Operational Excellence & Growth. Delivered.
1 \ THE WHITE HOUSE
Empact Award
Washington, D.C.
Sept. 28, 2012
Honored by President Barack Obama
& U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra
For inventing a Cloud platform that saved transplant patients’ lives
2 \ ERNST & YOUNG
Entrepreneur of the Year
Palm Springs, California
Nov. 15, 2008
Product Solutions category winner
Youngest winner in program history
Induction into EY EOY Hall of Fame
Honored by Jay Leno at the awards gala
3 \ NYSE Honorary Floor
Bell Ceremony Guest
New York, New York
Nov. 21, 2008
In recognition of National Entrepreneur Week, along with The Kauffman Foundation, Hip Hop Mogul & Entrepreneur Russell Simmons
Education / certifications & memberships
Certifications
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Private Pilot License (PPL) – VFR
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Dale Carnegie Sales Certificate
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Franklin Covey – Sales Certificate
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Holden Marketing & Sales Certificate
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Asher Sales Strategies Certificate
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Business Process Improvement (BPI) Certificate
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Project Management Methodology (PMM) Certificate
Professional Memberships
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Member, Forbes Business Council
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Member, College of Healthcare Information Mgmt. Executives (CHIME)
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Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
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Member, Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)
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Member, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
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Member, Italian American Chamber of Commerce Mich. (IACCM)
The George Washington University
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Information Systems & Healthcare
Washington, D.C.
University of Michigan
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Economics, Business & Sociology
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Background / personal interests
I believe it's important to understand a person's background, their foundation & core interests.
Our early experiences shape who we are, how we operate & what motivates us.
FLYING PLANES
PRIVATE PILOT
LEADERSHIP LESSONS
FROM THE COCKPIT
I use many skills in business learned in flying airplanes, and the tactics
learned in flight school by some of
the best Air Force pilots in the country.
I use my skills in dealing with in-flight emergencies to leading during difficult situations. Staying calm and working the problem tactically, one step at a time.
ANGEL FLIGHT VOLUNTEER PILOT
EMERGENCY TRANSPORT
OF ORGANS & PATIENTS
I volunteer as an Angel Flight Pilot, providing air transportation service for patients in need emergency medical treatment, as well as organs needing immediate shipping to get to patients on donor lists.
These are always life-or-death emergency situations and it is beyond gratifying to help the patients. I've completed dozens of missions over the years across the U.S.
BUILT F/A-18
FLIGHT SIMULATOR
TURNING A CONCEPT
INTO A REALITY
I am a nerd with the need for speed, so I wired, built, programmed and assembled a (non-moving) full physical fighter jet cockpit, wired and programmed with rotaries and switches, reflecting all major F-18 features.
From functional tactical weapons and sensors to radar, navigation, fuel, hydraulic and electric systems. With a 4K curved screen, the experience is as real as it gets.
FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
RAN A $10M HIGH-END LANDSCAPE & HORTICULTURAL BUSINESS IN DETROIT
The ultimate hybrid of learning in the classroom while practicing business with the many lessons of running a small business.
Collegiate Achievements
Honorary Commencement Speaker
(University of Michigan)
EO Global Student Entrepreneur Award
VISA USA Young Entrepreneur Award
HARD WORK
EMBEDDED IN DNA
FROM A FAMILY OF ITALIAN FARMERS & WINEMAKERS
I am first-generation college graduate of Italian immigrants, learning what hard work means, first-hand and appreciating their sacrifice. My family moved to Detroit, Michigan to get jobs working in asphalt and road construction.
Pictured above, at 88-years-old, my grandmother is the head chef at a Detroit Italian restaurant chain.
PAPA JOE'S
PASTA TRUCK
PASTA ON WHEELS, SERVING THE DETROIT HOMELESS SINCE 2008
Leveraging the skills learned from being in an Italian family, I bought an old potato chip distributor truck. Several of my employees, family members and I drive around to local Detroit homeless events, cook and service hot food for the homeless.