The University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business

For the past decade, my professional life has been shaped by entrepreneurship, investment analysis, and hands-on business building.

As the founder of a private investment and strategic consulting firm, I have worked across a wide range of industries, including green energy, biotech, hospitality, commercial real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, and early-stage technology. My work has included financial modeling, deal analysis, strategic planning, fundraising support, operational troubleshooting, and helping companies translate ambitious ideas into practical execution.

That experience taught me something important: business is not just about having ideas. It is about building systems that can measure reality, make better decisions, adapt under pressure, and execute with discipline.

Over the last few years, I have become increasingly convinced that data analytics and artificial intelligence are changing the fundamental nature of business. As AI begins to automate more of the technical and execution-oriented layers of work, the real advantage will belong to people who can combine judgment, strategy, data, and systems thinking.

That is what led me to pursue the Master of Science in Business Analytics at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

I am not pursuing this degree simply to add another credential. I am pursuing it because I want to strengthen the analytical foundation underneath my work. I want to become more rigorous in how I use data, more technically capable in how I evaluate complex systems, and more effective in helping organizations make better decisions.

My goal is to move from traditional business analysis into a more advanced form of data-informed strategy: one that integrates financial reasoning, operational measurement, predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI-enabled decision support.

Ultimately, I see business analytics as a bridge between strategy and execution. It is the discipline that helps organizations understand what is happening, why it is happening, what is likely to happen next, and what should be done about it.

For me, the MSBA is part of a larger professional evolution: becoming the kind of operator, strategist, and builder who can help organizations navigate complexity, improve performance, and create intelligent systems that turn information into action.

After Southern Illinois, I transferred to play basketball at The University of Utah. I was injured and had to sit out for NCAA transfer rules, so I spent this year recovering. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my knees better and had to give up basketball.

While I was at The University of Utah I was a member of The Student Media Council, Digital Media Group, and the Honors College. I also worked under Ambassador John Price and Senator Bob Bennett in the Hinckley Institute of Politics. 

I did well in investment during this time and decided to give school a break to start The EDG and try my hand at business. 8 years and many lessons later, I went back to finish economics degree in Fall 2023, I maintained a 3.88 GPA.

Weather/climate is to farming as commerce/economy is to business.

Economics teaches you where the business and material dominoes fall and how to think in broader models with lesser or greater precision depending on your analytical needs. Studying economics also humbles you about the complexity of our society, and helps you understand what question(s) you have a higher or lower probability of being able to answer with some level of precision with the given data.

To learn more about what I learned visit my blog:

What I Learned from an Economics Degree

Professional Benefits of an Economics Degree

Analysis on Inflation 2019-2024

What Makes a "Good" Economy?

After Fishburne Military School I committed to Southern Illinois University to play for Coach Chris Lowery. We were terrible that year, and I was terrible that year, but we had some positive experiences. I played against 8 nationally ranked teams that year, including four in our conference. I played against Creighton and the National Player of the Year Doug Mcdermott, I played against Wichita State the year they won the NIT and the year before they went to the Final Four. I got to go to Hawaii to compete in the Diamond Head Classic. I played against 5 future NBA players. I was on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was a student athlete tutor, and I won the Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award for my efforts in charity.

I studied business and maintained a 4.0.

After high school I was a year young for my grade and 6'10" 190 lbs when I graduated from Judge. I needed an extra year to bulk up to play college basketball. Fishburne had a top 10 in the nation preparatory basketball team so I decided to go there. Fishburne was quite the experience. We finished 7th in the nation and 14 of the 16 players on my team went on to play Division 1 basketball. The military aspect was good for discipline, but the real experience of military school is being willing to be tortured for a year to move towards a higher purpose. 

I maintained a 4.0 while I was there and was admitted to several Ivy league institutions. One of my regrets has been chasing the basketball dream instead of going to one of those institutions. But it built character and I am proud of where I am today.

For High School I attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School (and East High for my junior year). Judge was rigorous and prepared me for college well. While I was there I was on the deans list, an all-state basketball player, and an all state debater. My basketball team took second at state, was invited to the ACIT tournament in Maryland, and after my senior season Coach Yerkovich told me I was the most improved player he had seen in 44 years of coaching. I won first place in the national qualifier for debate in congress.

High school was tough for me as it typically is for everyone. I had to overcome a lot of emotional and social issues; but overall I have fond memories.