Major: Communication

Businesses:Fox Harbor Pub & Grill in Green Bay, Wis. and Dead Red Sports Solutions

“Dedication and drive are key players in my life, whether that is on the baseball field, managing any of my businesses or running marathons. In everything I do, I strive to succeed and work toward whatever vision I have at the moment. St. Norbert College taught me that perseverance is a necessity to be successful in any situation. I learned how to work hard and be dedicated, which has helped me in all my businesses.

‘I am part of six different companies, the sole owner in some and part owner of others—these range from commercial real estate to a sports technology company. The two companies that I am most proud of are Fox Harbor Pub & Grill and Dead Red Sports Solutions. I am the founder of Fox Harbor Pub & Grill; 18 years ago, I created this successful business in an old historic hotel. Then, four years ago, I saw a need for an app for coaches to use to connect with their players. I got together with Titletown Tech to create this app called coachesEDG, which is currently used by baseball and softball teams across the United States.

“I learned many of the keys to business success during my time at St. Norbert College. Two of the most important are time management and independence. I was a full-time student at SNC while also balancing a job and being a college athlete. I learned that in order for me to succeed, I needed to work hard and be dedicated to whatever I did. Academics didn’t come naturally to me, and I was not blessed with the size or speed that some of my baseball teammates were, but these struggles turned into strengths in my career and have helped me succeed as an entrepreneur. The entire St. Norbert College experience shaped me and had a huge impact on my life. My son is going to SNC and is also going to be on the baseball team, so he, too, will learn these life-altering skills. I am excited to be an SNC parent and experience all this from a different lens.

“I learned early on in my entrepreneurship that in order to be successful you need to invest in yourself and your business. Being an entrepreneur is not easy; there are peaks and valleys, wins and losses. It is difficult and not everyone is built for it. It takes passion and constant dedication to your work. But there is also a huge amount of satisfaction when you are an entrepreneur, especially when you have a vision, work toward it and achieve it.

“In all my businesses, I focus on having continued growth and adapting to change. Just like in college, there are challenges, setbacks and successes, and there are lessons in all of them. Life is unpredictable: No one knows what is going to happen next, but surrounding yourself with smart, supportive people, and having a community helps get you to the finish line.”

Learn more about Fox Harbor Pub & Grill

Learn more about Dead Red Sports Solutions

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