between my professional experience, my personal values, and the kind of company I genuinely want to exist in the world.
I am still learning. We will not be perfect. Building responsibly is complex, and there will always be opportunities to improve. But we are committed to being transparent, thoughtful, and continuously pushing ourselves to do better.
At this stage in my life, that commitment matters more to me than chasing growth at any cost.
I wanted this next chapter to have purpose.
I wanted to build something real.
I hope SustainGear resonates with people who feel the same way.
A New Chapter: Building With Purpose
Over the course of my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with talented people, build meaningful brands, develop products, and lead exceptional teams. I’ve learned a tremendous amount through those experiences and I remain grateful for every chapter along the way. But somewhere in the back of my mind, there was always the feeling that something was missing.
As I entered my 50s, I started thinking more deeply about the kind of work I wanted to spend my time doing. Not just professionally, but personally. I began asking myself different questions. What do I truly care about? What kind of company would I build if I could start from scratch? What values would guide every decision? What legacy would I want to leave behind?
At the same time, I found myself becoming increasingly intentional about how I live. I developed a deeper appreciation for sustainability, quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and buying fewer things that are made better. I became less interested in disposable products and fast trends, and more interested in products that endure. Products that are designed with purpose. Products that become part of your life over many years instead of being replaced after one season.
That shift in perspective became the foundation for SustainGear.
I did not want to create another brand built around marketing slogans or surface-level sustainability claims. The world does not need more greenwashing. Consumers are smarter than that, and frankly, so am I.
I wanted to build a company where sustainability is not a campaign or a checkbox. It is part of the DNA of the business. A company grounded in respect for people, respect for craftsmanship, and respect for the planet. A company obsessed with thoughtful details, enduring quality, purposeful design, and transparency.
SustainGear was born from that vision.
One of the most formative experiences in my career was serving as CEO of Levenger more than a decade ago. It remains one of my favorite chapters professionally because it was deeply connected to product, design, creativity, and community. We created products for readers, thinkers, writers, and intellectually curious people. There was something incredibly rewarding about building products that customers genuinely loved and used for years.
During that time, I worked closely with many talented employees, designers, and manufacturing partners. Some of those relationships continue to this day. We focused heavily on quality and craftsmanship, and we genuinely cared about creating products that mattered to our customers.
But looking back, I also realized something important. While sustainability mattered to us, it was not central to the mission. We were better than many companies, but sustainability was not yet embedded into every layer of decision-making in the way I believe it should be today.
That realization stayed with me.
More recently, my career shifted into leading marketing organizations within B2B software companies. I enjoyed many aspects of that work and learned a great deal about strategy, growth, leadership, and building teams. But over time, I began missing the creative energy that comes from developing physical products and building consumer brands from the ground up.
I missed the process of creating something tangible.
I remember one particular weekend while working on the tech pack for our Vela Sling bag. I sat down to make progress and completely lost track of time. Fifteen hours later, I was still refining details, adjusting dimensions, thinking through functionality, and obsessing over how the product should feel and perform in everyday use. I was completely immersed. It did not feel like work. It felt energizing.
That experience reminded me of something important about myself. I love building products. I love the intersection of design, utility, materials, storytelling, and customer experience. I love sweating the small details that most people never consciously notice but absolutely feel when they use something well made.
That passion became impossible to ignore.
What excites me most about SustainGear is the opportunity to build a company intentionally from day one. Every decision matters. Every material matters. Every supplier relationship matters. Every product detail matters. Every customer interaction matters.
We are building a brand around principles that we genuinely believe in.
We believe quality itself is a form of sustainability. Products that last longer create less waste. Products that are thoughtfully designed are used more often and valued more deeply. We believe people should buy fewer things, but better things.
We also believe great design does not need to shout.
As a brand, SustainGear is rooted in understated elegance, timeless design, and lasting quality. We are not interested in oversized logos or chasing trends that disappear six months later. We want our products to feel refined, functional, and quietly confident. We want them to integrate naturally into people’s lives whether they are commuting to work, traveling internationally, exploring a new city, or simply navigating everyday life.
Our philosophy is simple. Buy thoughtfully. Design responsibly. Build products that endure.
We know our approach is not for everyone, and that is okay.
There will always be lower-priced alternatives that cut corners on materials, construction, labor standards, or environmental responsibility. Competing in that race is not our goal. We are focused on creating products with integrity. Products made with intention. Products that reflect the values of the people who choose to carry them.
This journey is deeply personal for me because SustainGear represents more than just a business venture. It represents alignment between my professional experience, my personal values, and the kind of company I genuinely want to exist in the world.
I am still learning. We will not be perfect. Building responsibly is complex, and there will always be opportunities to improve. But we are committed to being transparent, thoughtful, and continuously pushing ourselves to do better.
At this stage in my life, that commitment matters more to me than chasing growth at any cost.
I wanted this next chapter to have purpose.
I wanted to build something real.
I hope SustainGear resonates with people who feel the same way.