Occupation: Vice President Business Strategy – Drivosity (company headquarters in Lake County) and CayDon Associates //Owner of HitFit Clermont.

What I do: At Drivosity, I manage branding and global strategic partnerships for a last mile delivery SaaS company. I spend the majority of my time Identifying, building and negotiating relationships both domestically and internationally to further business and technical integrations.

How I got started: I started out in restaurants bartending my way through college in 2011. A knack for sales led to opportunities in the software space, where I worked my way up to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in SaaS before transitioning to a PropTech company to grow a niche technology in the construction world. I was really fortunate to have some incredible mentors along the way who not only taught me important lessons in leadership, but offered me opportunities to sink or swim. Those experiences helped me learn very quickly the ins and outs of what is good business and how to grow it quickly.

I’m passionate about helping businesses grow because: When you help a business grow you help two key groups of people: the people who are employed by the company by offering new opportunities and security, and the community that the product impacts. I am fortunate that through Drivosity, the community we impact is via safety in last-mile delivery, meaning, the neighborhoods, local streets and homes of the world. When what you do is a technology that saves lives, it is hard not to be passionate about it.

My biggest professional accomplishment so far: In 2020, I wanted to find a way to recognize the drivers on Drivosity’s platform who were maintaining the highest standard of safety on the roads. These drivers were working to keep our communities—both on a national and local Lake County level—safe, and I believed that should be celebrated. I pitched and developed DrivosityCertified, and through collaboration with our operations, technical teams and company founders, DrivosityCertified Safe Drivers and the DrivosityCertified program was established as a USPTO official certification for safe driving. Today, 5,300 drivers (out of over 60,000+ on the platform) are certified, and we have heard stories about how much it means to drivers through both the internal recognition and the opportunities it opens for them.

When not helping businesses: I am a competitive rower and strongman athlete, as well as a strength and conditioning coach. Any free time is spent either training myself or training other people at either the boathouse or my gym.

My first job: I landed my first job at 16 as a cashier at Sparr Building and Farm Supply in Wildwood.

My local mentor: Anne Eaddy, who is a captain at Lake County Rowing Association (LCRA) and a dear friend, is one of the strongest people I know and has taught me perseverance by pure example. Anne has Multiple Sclerosis and still rows times a week, competes in triathlons, and in her free time does everything from skydiving to the Appalachian Trail, all with a smile and unwavering positive attitude. Anne is currently developing a para and adaptive rowing program for LCRA, bringing inclusivity in sports to our community.

The best advice I’ve received: “Fail fast”. I still live by that daily. In business, failure is inevitable, but give everything you’ve got to an endeavor, be savvy enough to know if it’s working, and know when it is time to move on and focus time and effort on new opportunities.

Fun fact: Before focusing on rowing and strength competitions, I was an MMA fighter. I still train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but spend most of my martial arts time coaching self-defense classes.

If I had a million dollars to give away: I would support literally anything with dogs, mainly bully breed rescues.

Life after 40: I see myself doing a whole lot more of what I am doing now, but possibly with more time for naps.