I grew up in a lower-middle-class family in Omaha, Nebraska. My dad worked at Union Pacific Railroad for 42 years, so naturally, I believed the path to success was simple: go to college, land a corporate job, and climb the ladder. And that’s exactly what I did.

After graduating, I dove into corporate America. I moved up quickly, earned my MBA while working full-time, and kept progressing. On paper, everything looked great. But the reality? I was bored, frustrated, and felt like no matter how hard I worked, I wasn’t being rewarded for my effort.

So I started building on the side.

My wife and I developed a fertility treatment software application. It was a great product — but we were so inexperienced that we had no idea how to market or sell it. It flopped. However, it taught us a lot about what not to do, and that education was invaluable.

Next came a wedding photography business. This one took off. We were shooting 30 to 35 weddings a year — on top of our full-time jobs. More importantly, it gave us the confidence and know-how to actually market and sell a business.

That confidence led me to finally leave corporate America. I launched a software consulting company, helping businesses improve their systems. We were successful; we grew to a team of about ten people and I eventually sold the business. Following that, I had no clue what I wanted to do. 

I took a position as Head of Franchise Development for a home improvement franchise in Omaha. Honestly, I knew nothing about franchising — I thought it was just McDonald’s and Jimmy John’s. But this role completely opened my eyes. I discovered that there are thousands of franchise concepts across every industry imaginable, and I saw firsthand how powerful the franchise model can be.

Looking back, if I had known about the variety of franchises available when I was stuck in corporate America, I would have gone that route instead of startups. Don’t get me wrong — I learned a ton from building businesses from scratch. But it was so much harder doing it all on my own, and I wasn’t nearly as successful. Franchising offers proven systems, brand recognition, and ongoing support — things I had to figure out the hard way.

What struck me most was how many people were out there searching for something more — just like I had been — but had no idea where to start or what opportunities were the right fit for them.

That realization led me to start my franchise brokerage. 

Today, I work with individuals from all different backgrounds to help them find franchise opportunities that align with their goals, strengths, and lifestyle. There are so many different types of franchises out there — it’s never a one-size-fits-all approach. I love the education and coaching side of what I do, walking people through their options and helping them make informed, confident decisions.

I believe in franchising so much that I actually helped my wife buy a franchise, which she still runs full-time today. Seeing her success firsthand only reinforced what I already knew — franchising works when you find the right fit.

Because here’s what I know from personal experience: business ownership is life-changing. The independence, the freedom, the unlimited earning potential — it transformed my life. I was able to be present when my kids were born up to when they started school full-time. I was able to make more money than I ever did in corporate America. I went from feeling stuck and undervalued in a cubicle to building something on my own terms.

I want that for other people. And that’s what drives me every day.