Executive, Life, and Career Coach | Business Builder | Leadership Mentor
After 25 years as a C-level executive, then 10 years as the founder and CEO of a senior care company scaling it to $30 million, I experienced the highs of success and the lessons of failure. That experience didn’t just shape me—it drove me to help others avoid common pitfalls and unlock new opportunities. Seventeen years ago, upon the sale of this company, I began coaching with one goal: to help leaders succeed without compromise guiding them to eliminate the personal and professional limitations that kept them from being successful.
I have led five companies, coached hundreds of clients, and worked with industries ranging from healthcare and hospitality to non-profits, home services and small retail. I bring executive-level strategy and frontline empathy to every coaching engagement.
In 2022, after leading a hospital through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as the CEO, I transitioned to full-time to coaching after years of PT and FT coaching, energized by the opportunity to serve others during challenging transitions. I also believe I am called to help others and currently lead Men’s Christian mentoring programs and support groups for adult children of aging parents without compensation.
Here is my brief story of how I developed my skills as a leader to the point that I can coach leaders, impact careers and change lives!
I began my leadership career in my teen years working in canning plants, ice crushing companies and tobacco fields in Georgia. In each of these positions I was always the top performer due to my competitive nature, willingness to learn, ability to make others feel comfortable around me, and willingness to do what others would not. ( I give credit to my Dad for these traits!) During my senior high school year, I received a dozen different awards. Unfortunately, every award was for second place; SAT’s, Salutatorian, 2nd place in MVP voting in state for baseball, etc. With the help of my first non-familial mentor, Coach Perkins, I learned to effectively address failure with grace and a determination to improve each time I hit a roadblock. I also learned to strive for being the best and second place, while honorable, cannot be my goal.
When I was 25 years old, I became the youngest CEO in the Missouri Hospital Association leading a 50-bed rural hospital in NW Missouri for 3 years. As a 25-year-old CEO I was surrounded by a leadership team who averaged 20 years my senior and a board who constantly questioned whether I could do the job. Despite the reservations I persevered and was able to save a floundering rural hospital because I listened, supported my leadership team, and humbled myself to a very difficult board.
After two years in this hospital, my wife and I decided I should accept a hospital CEO position in the Phoenix AZ area. I was hired by a VP by the name of Terry Bridges who literally changed my life, and who is still a mentor to me 38 years later! Terry literally turned my view of management upside down and was the first executive I ever met who put caring for team over caring for company, resulting in improved financial performance by doing so. This was my first indoctrination into what we call servant leadership today. Under Terry’s constant tutelage for 3 years, I became CEO of the year in the company and took Terry’s VP role when he left to join another company. As a 31-year-old I was leading a region of 9 hospitals with annual revenue of over $350 Million. My takeaway is that having a mentor/s is absolutely critical to success for any leader.
As psychiatric hospital care dissipated in the 90’s I left this field and began my career for 8 years as a CEO of LTAC hospitals, again moving to a regional role. I then moved on to local, regional and national medical practice management at the request of a college roommate who became a cardiologist. Again, this physician, friend and mentor was placed in my path to teach me how to lead some of the most difficult physicians I had ever encountered, cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, and resulted in my ability today to work with even the most difficult leaders.
For years I had always desired an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and in 1999 I founded a senior care company with my wife that grew to $30 Million in annual revenue over ten years. Spending hundreds of hours a month with this company while raising three daughters provided the most challenging period of our lives. To then lose this company when we tried to sell it during the financial collapse in 2008-2009 almost ended our marriage but thank God we worked through this period. Having had so much success building this company I had become enamored with my own abilities choosing not to seek a professional to help us sell the company nor seeking the help of my mentors.
From the most disappointing failure in my life there were four great blessings that arose from the ashes. 1) I met a gentleman who had a successful consulting company who became a friend and confidante, and who steered me into coaching. 2) I joined a men’s group composed of Christian Business Leaders who provided incredible support and helped me recover while building my faith, 3) I spent concentrated time with my three daughters helping them focus on their life goals and career aspirations. Today, all three are in professional roles, accomplishing great things and have incredible men in their lives, and 4) My wife and I rebuilt our relationship by focusing time on us versus business.
Here are my takeaways I would offer anyone seeking business, life, career or spiritual advice and coaching.
Christian business leaders — please visit Kingdom Factor, our dedicated website for faith-driven business guidance.
With decades of leadership and coaching experience, I offer a trusted partnership grounded in strategy, empathy, and real-world insight. My approach is tailored to help you grow—not just as a professional, but as a whole person.
