THE BEGINNING

Born and raised in small-town Idaho, I quickly learned the value of hard work, perspective, and relationships. Growing up in a town of 3,000 people taught me that we are all interconnected, even if we fail to see it right away.

Me and my beautiful wife, Marilee.

​THE FORTUNE

​Early on, I learned unique lessons about leadership and self-discovery. When I was three years old, my parents ended their marriage. Between the two of them, I have witnessed seven marriages – all ending in divorce. Two years before my high school graduation, my mother’s suicide attempt left me home alone, struggling socially, emotionally, and financially. Following a path with no goals, having encounters with the law, and a lack of focus on my academics, progress became bleak for me. At age 16, a time when I did not believe in myself and felt like there was no hope, I found myself trying to survive between homes of friends and family. It was during this time that I started to appreciate being surrounded by those who encouraged and believed in my potential to be more. With their help, I was able to get back on track, and start working toward my goal of graduating high school.

Because of the lessons learned during some very difficult years, I consider myself fortunate to have had these experiences:  

"No amount of money could buy the perspective and feeling of gratitude to those around me that I have received from my upbringing."

It wasn't all smooth-sailing after high school. After a year of working in 2003, I started college in 2004. At the end of my first semester, I was put on academic probation for extremely poor performance. Not feeling fit for academia, I took a two-year break from school and did some work for my church in Hawaii. When I returned, I resumed school in 2007 and finally received my bachelors degree in Accounting in 2012. In the midst of this eight year journey through higher education, I married my high school sweetheart. But nearly five years later, ideological differences forced each of us to go our own separate way. Crushed, and not loving my career path, I desperately needed to make some changes. 

Almost immediately things started to move forward. I met an amazing woman who elevated my ambition, and helped me see things from a perspective I wasn't accustomed to. This forced me to grow immensely. Following many discussions and contemplation about what my real passion was, she helped me decide that it was time to leave accounting and pursue my original plan in teaching. This passion has only multiplied and now stretches beyond the classroom as I continue my work to help others see themselves in a greater way. Immediately following our wedding, we moved to San Antonio, Texas where I teach and coach in high school, and my wife runs a wellness business out of our home.

Pursuing education was exactly where I needed to be. I found my passion and was awarded San Antonio's oldest and most prestigious teaching award, the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching Award.

THE OPPORTUNITY

I fully believe that I owe who I am today to my relationships and struggles. I realize that I very well could be in a much darker place had it not been for special people around me, fighting for and with me to always do better, to always try harder. No amount of money could buy the perspective and feeling of gratitude to those around me that I received from my upbringing. Because of these experiences, I have a deep passion for those around me. I feel that it is not only an opportunity, but a duty to let people know that, regardless of circumstance, it is necessary to fight through the setbacks of life and move forward.