I am the co-founder and managing partner of BE YOU Brands. BE YOU Brands is an LGBTQ-owned marketing and brand services provider. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it has always been a dream of mine to work in tandem with others who promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and acceptance.My business partner, Rob Whitman and I started this business because we both have strong ties to the LGBTQ+ community and a successful track record in the printing and branded service industry. We saw a void and decided it was time to launch BE YOU Brands.Our passion behind BE YOU Brands is to work with inclusive brands who want to partner with a diversity supplier to power their branding and messaging.

In May of 2019 I accepted the position of “Manager of Operations” at the American Solutions for Business Columbus Hub. I manage our local customer support group along with our local warehouse and distribution center. I am also the liaison between our sales associates, account management team and current ownership group.

American Solutions for Business was founded in 1981 and has evolved into a leading distributor of print, promotional products, office supplies, eCommerce and marketing solutions. As a customer-driven company, our mission is to provide solutions that streamline business processes, enhance productivity and increase creativity while reducing client costs. As a valued customer, you become part of our family. With over 7,000 suppliers and 800 sales associates and support staff, American is your connection to a solid network of possibilities. My procurement role was similar to the role I held previously at Optimum System Products. Optimum was acquired by American in November of 2015 and I was part of the transition team. After the transition I maintained our ecommerce platform and procured printing, promotional products, office supplies and apparel.

Optimum System Products provided print outsourcing, document management, web based ordering & reporting, distribution services, one to one marketing programs, graphic design, e forms, print on demand solutions, forms standardization & consolidation, MICR documents, and statement outsourcing to the community banking industry. Optimum merged with American Solutions for Business in November of 2015. I started at Optimum in July of 2005. I was hired into Optimum's vendor relations group to manage their office supply sales. I was responsible for assisting with office supply opportunities and creating relationships with our vendors, sales team and customer base. Shortly after joining Optimum I also became the lead purchaser of promo and apparel itemsl. In 2010 I was promoted to Team Leader of our vendor relations group and became a member of Optimum’s management team.

Marysville Office Center was a family owned independent office supply stationer in the Marysville, Ohio area for over 40 years. During my time in Marysville I was the main account manager and purchasing agent for most of our business to business customers. Some of my clients included Honda of American, Honda R&D, Nestles R&D, Goodyear, Memorial Hospital of Union County, City of Marysville and many Union County Government Agencies.