My Life Story

From Rock Bottom to Building an Empire

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to parents who separated early on. I split my time between my dad’s home in the country and my mom’s place in the city, living two very different lives. In the country, I was my true self but felt like I didn’t measure up. In the city, I became who I thought others wanted me to be.

I attended both the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky but didn’t graduate. School never clicked with me—I partied more than I studied and ended up working in construction and bartending instead. Over the years, I started several businesses that failed due to my drinking and partying. I even had to sell the first house I built at 21 just to get by. Eventually, I lost everything—my home, money, and relationships—and ended up in a homeless shelter and recovery program.

That year in recovery was life-changing. I had no phone, no car, no job—just the Big Book and others working on themselves. A friend asked me to speak at his sobriety celebration, and even though I was terrified, I did it. The response was powerful, and more speaking invitations followed.

I started sharing my story on social media, and when a celebrity shared one of my videos, doors opened nationwide. I spoke at events from Florida to Alaska, realizing my message resonated beyond addiction recovery. Businesses and communities began inviting me to speak to inspire their teams.

In 2020, we co-founded Impact Wellness Network, and today, we have multiple recovery centers across the Midwest with over 600 employees. From homelessness to leading a recovery network, my journey proves that purpose can rise from pain—and I’m here to share that message, one story at a time.

From Nothing to Something

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