For more than 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping individuals and organizations reach higher—through leadership development, human capital strategy, and practical coaching grounded in real‑world experience. My career has taken me across industries and through roles that demanded clarity, resilience, and the ability to lead people through change.

The way I approach leadership and career growth has been shaped by decades of experience working alongside people at pivotal moments—stepping into new roles, navigating uncertainty, and taking on increased responsibility. I describe how I think about these challenges more fully elsewhere on this site; here, I want to share some of the experiences that have informed that perspective.

I began working at a young age, learning the realities of work firsthand—from grocery store bagger to fast‑food employee and manager. I later began my professional journey at First National Bank in Boulder, Colorado, where I was first introduced to training and development as a profession. After relocating to the East Coast, I spent a formative year deepening my interest in leadership development at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

From there, I went on to hold leadership roles at Waldenbooks/Borders, U.S. Tobacco, PerkinElmer, Eastman Kodak, and Cotiviti. Across these experiences, I built and led high‑performing teams, guided organizational design and transformation efforts, and partnered closely with leaders navigating new roles, evolving expectations, and complex challenges.

In 2017, I joined the Operations Advisor program at Advent International, one of the largest global private equity firms. There, I focused on human capital leadership and advisory work across the firm’s portfolio, partnering with organizations such as lululemon, Serta Simmons Bedding, AccentCare, ATI Physical Therapy, RxBenefits, Olaplex, and Imperial Dade. During that time, I also led the Advent Leadership Academy—a collaboration with Harvard Business School—designed to prepare diverse, purpose‑driven leaders to step into broader and more complex roles.

Alongside my leadership work, I founded JCV Higher Reach and the Career StartUp program. In my coaching, I focus on helping early career individuals clarify where they want to go, take an honest look at where they are, and move forward through thoughtful, purposeful action. The guidance I offer is informed by decades of lived experience as a job seeker, team builder, and human resources executive and shaped by listening closely to the realities, concerns, and aspirations if those I work with.

I’m a proud University of Colorado Boulder alumnus, husband to Amy for nearly 40 years, and father to Josh and Jessica. I live in Stamford, Connecticut, and enjoy time with family and friends, traveling, entertaining, writing, and playing golf—activities that keep me grounded, grateful, and inspired.