“I didn’t learn to lead in a classroom—I started on the retail floor at Target, unloading trucks on overnight shifts. That hands-on foundation led to nearly 15 years in corporate retail leadership across North Georgia with PetSmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, mastering the operational fundamentals: holding standards, handling tough conversations, and building resilient cultures.
From there, I took on high-stakes leadership in fast-growth and scaling environments—serving as GM and Director of Operations at King of Pops, CEO at SCP Coldworks, and COO eight times over (three full-time for companies up to $150M, and five as a fractional COO across industries). Along the way, I built and still run Pathways Book Press, carrying direct P&L responsibility for over $250M in revenue.
I’ve fixed broken systems, guided companies through near-collapse, and made the calls others avoided. My coaching isn’t based on theories from a textbook—it comes directly from having sat in the operator’s chair.”