Handshake America is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization serving coachable high school student-athletes with grit. We recognize the importance of a proper handshake and what it may reveal about a person’s character. The Handshake Program utilizes its Five Practices (5Ps: Perseverance, Passion, Positivity, People, and Presence) to help our students learn the elements and definition of “success” while leveraging the experiences they have gained through athletics. The Program provides many opportunities to experience what ‘very good’ looks like and includes a team of personal Handshake Coaches, a college scholarship, and group meetings throughout the calendar year to help prepare the students for their future.Our vision is to a create a national team of leaders who will positively, influence, inspire, and unite the people around them. Since our first class of students in 2012, we have coached 462 students in three regions (Central OH, Metro Atlanta, GA and Western NC) and plan to expand the Handshake Program throughout the country.

Hired as the CFO to focus on helping the company develop a growth plan and build a team to successfully take the company public in 2005 [NYSE: DSW] and subsequently communicate and execute the plan. During the nine-year run, sales increased 150%, operating margins doubled from less than 6% to over 11% which ultimately generated a fourfold increase in market cap. In early 2014, was rated by Institutional Investor as the #1 CFO in the Sector and DSW was identified by Forbes as one of ‘America’s Most Trustworthy Companies’ (I will forever be very grateful to the DSW team who helped enable me to pursue the growth of Handshake America).

Various financial roles with tween girls apparel retailer during high growth phase that saw increase from 50 stores to nearly 600 and the addition of the concept, Justice. Formerly Limited Too, division of Limited Inc. (now L Brands) we spun-off and became the public company Too, Inc. [NYSE:TOO] in 1999.

Created and opened a business facility with my spouse to provide wellness programs and instruction

Served mostly on Campeau Corporation’s acquisition of Federated and Allied Department Stores