ABOUT ME

Please bear with me while I bore you with my academic and recent job history… Skip to the end to read about the “why” of this blog. I promise that I will rewrite this biography to make it more personal and memorable in the future.

Until then…

After grabbing my undergrad in history and political science at Saint Norbert College, I held many different positions within the fitness industry including sales manager, personal trainer, competitor, and contest prep coach.  As I matured and saw my 30s looming in the distance, I decided that it was time for a change. It my mind I was meant for a “higher calling,” one that could accelerate my desire to serve others: enter the United States Marine Corps.

I commissioned in the Marines out of the Chicago Officer Selection Station in 2015 at the age of 28. During my time in the Marines, I served primarily as a Communications Officer, first as independent Officer-in-Charge at Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron One, MCAS Yuma, in Yuma AZ, from 2017-2020, then as Marine Officer Instructor and Assistant Professor of Naval Science at NROTC Unit Arizona State University from 2020-2023. I took classes during nights and weekends and eventually obtained my Master of Business Administration from the W. P. Carey school of Business at ASU in May of 2023. Why did I pursue a MBA? It seemed like the standard operating procedure for JOs (junior officers) exiting the military before the 20 year mark. Ideally it would combine my extensive “leadership” experience with a bare-bones overview of the world of business. Also, apparently every major company loves JOs with MBAs.

In the past I’ve written men’s interest articles for online publications and supplement companies, including Bodybuilding.com and MuscleTech. I love reading: my passion for reading spans subjects including health and wellness, healthcare, economics, psychology, history, business, sociology, anthropology, neuroscience and biology, among others. I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership through Johns Hopkins University. Day to day I work as a Director of Executive Business Operations at Triwest Healthcare Alliance, helping to provide Veterans with access to high-quality healthcare through partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs—I sleep great at night knowing the “why.” Ensuring that veterans (cough* like myself) get seen for whatever ails them, ideally not driving across county lines to find access to whatever medical services they require.

I started this book review blog because reading, writing, and mentorship are all strong passions of mine. One day, while doom-scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, I decided that enough was enough. I could no longer sit idly by and consume information (good or bad) without contributing something to others. In this case, it is decent book reviews and recommendations, mediocre art, and above average humor.