I always believed I would in some way dedicate my life to a focus on health, and I’ve always been most energized by helping others. Looking back, the path makes sense, though at the time it unfolded through challenges, life lessons, and winding experiences that ultimately shaped the coach and person I am today.

My foundation began in the Navy, where I served as the Command Fitness Coordinator for my ship. Leading others in that environment taught me the power of discipline, teamwork, and consistency—even when the deck was literally moving beneath our feet. For my efforts, I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which recognized the creation and implementation of a command-wide physical training program for all sailors aboard my ship, ensuring peak physical readiness. That experience solidified my belief that structured support and accountability can help people reach their full potential.

After the Navy, I began cooking professionally. The field demanded relentless focus, resilience, and long hours, but it also brought physical strain and questionable habits that eventually took a toll on my health—as it did for many of my peers. To counterbalance, I leaned on fitness training as a way to protect both my body and mind. Eventually, my cooking career evolved into a private chef business, where I worked closely with professional athletes, high-performing executives, and individuals managing serious health conditions in Nashville, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. It was in those home kitchens that I first came to see food as truly medicinal and capable of restoring energy, enhancing physical capabilities, supporting symptom management, and improving overall quality of life.

Then came a turning point that changed the direction of my life. On my way home from work in Malibu, I was hit from behind by a drunk driver, and the impact sent my car flipping into the guardrail before eventually landing upside down on the main freeway that runs through Los Angeles. My wife, who was on the car’s speakerphone, heard the crash in real time before everything went silent.

When I regained consciousness, the first thing I did was move my fingers and toes to make sure I wasn’t paralyzed. I was suspended by my seatbelt for about 15 minutes before paramedics could reach me. All the windows had shattered, and through the open wreckage, my wife could overhear a nurse who had stopped to help say the words “upside down.” She immediately asked if that was me—I had to admit, yes, I was in fact upside down for the last 15 minutes:)

Not long after, paramedics pulled me out of the car. Standing there on the freeway, I found myself face-to-face with a police officer who looked at me wide-eyed and said he couldn’t believe I was alive and standing there. That moment has stayed with me ever since.

The accident left me with significant injuries to my back and neck, constant pain, limited mobility, and many months of disrupted sleep. Determined to avoid surgery, I pursued every other avenue I could- nine spinal injections, four ablations, and months of physical therapy, including pool work. I felt strongly about avoiding the painkiller trap and made a conscious decision to learn about functional lifestyle changes I could adopt with consistency and patience.

As I tried to continue my private chef work, the reality of my injuries set in. Something as simple as leaning over kitchen counters or keeping up with the pace I was used to became a struggle. That was a turning point—when I realized that I would need to rethink how I approached my own health. Hiking, which I reintroduced during physical therapy, became one of the few forms of exercise that didn’t excessively aggravate the injury. Over time it became more than rehab—it became a practice of finding calm and perspective. I also turned to daily cold plunges and regular sauna sessions, both of which helped reduce inflammation, manage pain, and restore balance. My injuries have not yet fully healed, but I’ve reached a much more functional place with the daily impact. 

As difficult as it was, the accident gave me clarity. It reminded me that health, loved ones, and general stability aren’t things to take for granted, they’re the foundation for everything else. It also shifted how I saw resilience—not just pushing through pain, but learning how to rebuild in a way that supports long-term wellbeing.

That reflection led me to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and their health coaching program. For the first time, I saw how my background in military fitness, cooking professionally, and the injury recovery wasn’t just a series of separate experiences, but a training ground that gave me the knowledge, empathy, and resilience to help others with their own health journeys.

Today, I coach clients using the same approach that helped me rebuild my own health: consistent routines, intentional choices, and the belief that wellness is not about perfection, but about progress. My mission is to partner with clients on their health and wellness journeys, offering practical tools, structured support, and perspective shaped by my own personal experience and training.