Founder & CEO 鈥� Forum Investment Group
Former Linebacker and Fullback for the CU Buffs
Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I originally started off down the Kinesiology route and quickly realized that business was my passion. I knew听that would lead to various options once I honed in on what specifically my passion was, within the vast business world.
What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
An experience I had was making it to the finals of an entrepreneurship class [competition]. It was for both undergraduate and graduate students, and I was the only undergraduate. We were presenting to an independent advisory board to the Leeds School, and the idea / product that we presented was by far听 the best, but our presentation and marketing of it was the worst. I could not believe I was last of three finalists, it was a great lesson, and goes to show that the best idea without the best presentation and team could equate to nothing.
How did being a part of the Buffs football team influence your college experience?
Wow, what an amazing experience it was. We were playing on national TV every week and were always one of the top teams in the country. The amount of dedication and hard work that it took should not ever be underestimated. I never wanted to let my听teammates, school, fans, or myself down. Looking back, I am very proud of what I was part of and how special of a time it was.
How did it influence where you are now?
I think the lessons of teamwork, failure, and determination to always get better, while not backing down have converted into life and the business world. Adversity may be one of the best lessons of all. When times were tough you knew who was in the trenches with you and who had your back. The same goes for the teamwork in business: No mountain is too tall as long as you have teammates with the same vision and determination.
What was your favorite game or memory from your time on the field?
That is a tough one, but I think walking out on Folsom Field before a game and just looking around and taking it all in. One of my coaches at CU would always say to take it all in as it will be gone before you know it. How cool it was and how right he was.
What lesson/learning did you take from being a varsity college athlete into your life today?
Discipline, teamwork, hard work, and that failure is OK. We learn more from our mistakes than we do our successes. Just don鈥檛 make the same mistake twice. Additionally, surround yourself with people that are better than you, as they will make you better at what you do. This takes vulnerability to know that others are going to be better than you, but they will rise your game up at the same time. It is all about a great team.
Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
I still keep in touch with Jimmy Calano, who was the advisory board member in the Leeds School Business Competition. Jimmy was the one outspoken judge that shot my project down, and I never forgot his name or face. We ran into each other in the Oakland airport 10 years ago. He has been one of my biggest supporters and investors in businesses I run.
Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Down many roads, and each dead end was a lesson. Those dead ends helped me figure out what I wanted to do, and now I get to do that every day. I have three kids, 13, 11, and 9, and an amazing wife. Love to coach them in sports and do things with them听outdoors.
What advice would you give to students and young professionals?
Take risks. Take risks and don鈥檛 be afraid to fail. Use life鈥檚 lessons to help you figure out what you don鈥檛 want to do. Figuring out what we don鈥檛 want to do, helps us get to our vision of what we do want.
What do you miss most about Boulder?
Love the college town, how diverse it is and the small town feel and community.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Treat the word "impossible," as nothing more than motivation. I was a walk on at CU and ended up getting a scholarship and starting for 3 years. Nobody thought it was possible, except for me.听