Home: Los Angeles, CA. Age: 50. Birthplace: Cleveland, OH. Profession: Strategic communications, digital strategies, narrative development and social impact. Organization: Catalyst Campaigns. Title: Founder & CEO. Alma mater: American University School of Public Affairs.
Current project: Building Artists United for Change. Recent recognition: Recipient of nine industry awards for creative advertising, website development and online narrative development. Latest accomplishment: Helped the Major League Rugby Players Association achieve voluntary recognition by the league. Latest contribution to others: Helped Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Health create the ProtectChoiceOhio.com campaign to successfully pass a ballot measure that enshrines abortion rights into the Ohio Constitution. Hobbies: Gardening, cooking, traveling to new places, trying new types of food. Recent travel or adventure: Tallinn, Estonia.
Personality profile: Outgoing, adventurous; enjoys life. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Loyal. Moral compass: One day longer, one step further. How do you define a perfect friendship? Willing to pick you up at Dulles Airport. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Mutual understanding of desired goals, respect for each other’s time and opinions, and fair compensation for services rendered. What is your guilty pleasure? 80’s Hair Metal. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Seeing a new city.
What was your first paying job? Working for my dad Suits Inc., a men’s clothing store on Cleveland’s eastside. What was your favorite college course? American University’s Campaign Management Institute. I dropped out of college to go manage campaigns right after I finished the course. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Big Lebowski. What’s your favorite inspirational image? A cartoon of a frog being swallowed by a giant heron and the frog grabbing the bird’s neck with the caption “never give up”. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Cell phones. What is your favorite app? Shazam! I forget names to old songs I hear. What is your go-to source of news and information? Axios. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? NAFTA impacting Cleveland in the 1990s.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
After developing the text message program to help elect Barack Obama in 2008, I watched text message spam being used to disenfranchise voters in the following elections. I have taken on this battle and testified before the FCC and continue to fight against political text messaging spam.
What change would you like to see in the world? Less wars and human suffering. Starting with less hate. What message do you want to send out into the world? Can we work towards basic compassion towards one another?
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? DIY: He Did It His Way. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A fighter pilot or an astronaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My computer. What advice would you give your younger self? Have more fun in your early college years. You will have plenty of time to be serious and work the rest of your life.
Personal mission: To change the world. Personal motto: Be a catalyst of change. Desired epitaph: He changed the world.
