I grew up in Huntington Beach, California. I was the freckle-faced kid at school who got made fun of, not only because of my freckles and sun-bleached hair but I think my favorite my red suspenders flagged me as a “nerd.” To make matters worse, both of my parents were principals.Thankfully not at my school, otherwise life would have even more miserable.

I felt like an outcast and struggled with fitting in. I was an eager student, which was great for teachers, but not so great for making friends. My neighbor hated me so much that he kicked me and bit me on many occasions. It was terribly painful!

Martial Arts gave me confidence and I loved it. I went on to earn my black belt and have continued training on and off ever since.

I enjoyed teaching martial arts because it gave me the opportunity to teach and empower children with the same valuable lessons I had learned myself: to have the confidence to stand up and speak out against bullies.

I was a devoted Los Angeles Kings fan and played ice hockey my entire youth, and of all positions, I chose to be the goaltender. I idolized the King’s goaltended Kelly Hrudey, and one time I snuck into their locker room, met him, and for a moment, the world stopped. I might have been small for a goalie (as most covered the entire goal with their bodies), but I was the fastest goalie in town and had moves that put Mick Jagger to shame. Losing only fueled my fire to be an even better goalie. I ate pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was a great time.

I enjoy giving back to the community. In 2011, I turned my focus to my passion for helping kids who were being bullied. I started a program called Bully Buster USA®, and traveled around Orange County, putting on Anti-Bullying workshops that I developed for middle school and high school students. The work was extremely rewarding and marked the beginning of my pursuit to improve my public speaking skills.

Recognizing the rise of cyberbullying, especially as the use of cellphones rapidly increased across all ages, I took to technology and helped create one of the first anti-cyberbullying apps called WordBully. The app prevented identified words from reaching targeted phones and notified parents if their children were either being bullied or were being bullies.

If I look back on the successes, and more importantly the failures, I think the biggest takeaway I’ve learned in being patient in finding the right business partner.

I’m guilty of getting very excited by new opportunities, especially ones that have the potential of turning into a successful, profitable, and sustainable business. But just like a romantic relationship, when you are starting with a new business partner, people are usually on their best behavior during the courtship and honeymoon phases. What I have learned, and I can’t stress enough to fellow entrepreneurs, is the importance of really getting to know a potential partner before you start a new venture.

My biggest accomplishment is my loving relationship with my wife. We have been together for more than a decade, and like most relationships, there have been ups and downs. But I am so proud of how we continue to support each other no matter what life throws our way.

So much of our lives are dedicated to work and working. Business partners have come and gone, but Cyn is always there for me. She recently finished her PhD at UCLA and I am so crazy proud of her. She is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m excited about the life we have built together!

My favorite place to travel is located 26 miles off the coast of Southern California, an island called Catalina. My family spent a lot of time there as I was growing up and I have a deep connection to the raw and untouched feeling of the Island. I like to call Catalina the closest furthest place we can get. It truly is an untouched part of California that we are so lucky to have access to.

Cyn and I have a ‘77 Cal 34 sailboat named BINGO and we sail over to the Island as much as we can. When I’m sailing I can disconnect from technology and connect with nature. Being around nature and appreciating the ocean and its wildlife truly centers me to my core. It makes me better at my job, in my life and in how I relate to the world around me.

As Director of the ANTrepreneur Center at the University of California Irvine, my focus is on equipping undergraduate students with the knowledge and tools to become successful entrepreneurs.

I strongly believe in empowering individuals to have confidence in their abilities and providing them with the resources to effectively communicate their ideas to others. It’s gratifying to witness the transformative effect this has on our students.

I’m passionate about fostering collaboration and facilitating connections between various players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. When students can network with seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, it creates a rising tide that lifts all boats, resulting in a sustainable flow of talent and knowledge-sharing. It’s a fulfilling experience to see those with more experience giving back and contributing to the growth of the community.