About Me
Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I experienced firsthand the highs and lows of business ownership. In fact, I spent half my life fleeing that way of life and instead pursued education with the idea that I would find a career to fit around my life rather than the other way around. This pursuit led me to earn a Computer Science degree from Messiah College and step into software development for large corporations. Less than 10 years into my career, it became obvious I was more interested in the business challenges I was tasked with solving than the technical solutions to those problems. With this interest in business and a heart for servant leadership, it made sense that when faced with the proverbial fork in the road, I chose the career path toward business management over technical specialization. This decision propelled me into leadership roles across IT, logistics, sales, and operations in the food & beverage and medical equipment industries where I led teams in companies ranging from 20 to 800 employees. I may have fled the entrepreneurship life, but for better or worse, I inherited the accompanying work ethic. I found myself working as long and hard as most business owners but without the freedoms that can come with being your own boss.
Today, I’m dedicated to helping others avoid the mistakes I’ve made. I firmly believe that with a healthy approach, business ownership can be a powerful tool for achieving personal fulfillment and uplifting those around you. My mission is to guide business leaders in finding a purpose that achieves but transcends financial gain. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I strive to bring clarity of purpose to leaders and their teams—both at home and in the marketplace.
My Values
My personal and business values are built around my faith in my Creator and Redeeming Lord whose grace spares me from what I deserve. It’s this faith that inspires me to build a business which honors God and helps mankind. I’ve tried to live by the values below throughout my professional career and especially cling to them as I help businesses bring clarity of purpose to their teams. The scripture behind many of these values is found in Philippians 2:3-4.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I Will Build Trust with Integrity and Humility
Trust is a foundation for all relationships – both personal and business. I believe two of the key building blocks for a foundation of trust are integrity and humility. Without a history of integrity – consistency between words and deeds – trust will never be achieved. Humility is not necessarily thinking less of yourself so much as it is simply thinking of yourself less and considering the good of others more. When we believe someone will do what they say and observe them focusing on others, we are inclined to trust one another. Building trusting relationships with clients, partners, and friends is a core value at Rooted Growth Strategies and it can only be done by with the consistent practice of integrity and humility.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
My Success is Predicated on my Client's Success
The success of Rooted Growth Strategies will be defined by the rooted growth of the organizations I engage with. Rooted growth means growing a healthy culture with organizational clarity as well as financial growth. I desire for my clients, the success I strive for myself.
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
I will Strive to Show Up Inwardly Sound and Others Focused
An Inwardly Sound leader is someone who is Secure & Settled, Self-Aware, Principled, Holistically Healthy, and Purposeful. This type of leader is aware of their strengths and weaknesses and is comfortable in their own skin. They make those around them comfortable as well. In this context, people are secure enough to ask tough questions, hear difficult answers, and work on self-improvement.
A leader who is Others Focused is Attentive, Curious, Empathic, Humble, and Agapone. There is a lot packed in here – read the Spiker book for a full understand ing of what it means to be Others Focused. Similar to building trust with humility and focusing on the success of others, I know my ability to make a difference is dependent upon my willingness and ability to bring the best version of myself for those I serve.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.