Self Portrait(s) / SoHo, NYC

My journey makes no linear sense. In fact, if you try to make logical sense of my life path, you might sustain an injury. I enlisted in the US Navy at 17 and served as a rescue swimmer aboard the USS Detroit. Over my 4-year tour, the Navy repeatedly taught me about discipline, teamwork, resilience, and mission-driven leadership—skills that have influenced every step of my path.

Two weeks after finishing my contract with the Navy, I dove into human psychology at Penn State (for about another two weeks). Then, in hopes of winning a date, I was convinced to audition for a play. I got cast in a one-act play festival by Christopher Durang, and a love affair was born—not with the woman I wanted to date, but with the art of acting. Being onstage and feeling an audience respond to my performance was life-altering. It was like cocaine being injected into my heart. (I was also told not to make a reference about cocaine in my story, and I did it anyway—sorry, love).

This newfound passion led me to transfer to DeSales University, where I threw myself into theater arts, earning a BA in Acting & Directing. From there, I pursued an MFA at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, I immersed myself in the Meisner Technique, a unique acting method that emphasizes living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. This training provided me with a reliable craft that has been instrumental in my success as a performer and communicator.

After graduation, I moved to New York City, juggling the vibrant world of acting with bartending at the iconic Café des Artistes. Around this time, I stumbled upon photography. What began as a hobby quickly turned into a professional pursuit, and I soon built a successful photography business.

My journey didn’t stop there. I ventured into IT consulting with CIOSE, a think tank that brings together Fortune 70 CIOs. Here, I learned the art of strategic communication and relationship building from industry legends. This experience taught me the importance of blending artistic expression with strategic insight.

I told you, non-linear. Nonsensical life path. All these experiences led to the creation of The Communicate with Confidence Method™, which combines innovative acting techniques with strategic communication frameworks used by top consulting firms like McKinsey and Bain. This method empowers professionals to become confident, clear, and compelling communicators, capable of resonating deeply with their audiences.

As a Business Communications Educator at the University of New Hampshire’s Paul College of Business and Economics, I teach Work Ready Communication, a course that teaches The Communicate with Confidence Method™ to emerging leaders. Only 11% of employees agree that the communication is their workplace is effective. It’s my aim to help my students arrive in the workforce ready and able to live in that top 11%.

If words aren’t your thing and you’d like a visual of my path the best way to put it is that I’m a human Venn diagram who lives in the middle of these disciplines. Whether I’m in front of the camera, behind it, or guiding others to shine, my passion for moving human expressions and meaningful connection guides everything I do. I’m a non-mass-producible blend of skills, capabilities, and experiences—all pointing to the end goal of inspiring the best in others to come out and play both on-camera and in everyday life.