About
Hi, I'm Nico.
I'm a public-sector professional working at the intersection of policy, communications, and civic engagement. My background spans local government, religious studies, education, and the military.
Outside of my professional work, I invest in assets tied to real-world systems and scarcity. I also explore ideas through my creative brand, Kinda, where I write two newsletters: Carbon Copy, my personal newsletter, and Internet Coffee, a conversation series with designers, thinkers, and operators building things I find "cool."
I also build things: apps through my company, SoBo Firm, plus DebtAtlas. And I host two groups: Artisan Node and Sobo Book Club.
[Optional closing paragraph: what you care about and what you're hoping to make more of.]
[Photo caption or credit]
What I believe
Philosophy
[One or two sentences on how you approach life and work. The idea that ties public service, writing, building, and community together.]
- 01
Start with what people actually need
[Why you focus on fundamentals, whether it is constituents, app users, or the real-world systems you invest in.]
- 02
Serve where you live
[What local service means to you: city government, the Guard, the fire company, coaching.]
- 03
Make room for other people
[Why you build groups and conversations, like Artisan Node, Sobo Book Club, and Internet Coffee, instead of working alone.]
What I make
Projects
[One or two sentences on how your projects connect, e.g. "SoBo Firm is the structure, Kinda is the voice, and everything else is something I wanted to exist."]
SoBo Firm
2025–nowFounder
South Baltimore Firm LLC, a small Baltimore company where I make apps and other projects.
Kinda
2018–nowJournalist and Graphic Designer
My creative brand for journalism, design, and curation. It's home to Carbon Copy, Internet Coffee, and kinda curated.
DebtAtlas
[2026]–now[Creator / Designer / Developer]
An interactive map of U.S. public debt per capita, breaking down federal, state, and municipal debt for every state.
I also host two groups: Artisan Node and Sobo Book Club. Earlier work, like the Charmerway projects, is in the archive.
Background
Experience
Current
Maryland Army National Guard
- Commissioned Officer Candidate · Part-timeMay 2025 – Present
Glen Burnie, MD
Kinda
- Journalist and Graphic Designer · Self-employedMar 2018 – Present
Washington DC–Baltimore
ShallBe Global Security
- Private Investigator and Security · ApprenticeshipMar 2022 – Present
Westminster, MD
Previously
Brooke Lierman for Maryland
- Campaign FellowMay 2026 – Jul 2026
Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies
- Civic FellowOct 2025 – Jun 2026
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
- Inaugural Cohort Member, Chesapeake Leadership AcademyJun 2025 – Sep 2025
Washington DC–Baltimore
City of Baltimore
- Communication Outreach Coordinator, Mayor’s Office (MOAAA) · Full-timeSep 2024 – Feb 2026
- Constituency Services Coordinator, City Council District 8 · InternshipJun 2024 – Aug 2024
Baltimore, MD
Howard County Public School System
- Social Studies Teacher · Full-timeOct 2023 – Jun 2024
Volo Sports
- Sports Management Intern · InternshipJun 2023 – Aug 2023
Baltimore, MD
Maryland General Assembly
- Legislative Aide, District 40 (Baltimore City)Feb 2023 – Apr 2023
Annapolis, MD
Education
University of Maryland
- B.A., Economics
- B.A., Government and Politics
Volunteering
Volunteer Firefighter
Carroll County Government, MD
Bocce Coach
Special Olympics Maryland · Jun 2026
Certifications
- AI Fluency: Framework & Foundations · Anthropic, 2026
- Claude 101 · Anthropic, 2026
- AI Workplace Proficiency · Superhuman AI, 2025
- Legacy Python for Everyone · freeCodeCamp, 2025
- Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) · NASM, 2025
- Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) · NASM, 2025
- Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED · American Red Cross, 2025
What I'm into
Interests
Policy & civic life
Local government, campaigns, and the everyday work of serving constituents.
Religion & interfaith dialogue
Religious studies, and civic work across Islamic, Christian, and Jewish communities.
Real-world systems
Water, timber, energy, and hard money: investing in the things modern life cannot do without.
Design & journalism
Writing, interviewing, and graphic design through Kinda.
Fitness & nutrition
Certified as a personal trainer and nutrition coach.
Service
The National Guard, volunteer firefighting, and coaching with Special Olympics.
Books & making
Reading with Sobo Book Club and sharing works in progress at Artisan Node.
AI & code
Learning Python and AI tools, and building things like DebtAtlas.
Updated 2026-10
What I'm exploring right now
- Building apps at SoBo Firm: Slait and Snap Dash are coming soon to iPhone.
- [What you are writing or reading right now]
- [What you are exploring or learning]
Want to talk about any of this? Get in touch.