I was born and raised in West Tennessee, in a small town with a population of about 300. After graduation, I moved to Memphis for college and began my career.

My mother worked for a major garment factory (Garan) for over 35 years. Her work ethic amazes me to this day. She went to the same job and machine for 35 years. She was promoted, yet maintained her role as a seamstress. Eventually, she refused an offer to go to Costa Rica to train those who would become replacements for all the Garan employees in the small town of Adamsville, Tennessee.

My father was a small farmer. He didn't want to be a prominent farmer. He was content and humble, providing what we needed to feel safe and secure. I often miss riding my ATV on the farm and participating in various sports, with basketball being my favorite.

I have two older sisters who, along with my mother, provided three female role models growing up...

School Days As an introverted kid in elementary school, I was the quiet thinker in the room and found elementary and junior high school boring. I can recall being at the water fountain in 6th grade and thinking of owning a business to help my family have a better lifestyle.

‍The Business Bug Bites In 7th grade, I started sourcing items to sell at the local market. My dad would take me and watch me sell out.

‍Secondary Education I attended Union University in Jackson, TN, before attending the University of Memphis. At first, I wanted to pursue politics or law, but eventually settled into marketing with sociology as my minor. I had to work full-time during college, so I obtained a job and excelled in telemarketing sales. Quickly, I advanced to become a manager of a telemarketing call center. I loved telemarketing and performed in this role for companies like ADT, Gannett newspapers, and American Airlines, and received excellent training. I advanced quickly at each company.

‍I Studied The Greatest I became a sponge for sales and marketing leadership. I read and listened to books (constantly) from all the greats - Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, etc. I listened to audiobooks constantly. I was eager to learn. I attended seminars and obtained sales certifications with companies like Sandler Sales Training. I paid for weekend training seminars in leadership, sales, marketing, and customer service.

‍Career Highlights While I started my career in telemarketing sales, forming partnerships with digital marketing platforms to offerit was the Yellow Pages advertising sales position where I found my calling in marketing, design, and working with diverse businesses. I advanced to a district manager in Nashville, TN, and next a regional manager in Arkansas. During this time, I received terrific consultative selling and marketing training that is still being taught and applicable today. Also, the Yellow Pages industry was the first to embrace Internet marketing. We sold web pages and Google clicks long before other traditional media companies.
I met my wife in the industry, and we moved to Arkansas, where we raised three exceptional children. After more than 15 years of helping to grow businesses, several began to ask me to manage all of their marketing. I did that side hustle until I could replace my income and go on my own. My work ethic, confidence in my training, and faith led me bravely into the unknown.

‍Beginning The Agency Next, I created a direct mail magazine and started the first online news and city website in Arkansas. We offered news, coupons, real estate directories, and contractor directories and aimed to replace the need to pick up the Yellow Pages and newspapers/magazines in my area.
I began forming partnerships with digital marketing platforms to offer digital marketing services. I learned web design and started building a full-service agency.

‍Stepping Stones Gannett Media recruited me for a contract role due to my rapidly growing list of digital marketing client list. I set up their first-ever digital marketing services department in Arkansas, which significantly increased their revenues. News travels fast in the media world, so I was recruited by a top 50 TV station in Memphis. I replicated my successes in Arkansas. My team became the company's top station for digital marketing sales. We led by incredible numbers, and I began discussing higher-level roles.
I was still leading my digital agency and speaking at conferences during this time.

‍Loss My father passed away after years of deteriorating health. While his passing was tragic for me, I was able to spend quality time with him, get prepared as much as possible, and say goodbye.
When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was unexpected, sudden and ended her life quickly. The loss of my parents had a stunning impact on me. I find it difficult to express how profoundly my goals, values, and every aspect of my life were shaken and crumbled. It would take years for me to comprehend and heal from this experience.
My kids are my priority. They are my source of joy. I decided to grow my business and spend less time on contract work for media companies. I decided corporate was in trouble with the internet, and my best opportunity was to delve deeper into my company's successes.

‍Moving Forward I faced a huge setback, but I began again. I gained a few new clients from my time in Memphis. One large client that would become my primary focus and a mentor simultaneously.
I continued to grow my business while recognizing the need for increased focus and skill development. I attended certification classes and digital marketing seminars, honing my expertise in the marketing field.  I studied processes and organizational change more deeply. I was invited to write a chapter in a book with Jack Canfield that became a bestseller. As a result of my dedication, I started receiving speaking offers. I seized the opportunity to share my knowledge of growing companies, both large and small, through digital marketing. This newfound passion became an integral part of my journey to the present day.

Happiness Is On a lighter note, I enjoy engaging with my children’s interests. Whether coaching soccer, basketball or trying to keep up with their dance routines, these moments bring me tremendous joy and happiness.

‍International While I reside in central Arkansas, I travel worldwide or meet via Zoom to engage with business owners and colleagues. The ability to connect with people globally is genuinely exhilarating. This year, I was asked to give keynotes, master classes, and emcee at DigiMarCon (the world's largest digital marketing conference series) in London, Dublin, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. The international experience and connections were a highlight for me personally and professionally.

‍Business Advocate When I am not traveling, I actively participate in local church activities. Additionally, I am often advocating for small businesses and free enterprise. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of small businesses to our society, our voices must be resolute and unwavering to capture the attention of our city, state, and national leaders.

‍Hard Work & Efficiency To many, I am one of the busiest individuals they know. While it is true that I have numerous commitments, I have become exceptionally adept at maximizing efficiency. Hard work is an inherent part of my DNA, a trait instilled in me by my parents. Alongside my faith, this has been one of the most precious gifts they gave me. Developing good organizational skills forced me to effectively manage such a workload while balancing my quality of life with my kids, hobbies, and friends.