My Story

Growing up, I never stayed in one place for long. Life took me all over, Columbus, Atlanta, Cleveland, Toledo, Denver… and eventually back home to Columbus again. Through every move, every new chapter, one constant was always by my side. My dog, Oakley. For over a decade, he’s been my companion, traveling with me and experiencing life right alongside me.

I graduated from a small high school in Northeast Ohio in 2004. Like so many people at that age, I found myself asking the same overwhelming question: “What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?”

With no clear answer, I took a path many choose. I went to college and became a business major. It felt like the “safe” option, one that could open doors while I figured things out.

During my time at Bowling Green State University, I had the opportunity to intern with The Sherwin-Williams Paint Company. That experience turned into a career, and since graduating in 2007, I’ve been fortunate to grow within the company in both management and sales roles. It’s been an incredible journey, and I truly enjoy what I do.

What I came to love most about sales wasn’t just the competition, it was the opportunity to help people. Whether big or small, being able to improve someone’s situation became something I was genuinely passionate about. I just didn’t realize yet how that passion would connect to something even bigger.

That moment came after I met my wife, Megan. We traveled to Tucson, Arizona to visit her sister and her golden pup, Khaleesi. Khaleesi was a sweet, loving dog, but she had been through several traumatic attacks and had become fearful and hesitant, especially around other dogs.

You could feel the weight of that fear, not just for Khaleesi, but for my sister-in-law as well. It affected their everyday life, limiting what they could do and how they experienced the world together.

I wanted to help.

During that trip, I made it my goal to do something that initially felt impossible. I wanted to help Khaleesi feel safe enough to trust Oakley.

I dove into learning. I read, watched, and studied everything I could about canine behavior, focusing on science-backed, positive reinforcement methods. It wasn’t perfect, we had challenges and setbacks, but with patience and consistency, something amazing happened.

Khaleesi and Oakley learned to coexist peacefully.

But more than that, they created space for something new. Comfort. Trust. Relief.

By the end of the trip, we were hiking together, relaxing in the same room, and simply enjoying each other’s presence without fear. The shift in both Khaleesi and my sister-in-law was incredible. You could feel the difference.

That experience changed everything for me.

It gave me a sense of direction and a deeper purpose. An opportunity to help not just dogs, but the people who love them. To remove that weight. To create understanding. To bring peace back into the home.

That’s when I decided to fully commit and enrolled in CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, where I earned my certification as a CCTA Certified Dog Trainer (CCDT).

And now, here I am.

Driven by a mission to help dogs and their owners thrive, no matter the challenge. Life with dogs isn’t always simple, but with the right guidance, it can be something truly special.