I’m Adam Betzold, and this site is where I show up as myself — a neighbor, a technologist, a board member, and the guy people usually call when the Wi-Fi’s down. This isn’t a campaign site, and it’s not some polished PR effort. It’s just me — writing honestly about what I see, what I’m working on, and the communities I care about showing up for.
Somewhere between curiosity and chaos. Michigan, early days.
I grew up in a place where you figure things out for yourself, but you don’t make a big deal about it. You just do the work.
Bay City, Michigan wasn’t flashy, but it taught me what mattered. Family. Hard work. Showing up even when things weren’t easy. I was a curious kid — tearing things apart, figuring out how they worked, and quietly observing everything around me.
I moved to the Chicago area in 2004 and found my way to 3600 N Lake Shore Drive in 2008. What started as a new chapter quickly became home. This building has seen my life change, and in a lot of ways, it’s where I grew into the person I am today.
The place I keep coming back to.
By day, I’m an Enterprise Solutions Architect. That means I solve large-scale problems, usually before anyone notices they exist. I manage the digital infrastructure for thousands of users, keep the lights on in cloud identity systems, and write code that quietly makes life easier for people.
I didn’t go to school for this. I learned by doing. By asking “why?” and not letting go until I got it. That instinct carries into everything I do — including board work. I want to understand how things work — not to control them, but to make them better.
The control center. (With fewer wires visible on camera.)
Whether I’m automating a rollout or reading through meeting minutes, I’m thinking about the people affected. I believe in asking tough questions kindly, fixing broken systems, and explaining things in plain English. No spin. No drama. Just transparency — with a little humor to keep us sane.
You won’t find canned statements here. Just real talk — blog posts about what I’ve observed, what I’ve learned, and what I think deserves more sunlight. I created this space because the official forums weren’t built for honesty. So I built one that is.
It wasn’t just a dinner. It was one of those nights where you feel held.
This site is for anyone who cares about community — the real, messy, human kind. If you believe buildings work better when people speak up and systems should serve people (not the other way around), you’re in the right place. I’m glad you’re here.
