My Life's Story
From a young age I have been described in one word: curious. Hunger for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the world around me has driven me to explore ideas and question everything. Being fiercely competitive in these pursuits has led me to traveling the world and exploring all it has to offer us.
Born and raised in Woodstock, Georgia to two loving parents, I was the child that thrived when I was playing sports. Soccer, basketball and baseball in my childhood evolved into football, lacrosse and swimming by high school. Lettering in football and swimming showed me the dedication and work ethic required to achieve high levels of success – and the determination it takes to stay there. While sports were my passion I never allowed for them to undermine my academic success. Concurrent to these pursuits I volunteered for charities, worked a part-time job and even found time for my friends. Upon the end of my tenure at Blessed Trinity High School, I would be offered admission into the University of South Carolina where I would pursue a degree in Sport and Entertainment Management.
While attending the University of South Carolina I would conduct undergraduate research into activation methods for corporate sponsorships of global sporting events, like the Olympics and World Cup. In pursuit of this research I compiled, wrote and submitted grant applications that resulted in thousands of dollars in federal grant money to further the endeavor. I was also asked to be the youngest presenter in history at the Sport and Event Venues of Tomorrow conference, where I presented and defended my findings to the top minds in the field. While I have accomplished a lot in my career, this achievement is one I hold very close to my heart.
Like many others, Covid-19 affected me greatly. At the start of my senior year classes went online and my grades, admittedly, started to fall. In order to preserve my GPA I made the tough decision to leave school and return at a later time when classes resumed in person. After this turning point I moved to Denver, Colorado to take a position as a remodeling sales consultant for exterior home remodeling products. While I found success in this role, I was deeply missing my family and support system back on the east coast. While I will forever cherish the memories and life experiences I had during this chapter of my life, I eventually decided it was time to finish my undergraduate degree. Moving to Florida provided me the opportunity to attend the University of South Florida and pursue a degree in economics.
Upon entering Florida, I did not know what to expect. I had school to look forward to and my family was just a few hours away on the east coast of the state. But, for the first time in my life I felt scared of the future. Little did I know that the decision to move here would be the single greatest one I have ever made. Pursuing and completing my economics degree opened my mind to a decision-making framework that I excel in. The bartending job I took to pay for school introduced me to the woman I intend on marrying. I have made friends I will keep close to me for the rest of my life. I have been welcomed into the Tampa community more deeply than any other I have lived in. And most importantly, I am excited for the future and all that it holds.
This biography is a summarization of decades of experiences, success, and failures. While it would be impossible to detail every single one, a point I want to make clear is that I do not regret a single one. I am a firm believer that we are who we are because of what we have experienced, who we surround ourselves with and the choices that we make. Without my family, friends, mentors, bosses and rivals, I would not be where I am today. I hope you have enjoyed learning a little about me, if you are interested in learning more or just having a chat about anything, please feel free to reach out!