As an entrepreneurial kid, I took advantage of a multitude of opportunities to “do business” with people. The funniest one was selling pictures of Charlie’s Angels to the boys in my fourth-grade class.

I grew up to be a 10th grade English teacher and high school swimming and water polo coach. But the entrepreneurial bug was still in me, and I found myself building a learn to swim business from scratch, growing it to three year-round, indoor, stand-alone locations employing 100 people at its peak. I sold that business in 2018 after 20 years.

As I’m sure you know, running a successful business takes hard, heroic work. I’ve experienced the sleeplessness, the disappointments and especially a heartbreaking tragedy that brought me to my knees, and I’ve experienced the recognition, appreciation and opportunities that makes all the sacrifice worth it.

Signing up for that rollercoaster takes enormous courage. In fact, I think it’s downright heroic. And I want to help the heroes win. I have a huge heart for business owners and their leaders.

I love possibility! I love potential! I love progress!