MY CAREER BEGAN. . .Ā
in my early twenties when I landed a drafting apprenticeship at a small foodservice design company. There, I gained hands-on experience in layout and design, equipment installation, construction, permitting, and every stage of developing a foodservice business.
When the company eventually closed, a professional connection led me to a sales position with a restaurant equipment dealer. There, I sold smallwareā€™s and commercial foodservice equipment to local restaurants and country clubs.
It was there that an ordinary sales call changed the direction of my career.
During a visit to a hotel, the food and beverage manager asked me for ideas about expanding the kitchen. Drawing upon my previous experience, I sketched a layout showing the equipment the hotel would need and how it could fit within the existing space. Impressed by my ability to bring the idea to life, the manager placed an order that day.
I soon began creating plans for other customers and eventually earned more from design work than equipment sales.
With encouragement from my employer. . .
I TOOK A CHANCE AND STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS.
At the time, I knew very little about running a company. I had no college degree, formal business education, or mentor, but I had practical experience, determination, and a desire to build a better future.
My company grew quickly as I developed plans for restaurants, retail businesses, and other equipment dealers while receiving referrals from local health departments. As the workload increased, I hired additional draftsmen to manage the growing number of projects.
THEN THE RECESSION HIT.
As financing dried up, projects I had counted on were delayed or canceled. The work that had fueled my companyā€™s growth disappeared, while the bills, payroll, and debt kept mounting. Almost overnight, I went from running a successful company to lying awake at night, wondering how I would pay my team and whether I could keep the doors open another month.
That experience forced me to confront an important question:
WHY WERE SOME BUSINESSES FAILING WHILE OTHERS MANAGED TO SURVIVE AND EVEN THRIVE IN THE SAME ECONOMY?
I eventually discovered the value of learning from those who had already achieved success.
Although I knew how to generate sales and deliver quality work,
I lacked a proven path for building and sustaining a successful business.
That realization became a turning point. I closed what remained of my company and committed myself to learning.
IĀ SOUGHT GUIDANCE FROM MENTORSĀ . . .
Ā studied business, expanded my professional network, and pursued opportunities that allowed me to observe how successful organizations operated from the inside.
Ā That journey eventually led me to Dennyā€™s Corporation, where I oversaw remodeling and expansion projects throughout the western United States. I was later promoted to Director of Construction for its parent company, one of the nationā€™s largest restaurant organizations, operating more than 3,300 locations. From there, I served as Construction Director for an international retail company, led construction for an American multinational coffeehouse chain, and ultimately became Regional Vice President for two major banks, overseeing the development of new retail locations.
Throughout my career, I have experienced the industry from nearly every perspective, including draftsman, permit expediter, salesperson, designer, business owner, consultant, construction executive, and corporate leader. Just as importantly, I have experienced both success and failure.
THAT IS WHY I CREATED THESE COURSES.
What I share is not based solely on theory but is drawn from decades of real-world experience. I understand what it feels like to have a vision but not know where to begin. I also understand the uncertainty associated with selecting a location, entering into a lease, managing a buildout, and investing your life savings in a new business.
Through these courses, I share proven strategies to help entrepreneurs plan, build, and successfully open their businesses. My goal is to help others avoid having to learn every lesson the hard way.
A strong vision may inspire you to begin, but
KNOWLEDGE, PREPERATION, AND A CLEAR PLAN WILL HELP YOU REACH OPENING DAY.
That is the path I am here to share with you.
