Designer, developer, and founder — 16+ years building brands, websites, and products from the ground up. From nonprofit campaigns to a consumer hardware startup that sold in 40+ countries.
From a single logo to a complete digital presence — and from first concept to retail shelf. Everything under one roof, since 2008.
Two parallel tracks — a full-service design studio and a consumer hardware startup — running simultaneously from 2014 to 2024.
Registered BHD as a sole proprietorship in Sangamon County, IL. Launched web design and graphic design services for local Springfield businesses.
Filed Certificate of Ownership, formalizing BHD as a licensed Illinois DBA. Expanded client base across nonprofits, associations, and commercial clients.
Broadened offerings to WooCommerce, OpenCart, and Drupal CMS builds. Added Google Apps for Business setup, SEO, and Mailchimp email marketing.
Incorporated SmashToast alongside BHD operations. Began hardware prototyping, firmware development, and Indiegogo campaign preparation for the PUCK universal remote.
Launched crowdfunding campaign and won a $50,000 Arch Grant. getpuck.com and Amazon storefront go live — all while maintaining full BHD client operations.
Added professional photography — wedding, event, and commercial — plus comprehensive social media management. Began supporting political campaigns and nonprofit advocacy organizations.
Featured at CES Startup three consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018). PUCK placed at Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, and many other retailers in 2017. Won Anders CPAs + Husch Blackwell Award at Startup Connection (St. Louis) and Innovator of the Year at the 2018 Illinois Capital Innovation Awards. Featured in Julie Jacobson's Ultimate CES 2018 Preview on CE Pro.
Scaled to 100+ active clients including IATP, ILUPMA, IDCCA, Hope Institute, Arch Grants, and Springfield F.C. Integrated digital advertising with A/B testing and demographic targeting.
Launched music composition and 3D printing services. Deepened work with associations, real estate, and healthcare. Refined project management with QuickBooks integration.
After 10 years, $1M+ raised, sales in all 50 states and 40+ countries, SmashToast, Inc. wound down naturally — a complete founder journey from prototype to Walmart shelves.
Maintained 150+ client relationships across Illinois. Continued delivering web, design, photography, and marketing services with a lean, high-quality studio model.
From a blank circuit board to Walmart shelves — PUCK/SmashToast was a 10-year journey through hardware, fundraising, retail, and three appearances at CES.
A Bluetooth-to-infrared consumer device that turned any smartphone into a universal remote for TVs and home entertainment systems. Paired with iOS and Android apps, PUCK used a cloud-hosted IR code library — codes downloaded to the phone at setup, then operated via pure peer-to-peer Bluetooth. The cloud architecture allowed the IR library to be continuously updated without requiring any app update.
Led the company from concept through wind-down. Drove product vision, fundraising strategy, investor relations, and go-to-market execution across retail and e-commerce.
Oversaw firmware development, BLE + IR hardware architecture, mobile app development, cloud IR library infrastructure, and manufacturing liaison with overseas partners.
Designed all branding, packaging, and marketing materials. Directed Indiegogo campaign and all consumer-facing creative including CES booth presence across three years.
PUCK started with a simple frustration: too many remotes, too little control. The solution was a small puck-shaped Bluetooth device that could talk to any IR-controlled gadget — bridging modern smartphones with legacy entertainment hardware.
What made PUCK technically distinctive was its cloud-hosted IR code library. Rather than shipping a static database inside the app, codes were stored server-side and downloaded at device setup — enabling continuous library expansion without forcing users through app updates. Once set up, the connection was pure peer-to-peer Bluetooth.
The product made it to the shelves of Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, and other major retailers, with primary sales through Amazon and getpuck.com. It was featured at CES Startup in 2016, 2017, and 2018, sold in all 50 states and over 40 countries, and earned multiple regional and statewide awards before winding down naturally in 2024.
Company incorporated. Hardware prototyping, firmware development, and Indiegogo campaign preparation.
Crowdfunding campaign launched. Won $50,000 Arch Grant. getpuck.com goes live with direct-to-consumer and Amazon sales.
The original PUCK ships to backers and goes on sale to consumers via getpuck.com and Amazon.
Featured at CES Startup in Las Vegas for the first time. National consumer electronics showcase.
PUCK placed at Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Touch of Modern, and many others. Anders CPAs + Husch Blackwell Award at Startup Connection, St. Louis. Second CES feature.
US Patent No. 9,728,081 granted for Bluetooth Wireless Network for Infrared Electronic Devices — the core technology behind PUCK. View Patent →
Second generation PUCK released with hardware and firmware improvements, expanded IR code library, and refined app experience.
Named Innovator of the Year at the Illinois Capital Innovation Awards. Third CES appearance. Featured in Julie Jacobson's Ultimate CES 2018 Preview on CE Pro.
The flagship PUCKpro released — the most advanced version of the product, with enhanced range, redesigned hardware, and a refined mobile experience.
After 10 years and sales in 40+ countries, SmashToast wound down naturally — a complete founder journey.
2015 · Nationally competitive startup grant awarded to high-potential early-stage companies.
Anders CPAs + Advisors Award & Husch Blackwell Award — dual recognition at St. Louis's premier startup event.
2018 · Illinois Capital Innovation Awards — statewide recognition for technology innovation.
Granted 2017 · Bluetooth Wireless Network for Infrared Electronic Devices — filed 2015, invented by Barnabas Helmy & Andrew Brown, assigned to SmashToast, Inc. View Patent →
Primarily sold through Amazon and direct from getpuck.com, with additional placement in major big-box retailers and specialty stores nationwide.
Nonprofits, associations, small businesses, political campaigns, and more — across Illinois and beyond.
A broad stack built over 16 years of real-world client work.
Springfield F.C. Promotional Video
Based in Springfield, IL — available for design, development, product consulting, and founder mentorship projects across Illinois and nationwide.
