From a very young age I always had to be resourceful. Growing up in a household that didn’t have much money, meant not buying new things, hand-me-down clothing and toys, and no vacations. When something was broken, there were two options: fix it ourselves or do without. “Resourcefulness” was my middle name. I learned what made things tick because I had to.

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I come from a family of outdoors-men, hunters and fisherman. I grew up spending a great deal of time in the woods for two main reasons. It filled our freezer with fresh food and it didn't cost anything to go outside. Hence, nature became my playground. That mindset would propel me further than I ever could have imagined.

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 I joined the military straight out of High school and shipped out as soon as I turned eighteen. There I learned more about myself and my ability to be resourceful really came into play. I learned survival skills I hadn’t needed to know in the past and loved it. I honed my skills and started looking for reasons to test my mettle. When I got out of the military, I got back into camping and the outdoors as much as possible and would go as often as I could. Sometimes I would go with as many friends as I could rally, and sometimes, no one at all...which was an eye-opening experience. Being alone in the woods taught me more about myself than ever before. I’ve been using those experiences to further enhance my understanding.

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My ability to maintain focus during stressful situations is probably one of my strongest traits. To react under pressure and maintain the concentration required, allows me to do what most can’t—think clearly. This survival mindset has those who know me saying that if there was ever a crisis situation, my presence would give them a feeling of safety,  security and hope.