I am a passionate entrepreneur dedicated to building platforms that address real-world problems. I’m the founder of SOAR, a platform designed to empower parents of special needs children to set developmental goals, track progress, and connect with therapists, educators, and other support systems. My personal experience raising a special needs child inspired SOAR, and I’m committed to making a lasting impact on families like mine.My journey with SOAR began when I shifted my focus to helping my son, Joel Bryan, thrive and reach his full potential. Joel is a gifted singer and academically brilliant, yet mainstream education systems have denied him the chance to excel. Watching him struggle to find his place in a world not designed for his unique gifts ignited a fire within me to build something better—not just for him, but for all special needs children who deserve the chance to soar.In the past four years, I’ve faced significant challenges, both personally and professionally. One of the hardest decisions I had to make was laying off my team due to unforeseen circumstances. I fully recognize the impact this had on me and the talented individuals I worked with. It’s something I take to heart every day, and I deeply empathize with those affected.While we haven’t yet fully addressed all the repercussions, we’ve developed a roadmap to do so. I remain committed to resolving these challenges and rebuilding in a way that prevents them from recurring. This experience has taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, empathy, and the responsibility to create a supportive, sustainable environment for everyone involved.These challenges have only strengthened my resolve. I am more determined than ever to create a world where my son Joel—and every child like him—has the tools, support, and community they need to thrive. With SOAR, I’m building an inclusive platform that fosters awareness around autism, empowers families, and provides the resources children deserve.As the African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” For a special needs child, it often feels like you need a whole country. That’s the vision behind SOAR: to build a village, a country, and a global community that supports every Joel, helping them soar above life’s challenges like eagles rising above the storm.Before SOAR, I built SWAPP, which grew to serve 1,800 churches globally, I founded AboundFi Suite, which is poised to serve tens of thousands of churches in the coming years. With experience in scalable solutions for ChurchTech and special needs, I’m open to collaboration.