I learned how to learn by spending a couple of decades in school, starting in a public school as a kindergartner in Connecticut and culminating as a graduate student at Temple University in Philadelphia. I am very conscious of my surroundings and closely observed how I learn and how others learn while in these various environments. I continue to read on a very disparate range of subjects from thermodynamics to engineering to history to business. My ability to learn permits me to mash up a great variety of ideas and develop new perspectives on common business issues.

I learned about business by working – it has all been on the job training for me. I started a business called "Mr Neat" while I was in high school, posting signs in the local commuter train station and doing odd jobs for people while they were at work. Along the way I worked as a Marine, delivered dry cleaning, sold books, and painted houses before moving into an office and conducting marketing research, developing product strategy, helping launch a new product company, starting and managing a technology business incubator, and co-founding MEAPA, LLC. It is through this direct experience that I developed my knowledge and insight to marketing, sales, operations, finances, product development, human relations, and investor relations.

I learned about teaching by teaching. In graduate school, I taught numerous courses as part of my fellowships. I also taught U.S. History and Political Science courses at a state college in Pennsylvania and at a state college in Oklahoma and for the U.S. Army at Fort Sill. My teaching experience continued to Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship at yet another college where I hold an endowed position. I have been a student of teaching, learning and incorporating the best methods to effectively convey information so that others may benefit. I have supplemented this through numerous workshops with people who have been out of school for years or even decades and have a different learning style.

I learned that my professional development was related to my personal growth as I became aware of what motivated me and drew my attention. While working for others I always had an underlying discontent but it took self-reflection to understand that my discontent was something that could be exploited to create value. Through the examination of my personal habits and traits it became increasingly clear that I needed to start MEAPA as a way to have a positive impact on others. It is important to me that it is run efficiently, reaches everyone who can benefit from it, and delivers meaningful products in an effective manner.