Home: Wilmette, IL. Age: 51. Profession: Investment banker and corporate restructuring advisor. Organization: SOLIC. Title: Co-head and senior managing director. Significant other: My wife, Rebecca. Alma mater: Purdue University (B.S., finance, with honors). What advice would you give aspiring finance professionals? Work hard, ask questions and find ways to make yourself useful. Take initiative rather than waiting for things to happen, and develop peer relationships across your industry—one day those peers will be leading their own firms.
Current philanthropic project: Executive director of the Blood Cancer Society. Latest contribution to others: Volunteer basketball coach for second-, third- and fourth-grade boys through the Wilmette Park District. Hobbies: Community service, mentoring and boating. Recent travel or adventure: A family trip to Florence, Rome and Puglia. Last book read: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer.
Personality profile: Decisive, intuitive and dependable. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Loyal. Moral compass: The Golden Rule. How do you define a perfect friendship? Loyalty, fun and grace. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Trust, dependability and best-in-class execution and service. What is your greatest joy? My children. What natural talent have you neglected? I sing well!
What was your first paying job? Lawn care and putting up hay and straw. What was your favorite college course? Economics. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Matchbox cars. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Ford v Ferrari and The Martian. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Work hard and don’t complain. Life isn’t fair. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Make yourself useful and valuable.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life?
The Complex Journey.
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? My grandfather. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? Astronaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? A framed photo of my grandfather, father, me and my son. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family. What advice would you give your younger self? Don’t be careless with relationships.
Personal mission: Be the best version of myself and someone others can always depend on. Personal motto: Be better. Favorite quote: “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient” (Steve Maraboli). Desired epitaph: He loved his family and was a loyal and generous friend.
