I grew up in Texas, where my best friend was more like a brother, and his family, was my surrogate family. Thanks to this family, I learned a great deal about responsibility spending time with them, and a great appreciation for the outdoors developed from my time spent in Boy Scouts.
I moved to Florida, where I quickly fell in love with Disney the very first time I visited. Even though I had a strong entertainment background, visiting the Magic Kingdom somehow woke something up in me. But after a few failed auditions I ignored that calling to enter the financial services sector. God had other plans for me in the way of a car accident that almost killed me. During my recovery, as I worked on my motor skills and recovered the simple act of speaking, a close friend’s mom told me I should audition for Disney, confident this time I would get hired. I did an audition and landed the role. At the same time, my film and TV career started to take off.
I returned to Disney as an opening cast member of Lights, Motors Action! More magic happened. It was at Disney I met my wife. I have a beautiful family with two lovely girls. Every day is a joyous, laughter-filled gift. They all inspire me in ways I am still discovering.
My hobbies are all hands-on, from designing and building gardens and water features to highly detailed thematic spaces. I partially supported myself designing haunted houses while going through college, and that creative aspect remains with me to this day.
Additionally, I've spent considerable time working with animal rescues, running the range from dogs and cats to horses. I am a member of The Fraternal Order of the Moai. I love to travel, especially with family and friends. Traveling, especially when there is history involved, is like meeting people from other centuries.
Why I do what I do
My passion comes from a deep-rooted desire to build relationships. It is that driving energy that has allowed me to achieve a tremendous level personally and professionally. In conjunction with this is a desire to learn and share that knowledge. I don't do anything without approaching that thing from a creative mindset. Whether I'm on a stage, in the studio, performing Shakespeare, doing a conference talk, guiding others to find their voice, become a better-educated consumer, or guiding those who seek to protect their families and wealth creativity for me helps get the job done, no matter what it is. I'm a huge proponent of how positive energy is created by sharing the things - things that galvanize you - with your family and your tribe. My family inspires me every single day. Through their eyes, I see constant opportunities to learn and grow, and through their eyes I find myself humbled by the stratospheric potential they see in me. With my tribe, like my family, I have a space in which I can grow and share. More often than not, I'll leave people and places better after the encounter because that is our purpose in the world, to leave our space a better place. It is said if you want to go fast, you run alone, but if you want to go far, travel with a group. Going fast means you miss the details of life happening around you. We grow because of the energy and people we touch and those who touch us. Going far is a conscious choice for me because the joy of those around me, in every living moment, is part of what instills the passion that compels me every single day. Find your passion. Let It compel and propel you upward.
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