I was among the first employees at Athene, hired to build the retail arm of this company from scratch. But what's been truly amazing is how the team we’ve built has grown the business and helped our partners at a rate nobody has matched in the industry.The entrepreneurial spirit that drives me is also alive and vibrant at Athene. As Executive Vice President and Head of U.S. Retail, I am expanding the business architecture I helped establish through:• product design and development• marketing, technology, service and our platform for new business• sales and distributionGuiding sales and distribution means creating partnerships with third-party distributors, overseeing and directing Athene's wholesaling organization and collaborating with the executives of our partner distribution organizations as well as potential new clients. I don't do this alone.To accomplish as much as we have in such a short time takes developing a team of leaders who can carry the torch, and I love the team I’m surrounded by. I provide the vision, strategy and motivation, then energize and empower my leaders to oversee execution across our channels.Sound business and customer service are rooted in every decision we’ve made since the beginning—another key to success. We operate efficiently and pass along the savings to end customers. Our distributors know they’re offering a very competitive value proposition.I'm proud to be part of an organization that embraces the challenge to meet the audacious goals we've set for ourselves in this industry. What I look for in my downtime, though, is something a little more relaxing. There's nothing better than time spent with my family, whether it be on the road or on the golf course. We travel together every year, just relaxing with each other and appreciating the company.