Home: New York, NY and San Diego, CA. Age: Under 50. Birthplace: San Diego, CA. Profession: Real estate development - large scale. Title: Chief Executive Officer. Alma mater: New York University. Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Current project: Professional. Recent recognition: Over a dozen buildings owned or developed. Recent professional development: Community development. Latest accomplishment: Speaker at various functions. Latest contribution to others: Charitable gifts to multiple San Diego schools. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Grew a law firm from one attorney to over twenty, recovering over $1 billion for its clients. Hobbies: Basketball; represented the United States in Maccabiah Games in Israel. Recent travel or adventure: Drove from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas down the entire strip of Baja California. Last book read: Electric Kool Aid Acid Trip, by Tom Wolfe. Recently viewed and recommended: The Spy, the story of Eli Cohen. Recent unique acquisition: Award winning architectural building in Little Italy.
Personality profile: Works alone. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Loyal. Moral compass: Loyalty. How do you define a perfect friendship? Unfettered trust. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Competence and unfettered trust. What is your greatest joy? Basketball followed by an ice bath. What is your greatest fear? Snakes. What is your guilty pleasure? Casino buffets. What word or phrase do you use far too often? All good. What natural talent have you neglected? Architecture. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Aerospace engineers. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Anywhere in the mountains with snow. What is at the top of your bucket list? Travel in space. How do you relieve stress? The ice bath, at below freezing temperature. What is your go-to workout? High level basketball games. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Outdoors where exercise is the main ingredient.
What was your first paying job? Bartender. What was your favorite college course? Biology. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Rubix Cube. What book have you repeatedly read? The Great Gatsby. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Spy Game. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A newspaper headline: me with my first client who was wrongfully convicted and released from jail. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My first boss. What’s the best advice you received growing up? It's ok to fail. What’s the best advice you received in your career? You can work hard, or you can work smart. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Calculator. What is your go-to source of news and information? The Wall Street Journal. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? YouTube. What company or organization do you most admire? Tesla. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The Holocaust. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Close family members fighting in a war.
What is your big idea?
Coming back after a massive failure.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Bringing down unnecessary regulation. What change would you like to see in the world? Young people being smarter about world events (not controlled by social or other media). What message do you want to send out into the world? Use your instincts, not what others want you to believe. What widely held belief do you reject? Kennedy assassination theories. What mega-trend most excites you? Artificial intelligence. What mega-trend most concerns you? Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? The Comeback. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Ben Affleck. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Moses. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An astronaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Kids photos. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family on a private beach. What advice would you give your younger self? Work alone. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? Any day watching my kids have success. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? My early forties.
Personal mission: Simply, do the right thing. Personal motto: Be a mensch
