Fly fishing near Lake Taupo, New Zealand.
A Journey around the World that started at Home
Water always had a freedom I envied as a boy. It would wind its way through our farm along the creek bed, while my dog Bear and I would sit and watch, wondering where it had come from and where it was heading next. Those moments of reflection inspired me to think beyond the Mississippi farm.
Family farm in Mississippi
At age 22, while staring at the stars from my Virginia balcony, it struck me that we likely won’t be traveling to the stars in my lifetime. At that moment, I made a promise to dedicate my time here to traveling the world. Meeting my neighbors. Making connections through shared stories and experiences. Gaining a deeper understanding of who we are as a people —and therefore myself. And most importantly, enjoy! This promise, driven by my curiosity, would eventually lead me to create the SkyDreamer.
Moscow, Russia
Napping under a table at a Moscow airport. We arrived in Russia after 11 p.m. and waited over two hours for our luggage even though we seemed to be the only passengers in the airport.
As a young traveler, I didn’t think twice about sleeping uncomfortably—whether on a plane, my head slumped forward in economy class, or squeezed into a cramped boat navigating up the Tonle Sap River from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The neck pain that followed was just part of the adventure.
Tonle Sap River, Cambodia
Fishermen on the river. A little girl waits for her family along the edge of the Tonle Sap flood plain, near Siem Reap.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat. Angkor Thom.
Built in the 12th century, the structures surrounding me filled me with awe. A calm settled over me as I walked the temple grounds that day, a quiet reverence. I thought of the people who once walked these same grounds 850 years ago. What were they like? What would they think of us today?
Arrowtown, New Zealand
Chatting with my new mates after a game of pool. Culturally, we were different, but I learned that we had way more in common. It was a great afternoon that went into the night.
But as the years went by, something changed. Those pains began to linger, sometimes for days. I thought of my mother, who endured lifelong back pain from a car accident when I was just three. She survived with two compressed vertebrae, while I walked away unscathed. Her secret to dealing with her back pain? Good posture. It was a lesson she drilled into me, one I hadn’t fully appreciated until much later.
Mom and Dad were educators who loved travel and valued the experiences.
Six years ago, I finally realized my mom was right. The way we sleep when we travel matters. Over time, bad posture can have a lasting impact on our health and quality of life. That realization set me on a mission to redesign the travel pillow. I knew it wouldn’t be easy—concept designs, prototypes, testing, aesthetics, manufacturing, marketing. It was daunting, but it felt possible. I spent months studying the problem, determined to create a pillow that would meet the needs of modern travelers.
Prototyping
Shaped foam to demonstrate functionality. Employed modeling clay to contour surfaces.
My first designs took many forms, eventually I was able to achieve the functionality and comfort I wanted, but aesthetically, none felt quite right. I couldn’t form the shapes I was seeing in my head, shapes driven by my aerospace engineering background – a career heavily influenced by design principles that drive aerodynamic efficiency. I wanted something that was streamlined, visually smooth, and modern – external contours capable of encapsulating and putting into effect our designed functionality while simultaneously providing comfort.
Christmas. Yokohama, Japan
Then, a breakthrough came during a trip to Japan, when my friend Kuni-san’s daughters introduced me to paper clay. It was light, pliable, and allowed me to refine the look of my designs with better precision.
Card stock paper prototyping. Paper clay prototyping.
Paper clay gave me the freedom to apply thin, lightweight layers, allowing me to gradually refine and streamline the contours as the design took shape.
My fourth attempted sewn prototype. Close. But no cigar.
Once I had a working concept, I faced a new challenge: sewing. With no prior experience, I bought a $39 sewing machine and a self-help book, teaching myself the basics. My grandmother would have been proud! But eventually, my sewing skills couldn’t keep up with the complexity of my designs, and I realized I needed professional help.
Liz Turbolizard, an incredible problem solver and exceptional creative thinker.
Liz being Liz. Working her magic.
That’s when I partnered with Liz TurboLizard, a sewing expert with over 20 years of experience. Together, we fine-tuned the design, and after extensive research and development, we found the perfect manufacturer in North America.
A boy and his best friend.
This journey began with a boy’s curiosity, inspired by a winding creek and long bike rides with his buddy Bear, always pushing to see what lay just beyond the next bend. Nearly every summer, Mom made sure we took family trips to a different part of the United States. I remember the first time I saw a mountain! As for experiencing the rest of the world, we had National Geographic. Mom believed that travel was an opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. Dad felt it made him a better teacher. They were both right—and I was the beneficiary.
Lucerne, Switzerland
Mount Pilatus. Swiss Alps.
Top of Mount Pilatus. Making new friends at 6,983 feet (2128 meters).
I have visited some incredible places around the world and met some wonderful people during my travels. There’s still much to see. And I’m still excited and curious about what’s around the corner. The conversations and experiences I’m yet to have.
A sunset back on the farm in Mississippi.
Six years ago, I applied that same drive and curiosity to how I travel, and today, the SkyDreamer is the result. The journey has been filled with learning, determination, and the support of an incredible team. And just as my mother taught me years ago, sometimes the smallest adjustments—in posture or in life— can make all the difference.
