Our Story
The family behind Thorn Property Management, from Pennsylvania job sites to Hawaii to Bend, Oregon.
Early Days
In the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, I met my wife Mary, affectionately known as Meme, at age 19. That meeting sparked a partnership packed with decades of adventure and resilience. Born into a family construction business outside Philadelphia, I honed my skills on job sites from boyhood. I grew up in rentals and construction, so protecting an owner’s property comes naturally to me. After college, we bought a modest home. Meanwhile, I turned shadowing my dad—hammer in hand, framing walls and remodeling kitchens—into mastering the trades. With over 15 years of hands-on work, I built my own company. I tackled everything from framing to wiring to plumbing and high-end finishes inside and out. I also had a short stint as a home inspector before the crash of 08’. In the end, sharpness and growth under adversity became my trademarks.
At 30, we started our family. Then I swapped my toolbelt for a desk chair. I channeled my drive into a side hustle that turned into a web development company. We thrived while being full-time work-from-home parents—a fresh twist for our generation. What began as building simple sites for local contractors grew into a two-decade venture. It involved in-depth work within the digital marketplace, and it also focused on white-hat organic SEO to help business owners get to the next level. Meanwhile, Meme built her career in biotech and pharma recruitment. She drew on her biology degree from Rosemont College and lab time working within a legacy biotech. She now has over 20 years as a top Talent Acquisition Ambassador and Full Life Cycle Recruiter.
A Little on Me -Josh
I’m a lifelong board sports junkie. What started on back-alley skate ramps and bodyboarding Ocean City, NJ beach break quickly became a passion for surfing ocean swells and snowboarding powder runs. Other than building my family, they are my biggest thrills throughout my lifetime. As an avid outdoorsman, fly fishing, hiking, and biking have forged my strong-willed, determined spirit. I’ve also always dabbled in music, from guitar to drums to turntables, with a deep thinker’s curiosity. Since my teens, I’ve been lacing up the skates on and off the ice. Hockey has also taught me to tolerate pain during growth.
Overall, these passions, blended with the mantra that serving others serves yourself, shaped me as an entrepreneur. Early gigs honed my skills in high-pressure, people-focused environments that fueled my business wins. For example, I slung sandwiches at Wawa’s deli (a Philly burbs rite of passage). I also sold tickets as an IATSE union member for Philly’s 76ers, Flyers, Phillies, and many other teams and venues.
The Big Move
Remote work opened doors. So, with our 1- and 4-year-olds in tow, we chased a dream to a small farm on Hawaii’s Big Island. We planted a lush orchard of mangoes, avocados, and papayas dancing in tropical breezes. We also revamped our home and dove into the vibrant, rugged East Side community. Days burst with sensory delights: ripe fruit’s sweet tang, warm soil underfoot, and ocean scents on trade winds.
But paradise tested us. Meme’s fierce fight against breast cancer revealed her unyielding spirit, so our family pulled tighter.
Then the 2018 Kilauea eruption hit, displacing communities with ash and lava. Amid chaos, friends lost farms and our quiet corner lost its coastline. Meanwhile, our little sanctuary grew to rival LA’s traffic jams, morphing under real estate demand. So we pondered its future without solid infrastructure.
Almost seven years into our adventure, the pandemic piled on isolation. That led to a surprise decision to move to Oahu’s North Shore, where crashing waves and salty air brought solace. My lifelong obsession became reality on what is called the Seven Mile Miracle. It brought white sand and surfing from Sunset to Haleiwa, epic hikes and bikes in Pupukea, and fun Waikiki day trips with the kids.
Most thrilling? Forging a deep bond with the ocean. That bond started in my childhood second home and parent’s rental property in Ocean City, NJ, and peaked at the best place for surf in the entire world. But only the exceptional friendships we found matched it—rare gems we’ve scored twice across Hawaiian Islands. This adventure is hard to put into words. Our family is truly blessed.
The Family Business in Hawaii
Back on the Big Island in 2017, I teamed with Meme to launch Biomind Talent, a boutique recruiting firm crushing full-service partnerships for startup pharma companies. We also added exceptional talent for mid- to large biotech organizations. Eventually, after years sharing an office and learning from the best—her—I leveled up to co-own our venture.
Thorn Property Management in Bend, Oregon
After four years on Oahu, hardships tipped the scales. Recruiting pulled back after the pandemic boom. Also, Hawaii’s prices skyrocketed with big investors snapping up prime real estate, schools faltered, and business growth couldn’t match costs. So, heavy-hearted, we uprooted from what felt like a gifted miracle—a living dream ending. We still miss our friends and ohana deeply.
We call Bend, Oregon home, a gem mirroring Hawaii’s welcoming vibe. It also has strong schools and easy travel. Its outdoor thrills include crisp-air biking, powdery skiing, lazy river floats, and even some wave action. Here, we’re also planning on raising our kids into adults and building a solid foundation for their futures, wherever they roam. Our family business, Thorn Property Management, aims to impact Bend’s community positively, and we put that promise in writing in our pledge to the community. As good stewards, and potentially a generational team, we aim to help rental owners prosper, protect investments, and deliver top-notch service to owners and tenants alike.
Business Evolved: Thorn Property Management
Biomind Talent is back in action, connecting biotech and pharma companies with exceptional talent, while Meme also rocks as Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Spyre Therapeutics. She has earned praise for her innovative, inclusive, solution-driven style and vast business ties.
Circling back to my roots, I lead Thorn Property Management with the goal of building a dedicated local team. I’m also drawing on my experience in construction, small business marketing, and full-cycle recruiting for top biotech. Thorn also exists to help protect your investments. Join the ride—partner with us for local, family-owned property management.
Thorn Property Management is part of MTO Ventures LLC, a family-owned group that builds businesses with modern technology at their core. As a result, Thorn has access to shared tools and know-how that help us protect your investment.
Thorn Property Management • Investment Protection with Razor Sharp Precision.
Oregon Certified: Oregon Property Manager license #201261731