By the ripe age of 11, surfing grabbed me. The ocean, the act of riding waves, the subculture – all of it. Jacques Cousteau famously said “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” Yep, confirmed. When I was 17, I started working in a natural food store and studying nutrition. Once again, I discovered another subculture driven by nature and health with a powerful gravitational pull. What I didn’t know then was that these two experiences would shape my approach to business forever. Surfing taught me to respect nature. Surf brands opened my eyes to pure creativity, guerilla marketing, creating authentic culture and that the line between work and fun should be blurry. Natural foods and nutrition deepened my understanding of science and lifestyle. Natural food brands taught me the power of purpose and how to put it into action to grow healthy teams, businesses and positive impact. Working with the backing of a global, multibillion-dollar food giant as a parent company taught me world-class marketing, leadership and collaboration.As I result, what I bring to the table is that rare hybrid approach of small company soul and agility with big business sophistication. I’m the guy that is equally adept at spit balling with the creative team, rolling up my sleeves on a project, collaborating on a complex, industry changing initiative with supply chain or presenting strategies to the board of directors. All while enjoying the ride. If you’re interested in creating positive impact in business, talking about the surf, or geeking out on food culture then let’s connect.