07/17/2026
Life will always throw hurdles at you, but consistency helps you overcome them.
I've loved working out since I was a kid. As a teenager on the Jersey Shore, I’ll admit part of the motivation was impressing the ladies and being strong so fighting was more effective. But fitness became much more than that as I got older. Even when I was homeless and at one of the lowest points in my life, the gym remained my favorite place. It gave me structure, purpose, and, at times, even access to a shower.
One day, after leaving the gym, I was headed to the beach where I planned to spend the day—and where I knew I would be sleeping that night. That’s when reality hit me. I was 21 years old with more than 20 arrests, fresh out of inpatient rehab in Detroit, and homeless on the Jersey Shore. I had spent years making one bad decision after another. Dead or in Jail was a guarantee 💯
Standing there, I decided to walk into a military recruiting office across the street. The Marine recruiter was closed, but the Army recruiter was open. That decision changed the course of my life.
It took nearly two years and a lot of explaining and legal paperwork before the Army agreed to take me. During that time, I kept working out and staying focused. I knew physical fitness would be an important part of military life, and I held on to the promise of enlistment.
The Army rewarded my passion for fitness. I became known as a "Soldier’s Soldier" by leaders i lloked good in uniform ( Fit) and was able to help others improve their health and fitness, even getting Soldiers off the "fat boy program." I ran that program from my very first unit, i got put in charge of that responsibility
About 12 years into my career, I was told there was a heart condition that should have prevented me from joining in the first place. Instead of slowing down, I continued competing, training, and pushing myself. That journey eventually led me to be part of the team that helped create the Performance Triad program, which emphasized the importance of sleep, activity, nutrition, mindfulness, and community. That work contributed to what later became the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program.
The Army, being the largest military branch, served as a testing ground for cultural change. Fitness and readiness became more than personal goals—they became part of transforming how the military approached health and wellness. Today, all branches continue adapting and updating their physical training programs and assessments, helping service members stay healthier, perform better, and reduce preventable injuries and illnesses.
My final assignment was with the Wounded Warrior Battalion (WTB), where I served as a First Sergeant during its transition to the Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU). That experience reinforced an important lesson: taking care of yourself proactively matters. It also showed me that, despite progress, there was still work to do. Through my organizational development experience, I understood that real culture change takes years, and education remains essential.
Then the Army found that heart issue again at 20 years.
I still had no symptoms, but doctors told me I was basically a walking dead man. After 22 years of service, I was medically retired and underwent open-heart surgery so I could be there for my wife and kids.
As you get older, your goals change—and that’s okay.
The day before surgery, I completed a 5K obstacle workout with Army North and hit the gym with my son. I knew returning to "normal" would be difficult, but I also knew I'd start by doing whatever I was allowed to do. Four days after surgery, I walked a 5K inside the hospital. It was my first time a patient did that on this Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and after that walk, they kicked me out. Looking back, I probably should have stayed a few more days . Lmao
After retiring, I became an independent contractor focused on health and wellness. I coach individuals, provide education, design and improve gyms, and help create wellness centers where training is only one piece of a holistic approach to becoming your best self. I also work with leaders to build healthier environments that create stronger, healthier teams.
One of the greatest opportunities I've had is teaching H2F principles at the incredible children's military camp, . I taught there the summer before my surgery and promised those cadets I would return the following summer after my open-heart surgery, despite it being only nine months away.
I listened to my doctors, and they listened to me. Even after getting bitten by a dog, dealing with a brown recluse bite, and dealing with a hernia; which I will finally have repaired in a month VA could do better. I fulfilled my promise to the Cadets. lead from the front and passing the same physical fitness test I take every year so the cadets know that if I can do it using the tools( information), they can too.
Today, my mission remains the same: promoting health and wellness. Whether I'm teaching individuals, coaching clients as a personal trainer, or helping organizations as a project manager, I focus on showing people why health matters, how to improve it, and how to stay committed to the journey.
My story isn't special—it's simply mine. The one constant throughout my life has been my commitment to becoming as healthy as possible, based on what I knew at the time. As I learned more, I adapted, overcame challenges, and prepared myself for the next hurdle that life would inevitably place in front of me. That's why started Empowering Solutions LLC
So if you aren't already, do your best to make the inside look as good as the outside. Ask questions. Keep learning. Share what you know. Inspire others.
In the end, you're buying yourself something priceless: more minutes, more days, and more years of life.
