Who I Am

Being raised on the shores of Lake Michigan in a tiny Wisconsin town, Midwestern values were instilled in me along with the teachings of the great Vince Lombardi. From an early age, I enjoyed doing business, and I took great pride in being the stockroom supervisor of the liquor department at the local drug store. At the ripe old age of 16, I could recommend the best Pinot Grigios and Cabernets to customers even though I never tried them. I was a liquor salesman’s best friend. I graduated to working at the great American shoe company, Allen Edmonds, where I learned how to connect with people about shoes.

Soon after, I landed an internship with the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. I am a huge sports fanatic, and the opportunity was a dream come true! My first job was to collect quotes from players in the locker room after the game. I had no idea what I was doing, and before I knew it, I was on my knees trying to record a quote from Chris Mullen. The media grew silent, and when I looked up at him, I realized that I was actually staring face to face... with his privates. He keenly joked to the other seasoned sportswriters and said, "Got a good view down there, Son?" My journalism career never took off after that.

After graduating from college, I continued with the Bucks in a sales position. Later, I found an opportunity to open a new sales territory in Dallas, TX for Allen Edmonds Shoes, and that marked the beginning of my passion for footwear and sales. The footwear industry moved me to Dallas, TX for a year, and then to Orlando, FL, where I currently reside. I have a passion for sales and sales management that compels me to read anything available about motivation and psychology. That same drive also helped me obtain my MBA from the University of Central Florida.