Home: Middletown, CT. Birthplace: Jamaica, West Indies. Profession: Municipal finance and operations executive. Organization: City of Middletown; Middletown Little League. Title: Chief Management Analyst; President & Treasurer, Middletown Little League. Significant other: My wife, "SugarBoo." Alma mater: Boston College (B.S.); Fordham University (MBA).
Current project: Modernizing municipal government operations while expanding opportunities for youth baseball and softball. Recent recognition: Recipient of the Middlesex County Volunteer of the Year Award. Latest accomplishment: Helping lead Middletown Little League to multiple district and sectional championships. Latest contribution to others: Mentoring youth athletes, coaches and volunteers throughout the community. Last book read: Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. Recently viewed and recommended: Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities. Recent unique acquisition: A baseball signed by Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez.
Personality profile: Approachable, resilient, strategic and passionate. Moral compass: Treat people the way you would want to be treated. How do you define a perfect friendship? Trust, accountability and transparency. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Trust, transparency, mutual respect and accountability. What is your greatest joy? Watching my children and young athletes grow and succeed. What is your greatest fear? Leaving potential unrealized. What is at the top of your bucket list? A family safari trip to Africa. How do you relieve stress? Barbecuing, listening to reggae and rocksteady, watching a good movie or relaxing with jazz.
What was your first paying job? Clerk/Futures Trader at STR Trading Partners, LLP. What was your favorite college course? Philosophy and theology. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Saving Private Ryan. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Character is built through your actions, especially when no one is watching. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Always lead with integrity, treat people with respect and focus on leaving things better than you found them. What is your go-to source of news and information? Trusted news outlets, professional resources and conversations with people who bring different perspectives. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The Civil Rights Movement.
What is your big idea?
Strong communities are built through intentional investment in youth, infrastructure and leadership.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Building a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement in public service. What change would you like to see in the world? A greater commitment to empathy, understanding and respect for one another. What message do you want to send out into the world? Lead with kindness, purpose and perseverance. What widely held belief do you reject? One person cannot make a meaningful difference.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Beyond the Scoreboard. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Denzel Washington. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A professional baseball player. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family at a baseball field, sharing stories and making memories. What advice would you give your younger self? Take more calculated risks. Trust yourself sooner. Embrace opportunities even when the outcome is uncertain. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? I would have explored a career path in investment banking or financial markets earlier.
Personal mission: Serving others, creating opportunities and leaving a lasting positive impact on people and communities. Personal motto: Work hard, stay humble and serve others. Favorite quote: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" (frequently attributed to Winston Churchill). Desired epitaph: He made a difference and helped others do the same.
