Born on the East Coast and raised in Chicago, I left college after three years to work for a greeting card manufacturer. After six years, I knew my life had to be more than trading hours for dollars.

I quit my job and started playing music professionally, touring the country with my band. From there I bought a recording studio and opened two independent record labels in the Midwest. I learned a lot about turning failure into success during that time.

I sold the studio just before digital platforms changed the industry, went back to school, finished my undergrad and graduate degrees in Sociology, and have been working in the Private Foundation world ever since.