In March 2020, the pandemic shut down my in-person business overnight and I lost 90% of my clients within days. It was gutting!

But instead of folding, I reimagined what I could offer and built new ways to create value. That resilience fuels everything I do now: helping small business owners and entrepreneurs adapt, grow, and generate consistent revenue—without buying into the myth that “networking is everything.”

Before striking out on my own, I spent 15 years in the high-tech industry, including eight years as Executive Director of Training and Development. One of the projects I’m most proud of was creating “Project Manager University”—an internal program that retrained several hundred managers who would have otherwise been laid off. The program was so strong that graduates were automatically certified by the Project Management Institute.

Since then, I’ve coached executives and business leaders through challenges like skyrocketing turnover. One company I worked with boosted employee retention from 17% to 87% in just six months. For others, I’ve helped strengthen hiring practices, reduce costly mistakes, and create cultures where people actually want to stay.

My approach is equal parts tough-love encouragement and practical systems. Through my book Business-Building Referrals and my Networking A-Game program, I teach professionals and small business owners the critical difference between networking and actually building a network—and why mastering the latter is what creates sustainable growth.

Along the way, I’ve been recognized by multiple Chambers of Commerce and invited onto podcasts and summits to share my perspective. I guess you could say I’ve built a reputation for challenging conventional wisdom—but also for offering strategies that actually work.

Making the leap from corporate to small business owner felt like climbing Mount Everest in slippers. That lived experience is why I’m so passionate about equipping business owners with the tools, guidance, and confidence to climb their own mountains—with support, strength, and much better footwear.