My Journey
I decided to retire from corporate America and join the work force as an entrepreneur. Although old enough to retire, I still have too much energy and am still committed to making a difference outside my personal life. It is my goal to help bring some of the key learnings, mentoring, tools and processes from my years in executive management to other businesses to support their growth and strategic alignment vision to results.
I started working at the age of 9. I am not sure if it was because I needed an outlet for my energy, felt the need to explore the world or maybe the desire to contribute to my family financially. But whatever the drive, I wanted to be out in the world learning and making a difference. I have not stopped working since that young age although there have been lots of transitions and great experiences.
It all started with lawn care, a paper route and babysitting. And then on my 16th birthday (the youngest age they would hire me), I started at McDonald’s. Yep, on my birthday because I could not wait another day to have a “real” job. Since that time, my experience has been in small, medium and large businesses. After school, I entered the building materials industry and have been there through my retirement from a Fortune 1000 company after 25 years as a senior leader.
I have worked in distribution and manufacturing in sales, marketing, procurement, product development and operations in addition to many levels of executive leadership including P&L management, strategic planning, acquisitions/divestitures and leading complex change management initiatives.
In 1986, I joined Rio Grande Co. in Denver, Co, a privately held building materials distributor. This was my first introduction to the fireplace industry. In 1996, I was one of the founding members of the “Installing Distributor Council” with the Hearth & Patio Association. That lead to being on the ladder to become the Chairman of the Hearth, Patio & BBQ Association in 2001. That is the same year I joined Hearth & Home Technologies where I quickly was asked to join the Senior Leadership Team and lead the Fireside Hearth & Home Distribution segment. My 25 years at Hearth & Home Technologies, now the world’s largest hearth manufacturer, distributor and retailer.
My intent is to share the good fortune of experience and mentoring I have had in my career to support others that have the same passion for business and people that I do.