My story begins in a place of profound challenge. Raised by a resilient single mother alongside three younger siblings after my father was arrested for murder when I was a child, I learned early what it meant to persevere through hardship. Growing up in extreme poverty shaped my character in ways I'm still discovering—it taught me grit, compassion, and an unwavering belief that circumstances don't define destiny.

I got my first job at 14 and haven't stopped working since. But more importantly, I found my calling early. In high school, I began volunteering in our church's children's ministry, discovering a passion for investing in young lives that would chart the course of my entire career. It was also at church where I met Chrissy, the woman who would become my wife and partner in all things. We started dating when I was 15, and our relationship has been the bedrock of everything I've built since.

My journey took me to the University of South Carolina, where I had the privilege of playing football under Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz while studying political science. I later transferred to Columbia International University to pursue Family and Church Education, which eventually led to a call to ministry that had been growing louder in my heart.

At just 19 years old, I stepped into my first Children's Ministry Director position at Oakwood Baptist Church in Lexington, South Carolina—a role I held for 11 years. Chrissy and I married when I was 20, and we've now been married for 23 years. At 25, we welcomed our daughter Kierra into the world. Kierra is now a college student at Columbia International University, the same college her mother and I attended. During our time at Oakwood, we met a 12-year-old girl named Marrissa and became her foster parents. Today, she's a 28-year-old mother herself, and our bond remains as strong as ever—a testament to the power of chosen family.

My ministry journey continued as Family Pastor at First Baptist Church of Lexington for seven years, followed by the adventure of planting and leading The Church At White Knoll, where I served for six years. Each season brought new challenges and deeper understanding of what it means to shepherd people through life's complexities.

Today, I serve as Dean of Students at South Carolina's largest public charter school, where I get to impact young lives every day. I'm also the founder of Teen Lead 360, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders through an intensive nine-month leadership training program for high school students.

Over the past 25+ years, I've been blessed to share what I've learned on broader stages—teaching at international children's ministry conferences and leading workshops on parenting and marriage. My commitment to excellence in my field is reflected in my credentials: I've completed Youth Specialties' Youth Ministry Mentoring and Counseling Program, earned certification as a Positive Discipline educator through the Positive Discipline Association, been ordained as a pastor, and am a certified Neuroscience Coach.

But credentials only tell part of the story. The real education has come from more than two decades of leadership across business, nonprofit, ministry, and family contexts. It's come from raising both biological and foster children. It's come from sitting across from hundreds of parents, couples, and families over the years, walking alongside them through their struggles and celebrations.

I know what it's like to come from nothing. I know what it's like to overcome. And I know what it's like to build something meaningful from the ground up—whether that's a family, a ministry, an organization, or a life worth living. That journey from poverty to purpose isn't just my backstory; it's the lens through which I see every person I work with. Because if I've learned anything, it's that where you start doesn't determine where you finish.

I am ready to be your Parenting and/or Family Coach.