Born with a physical disability called Spina Bifida in 1983, I was born unable to walk and therefore use a manual wheelchair full time. I'm the first-born of two children; I have a sister whom is three years younger than me.

I've never let my disability get the best of me...I'm a university graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, during which time I worked in the athletics department during my senior year when the university athletics program was transitioning from Division II to DIvision I. It took me about nine years to earn my degree, a few of those years which I was sick with kidney failure and on dialysis three times per week...all while going to school full-time for a good year-and-a-half. Shortly thereafter, I decided it was time for me to leave school to focus on my health. Finally, I was given a second chance at life when I was underwent a kidney transplant and my dad donated one of his kidneys.

Since then, I've done a number of things including directed a youth sports league for children with special needs where I oversaw the development and construction of a wheelchair-accessible baseball diamond, worked in a physical therapy company as a marketing assistant, purchasing agent and executive assistant to the CEO. In addition to my full-time job, I started to join Toastmasters where I have been a member for the past four years. I've served as a club officer multiple times and was named as an area governor for the 2012-2013 year. I've been asked to speak in my local community for a number of non-profit organizations about my life and decided that I wanted to become a professional speaker, coach and cause advocate (representing people with physical disabilities as well as people whom are in need of kidney transplants). I'm in the process of developing my own company in the speaking industry and look forward to helping as many people as I can achieve their own success and tell their own story.