After graduating high school up north, I came to Florida for spring break. On the last day of our trip, I was standing on Sanibel Island when I made a life-changing decision—I wasn’t going back home. Instead, I stayed behind to start fresh. My Friends waved goodbye as they headed home. I was all alone.

With no plan and no safety net, I found an apartment, moved in and started looking for a job. I came across a newspaper ad that read, "Want to learn to be an Electrician?" Thinking it was a school, I responded, only to realize it was actually an electrical contracting company. I needed a job, and it sounded interesting enough, so I went in for an interview. They offered me $8.00/hour and I accepted it.

Fast forward a few decades, and I found myself working as a Master Electrician for a global engineering company, traveling across the Middle East. It was, without a doubt, the most challenging and rewarding job of my life. Then, COVID hit, and just like that, the job was gone. After spending so many years overseas, I returned to the U.S. with no home, no car—nothing. It was time to start over.

Somehow, I ended up in Palm Coast, wondering, Now what? I needed to work, but I was looking for something more than just another job. That’s when it hit me: I could start my own business and, more importantly, become a mentor to young people seeking an alternative to college.

This is bigger than just a career—it’s a future for anyone willing to learn. I believe in giving back to the community, and as a Master Electrician, I dedicate my time to mentoring young men and women who are eager to learn the trade, earn their licenses, and build their own successful careers.

This isn’t just about making a living. It’s about creating opportunities, shaping futures, and proving that sometimes, the best decisions are the ones made on a whim—like staying behind on a beach in Sanibel Island all those years ago.