Education

Education is the knowledge of how to use the whole of oneself. Many men use but one or two faculties out of the score with which they are endowed. A man is educated who knows how to make a tool of every faculty-how to open it, how to keep it sharp, and how to apply it to all practical purposes.

Henry Ward Beecher

At a glance…
2001, CMBA, McCombs School of Business
1996. BA, Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
1993, Army ROTC, University of Texas at Arlington
1991, Air Force ROTC, Texas Christian University
1990, Arlington High School
Since Nixon: The School of Hard Knocks

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Postgraduate Studies

University of Texas at Austin
McCombs School of Business
CMBA

On July 21, 2001 I became a proud graduate of the UT CMBA program taught by highly regarded instructors at the McCombs School of Business. The CMBA program is an intensive 15-week executive curriculum with enrollment limited to experienced business owners and managers. The program is sponsored through generous corporate grants and has graduated hundreds of business leaders across Texas. The caliber of participation and instruction is on par with executive MBA programs commonly offered at major universities.

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Undergraduate Studies

B.A. Degree: Psychology
Minor: English
Clubs & Activities: KVRX Radio, Film One, 21st Street Co-op
Years Attended: 1994 to 1996

I moved to Austin in 1993 to complete my undergraduate studies within a large university culture. My classes focused on education, child development and family relationships. My degree plan required extensive research and critical analysis – skills that help me immensely in business. Fortunately, I had access to one of the largest library systems in the world.

While attending UT, I lived at the 21st Street Co-op in west campus and cycled to class. My extracurricular activities narrowed to musical interests – a pursuit I hadn’t entertained since piano and violin lessons in middle school. Austin is well known as the Live Music Capital of the World, so naturally I gravitated toward a band, Since Nixon, where I worked as a sound engineer and enjoyed a summer of touring popular venues in Central and East Texas.

Later, I joined 91.7 KVRX student radio as an on-air personality for three consecutive semesters. I planned and presented my own programming which included band interviews, PSA productions and an eclectic mix of music genres from hip hop to acid jazz, tejano to world beat, country to punk. During my time at KVRX, we transitioned from FM cable to FM radio broadcast. We enjoyed incredible local favor in a town that lacked variety and promotion of local artists. We became the #1 Student Radio Station on the Arbitron for the entire United States. Working at KVRX allowed me to polish my communication skills, especially public presentation and speaking from the cuff.

I became one of every four UT graduates that decides to remain in Austin after being lured to it’s music, nightlife and bevy of outdoor recreational activities. Upon graduation, I accepted an offer from Power Computing.

University of Texas at Arlington

Major: Criminal Justice
Minor: Psychology
Clubs & Activities: Sam Houston Rifles, Peer Health Education, Student Leadership Council, Special Olympics
Years Attended: 1990 to 1993

After graduating from Arlington High School, I attended UTA down the street. I initially struggled to find a my career calling, so I concentrated on general credits and becoming involved in extracurricular activities.

In the fall of 1990, I was elected to the elite Sam Houston Rifles, a world renowned precision drill team formed in 1925 and the oldest student organization on campus. The team, also known as “The Jodies,” is a diverse mobile unit rich in military leadership training and traditions. Our intense practice schedules and physical conditioning prepared us for many high-exposure performances throughout the state of Texas. In 1993, we re-entered collegiate competition for the first time in 7 years to win the Texas A&M Invitational Drill Meet, defeating strong teams from Texas A&M, New Mexico Military Academy, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.

The Jodies are self-sustained through revenue earned from performances, training, movie appearances and SHR Alumni assistance. The Jodies also plan and host an annual four day high school drill clinic for hundreds of cadets from a seven state region. Current marching members and SHR alumni come together to arrange food, housing, care and discipline as well as develop and teach curriculum on military science, leadership and drill. The Sam Houston Rifles actively recruit freshman for the University and the U.S. Army through high school visits and drill competition judging. The team has long enjoyed the support of UTA administrators and the Army ROTC Maverick Battalion cadre.

The Jodies provided me the skills of regiment, resourcefulness, planning, decision making, training and management through the values of leadership. Many SHR alumni lead extraordinary military and business careers. I am a proud member of the Maverick Battalion Alumni Association, and remain lifelong friends with my fellow Jodies.

At UTA, I became involved with important student issues like acquaintence rape, substance & alcohol abuse and eating disorders through the Peer Education program at the Student Health Center. My training enabled me to facilitate sensitive discussions with groups of 2 to 200 students. The Peer Education director later encouraged me to participate in UTA’s Student Leadership Counsel by sitting on committees, the traffic citation review board and volunteer work with the Special Olympics.

Texas Christian University

Major: Criminal Justice
Minor: Psychology
Clubs & Activities: Air Force ROTC
Year Attended: 1990

I briefly enrolled in Air Force ROTC Military Science classes and drill at TCU in Fort Worth through a “cross-town” agreement with UTA. This allowed me to work toward an officer commision in the U.S. Air Force while earning college credit. Unfortunately, I developed a mild vision astigmatism that prevented me from pursuing my goal of flying military aircraft. Despite years of JROTC exposure and success in high school as well as personal influence of many retired servicemen, I reluctantly decided not to pursue a career as an officer in the Air Force. I did, however, stand out at the top of my class in both academics and physical performance and am proud to have been a part of the TCU unit.

Austin Community College

Years Attended: 1994, 1995, 2002

I enrolled in ACC classes when I first moved to Austin and augmented my art curriculum with courses recognized and accredited by UT. I enjoy and recommend ACC classes because I’ve found inspiration and discipline in their creative writing and fine art courses.

In 2002 I penned my first feature-length screenplay and learned how to analyze scripts and film productions. On two occassions, ACC published my poetry, short stories and a drawing after selecting my submissions from hundreds of other candidates. My art work has been presented in various on-campus displays, much to my anticipation as any artist who’s anxious about baring their creation for criticism can attest. I’ll continue to enroll in ACC classes for knowledge, fellowship and creative spark to fuel my interests. ACC is an incredible value that Austinites should take advantage, especially since it’s budget is augmented by our tax dollars.

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American High School during the Cold War

Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas is a middle class school with a diverse student population. I graduated in the Spring of 1990.

Unlike popular film caricatures of high school, I found my time as an “Arlington Colt” to be engaging and productive. I had many friends in all the common cliques from cheerleaders to jocks to the drama club and band to the D&D and science geeks. Even today, I regularly hang out with close friends I met in junior and senior high school.

While I participated in many extra-curricular activities, I became very active in the TX 31st Air Force JROTC program under the guidance of COL Ivy J. McCoy (USAF, Ret.) and SMSGT Clamp H. Lawley (USAF, Ret.).

Both men served in Vietnam, and made an immensely positive impact on me. “Colonel” and “Sarge” taught me principles of leadership and eventually promoted me to the highest post position, Cadet Squadron Commander, the first person to achieve the rank at TX 31st.

I traveled extensively via the program, won national award recognition, represented our school to the community and presented our nation’s colors to hundreds of thousands of spectators, thanks in part to our All State football team.

The AFJROTC program offered me wonderful opportunities unique to a high school student. My first airplane ride was in a KC-135 refueling aircraft during the spring of 1991. We took off from Carswell AFB in Fort Worth and rendezvoused with a B-1 Bomber over Topeka, Kansas. I climbed down in the tail boom during refueling and waved at the B-1 pilots. It was quite a way to experience flying for the first time.

Air Force JROTC also led me to competitive summer leadership schools at Lackland AFB and Barksdale AFB. Through these programs, I met students from all over the United States. I learned advanced leadership values which enabled me to excel to top cadet honors. I also toured fascinating business and military sites like fighter and transport aircraft, support facilities, weapons deployment facilities, the base PX and a General Motors auto manufacturing plant.

Unfortunately, my dream of flying in the USAF fizzled due to bad eyesight. While life took a different turn for me, I’m a big fan of well-run JROTC programs in American high schools. They provide incredible opportunities to build skills in teamwork, competition, communications, self sufficiency, achievement and self confidence.

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The School of Hard Knocks

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave to me was permission to fail.

My parent’s gift wasn’t overt, rather one I recognize when I reminisce of bruises and stitches, bad friends and broken hearts. While some of my actions have had unexpected results, I also learned to clean up my messes, reflect on the lesson and always try again.

Before my 30th birthday, I must have made every mistake in the Entrepreneurial Handbook (hint: there isn’t one). I’ve made poor decisions, trusted insincere associates, entered unfavorable contracts hastily, allowed budget and time overruns, overcommitted, overdepended, underdelivered.

Thankfully, my parents also taught me to learn from my mistakes, a lesson that’s made me tougher and wiser. I can see around once blind corners and smell trouble before I step in it. I put my faith in adequate strategy and planning based on clear goals and intelligence. I also trust my instincts to know when to pull the trigger, even if shooting from the hip. And through my missteps, I’ve heldfast to a healthy sense of humor.

Innovation and progress are often born from failure. Indeed, failure is an important element of life. Like the virtues of sacrifice and suffering, failure bears fruit. Those who understand this can cope, adapt, improvise, even flourish and overcome. The adage is true: that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

I’m proud to say my mistakes were made from ignorance, missed expectations and a healthy dose of pride. But never malice. I always acted from a position of honor and integrity, even at the detriment of my personal income and goals. The proverbial road to Hell may be littered with the best of intentions, but zero-tolerance for mistakes is generally not the best business policy outside of rocket science and brain surgery. I feel proud of my accomplishments and maintain self confidence when striving for success.