Home: New York, NY. Age: 36. Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI. Profession: Nonprofit executive. Organization: Rethink Food. Title: Founder and CEO. Pronouns: He/Him/His. Languages spoken: English and French.
Current project: Help friends nonprofits. Recent recognition: Crains New York 40 Under Forty. Recent professional development: Practicing candor. Latest accomplishment: Breaking a significant revenue goal. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Into government work. Hobbies: Movies, playing guitar, working out; learning about different food and different food cultures. Recent travel or adventure: China. Last book read: Poverty by America, by Mathew Desmond. Recently viewed and recommended: The Big Short.
How do you define a perfect friendship? Supportive. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Mutually beneficial, but not at all times. What is your greatest fear? Letting down the communities I support. What is your guilty pleasure? Smoking. What word or phrase do you use far too often? It’s fine. What natural talent have you neglected? Communications. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Physicians. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? In Upstate New York. How do you relieve stress? Spending time with friends and family and working out. What is your go-to workout? Lifting weights with my friend Rob. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? My partner.
What was your first paying job? Gas station clerk. What was your favorite college course? History of Jazz. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Batman. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Chinese New Year symbols. What’s the best advice you received growing up? You are never negotiating with an organization, you are always negotiating with a person. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? AI. What is your favorite app? App. Slack. What company or organization do you most admire? SpaceX.
What is your big idea?
To merge the for-profit food system. With the nonprofit food system,
What change would you like to see in the world? People talking more and fighting less. What widely held belief do you reject? That food insecurity is permanent. What mega-trend most excites you? AI. What mega-trend most concerns you? AI.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Just Happy to Be Here. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Bill Murray. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A football player. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? State fair with my little sister and my mom after COVID-19.
Personal mission: To make sharing more acceptable. Personal motto: It's not that hard. Favorite quote: “When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. The second-best time is today” (Chinese proverb).
