About Me

I love business. I especially love the entrepreneurial aspects of business - identifying under-served markets and unmet needs, analyzing competition, developing innovative business models, creating new software applications, marketing new products, harnessing the enthusiasm and creativity of employees, and the constant review and tweaking of "the plan." This is my passion, and my story is punctuated by my attempts to innovate in every aspect of the business I pursue.

My background is in software development, where I have played many roles, from customer support to development, project management to product architecture. I designed and led the development of an Internet product that became the highest-volume flight reservation system in the world. What I've learned is that solving technical problems is fundamentally the same as solving business problems - but the latter is so much more compelling to me. Technology can reduce costs, increase distribution, provide convenience, and enamor customers. But, there are so many other areas where the same problem-solving process can be applied to identify and improve a business: data-driven, results-oriented decision making, combined with measurable targets and ample post-decision analysis.

While working on my MBA at the University of Utah, I focused my study on business strategy and entrepreneurship. In the short time since starting that education, I have applied those skills in two successful ventures. My day job, as Manager of Professional Services for Navitaire (a subsidiary of Accenture), has given me the opportunity to define and implement a strategic vision for the professional services arm of the company. This new strategy resulted in a 98% growth in revenue, right in the middle of the economic recession of 2009. At the same time, I founded Elysian Community Management, with my wife, to provide business management services to homeowner's associations. We have met our targets in customer satisfaction, revenue, and profit. In both cases, the thrill is in seeing success and growth in areas where no one else believed a problem even existed.

I love the "people" aspects of business - defining a company vision that employees believe in, building customer relationships, "expanding the pie", coaching employees, analyzing social and authority-based hierarchies in organizations, and modifying company culture and structure to align the interests of employees and customers. Once employees believe in a vision, they can be entrusted to solve the company's problems with minimal supervision. Customers will gravitate to you when you espouse what they believe.

When I'm not consumed with solving business problems, my attention turns to my wife, my two beautiful daughters, my schnauzers, playing guitar in an office band, analyzing politics, or contemplating the mysteries of the world as an armchair Ghost Hunter.