The Power of Showing Up: How Volunteering and Faith Keep Me Grounded
Life can move fast. Between raising a family, working full-time, and trying to be present for the people who matter most, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. Over the years, I’ve learned that while I can’t always control what happens around me, I can control how I show up. For me, that means giving my […]
Coaching the Next Generation: What Youth Sports Teach Us About Life
I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years—teacher, general manager, server, and bartender—but one of the roles I’ve cherished most has been that of coach. Coaching youth sports, especially basketball and football, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s not just about wins and losses. It’s about shaping young […]
Work Hard, Serve Well: A Career Journey Through Hospitality and Education
If you look at my resume, it might seem like I’ve lived two different professional lives—one in education, the other in hospitality. On paper, those careers might seem worlds apart. But the truth is, they’ve both been about the same core thing: service. Whether I was standing in front of a classroom, coaching on the […]
Small Town Roots, Big Life Lessons: Growing Up Between Lodi and Fresno
When people ask where I’m from, I usually say Lodi. But the full story is a little more layered than that. I was born in Fresno, California, but I was raised in Lodi—two places that, while different in a lot of ways, both shaped the man I’ve become. Fresno was my starting point, but Lodi […]
Leadership Lessons from Coaching: How Sports Teach Us to Be Better Leaders
I’ve worn a lot of hats in my life — teacher, restaurant manager, bartender, and server — but one of the roles that taught me the most about leadership was coaching youth and high school sports. From the outside, coaching might just look like calling plays or running drills, but it goes so much deeper […]
Honoring History and Service: How Military Family Values Shape Modern Careers
Growing up, I didn’t fully understand the weight of the uniforms in our family closets. My grandfather served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. My other grandfather was a Navy seaman. And my great-uncle, Samuel Gantner, gave his life at Pearl Harbor and was later honored as a decorated war hero. These […]