In My Free Time

I’ve always poured a lot of myself into my career—I admit that proudly. But there’s much more to who I am. I’m a spiritual person, a lifelong gamer, a nerd, a volunteer, and someone who genuinely wants to make the world a better place.

My first job was at Funcoland in Farmington Hills, where I started as a Game Advisor and was trusted with a set of store keys before I turned eighteen. I balanced the role while completing high school through homeschooling, later moving into leadership positions as third key, assistant manager, and eventually manager. That early mix of gaming, mentorship, and community shaped the person I’ve been ever since.

I remain deeply rooted in gaming today. In my free time, I help run a large server for a popular global MMO, coordinating the war-time logistics of hundreds of players across international time zones. It’s part strategy, part leadership, part diplomacy—and, honestly, one of my favorite ways to stay connected to people around the world.

I’m a nerd to my core. Sci-fi, comics, anime, and pop culture are simply part of my DNA. When a workplace allows it, my wardrobe reflects that proudly. It sparks genuine conversations and makes me more approachable as a leader. It’s always easier to coach, support, and develop people when they can see you as a real human being, and if that means I’m “the nerd” on a management team, I’ll wear the title gladly.

I’ve also been a churchgoer for most of my life. From age 13 through young adulthood, I served as a board member of my church until we eventually transitioned the congregation to a growing community to better serve the area. By 21, I was exhausted by the internal politics that come with organized religion—but not by faith itself. I remain religious, though somewhat self-guided. When you zoom out across faith traditions, the common threads become unmistakable. I focus on those—on the shared values, not the disagreements. I believe every major religion, at its best, roots itself in compassion, service, and the desire to leave the world better than we found it.

That belief sits at the heart of my volunteer work. In college, I met Nicholas Kristock, the founder of Fleece & Thank You, when he returned from Australia and presented in one of my classes. His story resonated deeply. Since then, I’ve been a regular volunteer and event host, organizing activities through companies like Apple, Sedgwick, and Rivian whenever I could. Their mission—to bring comfort to children in hospitals—hits close to home. I suffered a third-degree burn early in life and spent time in children’s hospitals myself. The joy these blankets and personalized video messages bring is real, grounding, and healing.

My desire to give back extends well beyond one organization. I’ve run 5Ks for Super Hero Runs and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I’ve delivered meals and assisted with fundraising for Meals on Wheels of Ypsilanti, including helping coordinate volunteer partnerships with Rivian to expand their local impact. I’ve donned gloves and boots for Belle Isle Cleanups, and I actively advocate for volunteer opportunities at every workplace I join.

So when you meet me, when you consider the person standing in front of you, know this: I want to leave the world better than I found it—and I hope you’ll join me in that mission.