Steve knew early in life that business, marketing, and management was his passion. His father had a humble start in public relations but quickly rose through the ranks to become CEO of a Chicago PR firm. He was the logical heir but earning his own reputation drove his direction and paved a different path that would catapult him into leadership roles at multiple Fortune 500 companies. For 22 years, Steve established a reputation at Time, Inc., as the ‘launch and fix-it publishing exec,’ helping to turn the tide on established brands that had fallen on hard times. His biggest challenge there was stepping into the shoes of publisher and then CEO of Sunset. Previous leadership had tried and failed to re-invigorate growth, but under Steve’s guidance, he boosted profits and even launched a new line of business. Seeing opportunity and being a catalyst for ‘what can be’, is the thread through Steve’s career. He daringly entered the startup world taking over a struggling internet company in ’00 and successfully selling it. He joined one the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies, EA, building and leading global brand development. At JCPenney, he took a struggling digital commerce business to new heights of success. A Chicagoan - where nothing grows easily - he was captivated by gardening possibilities in California, and became an earnest, if not accomplished, gardener. This passion came in handy while at Sunset, and was foundational to re-imagining how to best serve the Sunset reader. This led to his relationship with Monrovia Horticulture, a family held $140M branded plant business, where he serves as a board member. Steve’s focus today is working with innovative and passionate teams where his extensive experience, strong contacts across a landscape of distinct businesses, and love of problem solving, can provide a guiding light for companies in search of success. It’s not about the size of the business, but the change that’s possible.