Bio

I was born in 1979 in Chicago, IL. I grew up in suburban St. Louis, graduating from Parkway South high school in 1997. I attended University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) from 2000 – 2003. In 2002, I served as president of Sigma Tau Gamma social fraternity and also joined Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity. I took up amateur boxing for North County Boxing Club from 2002 – 2003. In May 2003, I finished my Bachelor’s degree (Cum Laude) in Business Administration with a dual emphasis in Marketing and Management.

Upon graduating, I accepted a position in Contemporary Marketing for Anheuser-Busch in the Los Angeles market. In 2004, I transferred to Denver for a year in Off-Premise Sales. After two years with Anheuser-Busch, I returned to St. Louis and accepted a Management Trainee position with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 2005. In June 2006, I left Enterprise to pursue my Master’s degree at my alma mater – UMSL. In order to complete my MBA as fast as possible, I returned to Fitz’s Bottling and Restaurant – my old college employer. The flexibility of the service industry allowed me to attend school full-time and write my own schedule.

As a grad student, I joined AIESEC International and the International Business Club, serving as Vice President of IBC in 2007. In this time, I discovered the world outside America on three different trips. Altogether, I spent five weeks in London, Amsterdam, Lithuania, and Brazil. I finished my MBA in December 2007. Given my new passion for other countries and the international focus of my graduate studies, I decided to pursue a career in Latin America. Through AIESEC, I found a market research position in Arequipa, Peru in March 2008. In the time between completing my MBA and relocating, I became TESOL-certified to teach English just in case I needed fast money while working in South America.

I do not consider this move to be temporary. I may not live in Peru, but I do intend to make a new life somewhere in Latin America. Since arriving, I have acclimated quickly at work and in my social life. My Spanish has improved immensely and continues to improve. In June 2008, I secured a part-time, freelance writing position for EBSCO Information Services. I contribute entries for their various encyclopedia products. While I am passionate about business and economics, I enjoy writing and am somewhat intrigued by making a living that way.

I am a news junkie and avid reader. I follow world and business news and also read as much classic literature as time allows. Although it is impossible to determine, Ernest Hemingway and John Updike may be my favorite authors. I am a music fanatic and especially enjoy blues, r&b, and reggae. I am also passionate about physical fitness. In the last ten years, I have accumulated significant skill and experience in weightlifting, long distance running, basketball, and boxing.