I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. My mom left the family farm at 21, moved to Detroit, put herself through beauty college, and opened her own shop. Her brothers were farmers, fuel-oil distributors, and commercial bread delivery drivers. On the other side, my dad and uncles ran an automotive repair and collision shop in the city. Entrepreneurship wasn’t just something my family did — it was the blueprint they handed down.

That spirit continued with our own family. My wife, Marla, is the definition of a serial entrepreneur. Over the years she has built and run a commercial bakery serving Detroit’s top restaurants, launched an insurance adjusting agency, started a real-estate support company, and managed a growing residential rental portfolio. She also oversees our two vacation rentals as a Superhost on Airbnb.

Our daughters have followed the same path. Our oldest skipped college, and by 25 had already built a successful office-recruiting company. She later launched and sold her landscaping company, and now owns a home-remodeling business. Our middle daughter grew a thriving dog-walking and pet-sitting company before expanding into commercial insurance, rental properties, and private-equity lending. And our youngest recently launched her own marketing agency, specializing in luxury hotels and restaurants.

My own career path began at GM as an automotive engineer, but in 1989 I left to build an insurance and wealth-management firm. For more than three decades, I had the privilege of working closely with business owners — seeing their challenges, their sacrifices, and the staggering odds they face when it comes time to exit. After years of watching owners struggle with this transition, I sold my firm. Not to retire, but because I felt called to help in a different way.

The truth is, most business owners are exceptional at what they do but unprepared for what comes next. According to the Exit Planning Institute, only 20–30% of businesses that go to market will sell. That means up to 80% of owners who try to exit never complete the sale. For many, their business is their single largest asset. When an exit fails, their financial future — and often the stability of their employees — is at risk.

That reality is why I founded Structured Growth.

Small businesses aren’t just part of the American economy — they’re its backbone. They employ nearly half the country, drive most new job creation, and keep communities strong. Yet too many owners reach the end of the road without a plan for how to transition, capture the value they’ve built, or protect their legacy.

My mission is simple: help owners create a business that can thrive without them — and an exit strategy that rewards the years they’ve invested.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I’m glad you’re here.