"If you don't build your dream, someone will hire you to build theirs." - Tony Gaskins

​

Growing up with an entrepreneurial mother and a blue-collar father in a rural Illinois town, I came to understand that opportunities are only created through hard work.  Armed with an “eat what you kill” mentality, I found my first cash job at 9 years old and used that same hustle to pay my own way through the University of Illinois, where I studied Economics and Finance. 

 

I began my professional career as a commercial account underwriter covering the Midwest for a large insurance carrier.  After a number of years building out my analytical and business development skills, I transitioned to a 4-plus year stint as a rising Manager at a global consulting company, where I led project teams on a variety of strategic initiatives for clients in the insurance, healthcare, oil & gas, and power & utility industries.  Despite my professional success and enjoyment of managing teams in consulting, I grew increasingly hungry to bet on myself and pursue a path toward business ownership.  To prepare myself for this I earned my MBA at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.  Following Darden, I launched a search fund that acquired a consumer finance and insurance company.  I owned and managed that company for six years, successfully improving EBITDA by 90%.  After exiting that business and catching my breath, I realize I'm best served to utilize my passion, experience, and knowledge by managing and developing another small firm. 

 

Outside of my East Crawford LLC ambitions, you can find me on the golf course or supporting my Chicago sports teams.