Home: Roslyn Heights, Long Island, NY. Age: Just entered a new decade. Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY. Profession: Ticket brokerage and hospitality. Organization: The Ultimate Fan. Title: Officer. Alma mater: Hamilton College (B.S., Mathematics, Economics minor).
Current project: In the early stages of rebooting our EDM music festival/snow activity experience. Recent professional development: Serving as an officer of The Ultimate Fan, providing my knowledge and expertise on ticket sales and event organizing. Latest accomplishment: Jump starting a number of upcoming projects I’m quite excited about. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Building a business from the ground up and rather quickly taking on massive events, such as the Super Bowl. Hobbies: Exercising, watching sports, keeping up on the latest trends in music and fashion. Last book read: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkman. Recently viewed and recommended: The Last of Us.
Personality profile: Extroverted, passionate, aspirational. Moral compass: Would I want my kids to make the same decision if they were in my shoes? How do you define a perfect friendship? Common interests and mutual trust are the perfect combo. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Just the same. What is your greatest joy? Seeing my kids learn or accomplish something new. The look of discovery and pride on their faces is unmatched. What is your greatest fear? Losing people I love. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Teachers. While I’m sure it is very rewarding, it requires a huge amount of both emotional intelligence and time commitment, and here in the States, compensation does not reflect that. How do you relieve stress? Spending time with my kids, seeing a movie, working out.
What was your favorite college course? Economics. The class focused on our perceptions as a society and how they influence economic behavior. What book have you repeatedly read? The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Frozen, because I have three daughters. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Perseverance is what marks the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? I try to take creative inspiration from anything and everything. Obvious things, like music and art, but also moments I catch on the street or interactions with strangers. What company or organization do you most admire? Disney. They basically release the same movie every ten years and, through the power of marketing, make it feel new. That’s impressive. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? 9/11. As a native New Yorker, I will be forever changed by that day, and so has the world.
What is your big idea?
People notice when you pay attention to the details. Providing that level of service is what makes the difference in my industry.
What change would you like to see in the world? Less violence and a stronger commitment to values in business. What widely held belief do you reject? That people are primarily motivated by money. What mega-trend most excites you? AI. I’m sure everybody is saying that these days, but its potential to make our lives easier is exhilarating to think about. What mega-trend most concerns you? AI. Conversely, its ability to bend the truth makes me worried about how we will differentiate fact from fiction in the future.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Robert De Niro. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My grandfather. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An astronaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My grandfather’s watch and grandmother’s jewelry. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family, on our favorite beach, just spending time together. What advice would you give your younger self? It’s okay to push yourself, but don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My forties.
Personal mission: Building a great life for my family and living each day to the fullest. Personal motto: Life is what you make of it. Favorite quote: “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up” (Thomas Edison). Desired epitaph: Persistence makes the man.
