Helping entrepreneurs and small business owners avoid costly mistakes
before they derail success.
From New York Roots to Global Innovation Leader
I grew up in Mineola, on New York’s Long Island, learning early that work and results go hand in hand — selling greeting cards door-to-door, delivering newspapers, and working in restaurants while in school.
After earning a B.S. in Communications and an MBA in International Business from St. John’s University, I began my career in New York as a copywriter and account executive for public relations and advertising agencies. That’s where I learned the art of clear, persuasive messaging — a skill I still use every day.
Corporate Career with High Stakes
Decades of experience where mistakes weren’t an option.
• Led 100+ innovation workshops in 10 countries
• Senior Brand Manager for Alka-Seltzer and Bayer Aspirin
• Trained in creative problem solving (CPSI) and design thinking (Stanford d.school)
Entrepreneurial “Uh‑Oh!” Moments
Learning from both corporate wins and entrepreneurial lessons.
Alongside my corporate career, my wife Janet and I founded WhirlWhims LLC — our side hustle inventing and marketing patented carnival/party games including Pitchburst®, Boom Blaster®, and Downpour Derby®. These ventures brought plenty of excitement and taught us what it means to bring an idea to life.
They also brought their fair share of “uh-oh” moments. Missteps in design, marketing, and execution were humbling — and they became some of my best teachers. Many of those experiences inspired the stories and practical tools I now share in my book, uh-oh! How to avoid unintentional blunders that derail entrepreneurial success, and goof-proof your business.
Many of these lessons also inspired the free tools in my Resources library, where you can grab guides and the Uh-Oh! Risk Quiz.
Mentor, Author, and Business Mistake Prevention Specialist
Now I help others prevent the preventable.
Since retiring from Bayer in 2022, I’ve served as a volunteer small-business mentor with SCORE Delaware. In that role, I’ve worked with dozens of entrepreneurs and small business owners to strengthen operations, avoid costly mistakes, and grow more sustainably.
As a small business mentor in Delaware, I’ve seen how easy it is for blind spots to derail even the most passionate founders. My focus is helping them spot and eliminate those blind spots early — before they turn into setbacks that cost time, money, and credibility.
In 2026, I began a series of national studies of U.S. entrepreneurs to better understand not only why preventable mistakes happen, but what business owners wish they had noticed sooner—and what they changed afterward.
That research now anchors my work. It led to the Founder Risk Quiz, my speaking and workshops, and most recently, the Business Reliability Check-Up—a new service I’m pilot testing to help founders step back from the day-to-day, spot what they may be overlooking, and strengthen vulnerable areas before they become expensive surprises.
Why I Do This Work
It’s not about working harder — it’s about seeing what’s easy to miss.
Most preventable business mistakes don’t happen because the people running the business aren’t smart or committed. They happen because important things can be surprisingly difficult to see while you’re busy running the business.
My work is about helping entrepreneurs and small business owners see those things sooner—while there’s still time to do something about them.
Have a question or want to explore working together? Contact me.
What you don’t see can still affect your business.
Seeing it sooner can make all the difference.
Ready for a fresh look at what you might be overlooking? Explore the new Business Reliability Check-Up—a research-based outside look at how your business operates and where something important may deserve attention.