Experience

EquiShare Alliance

• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Investment Officer

  • Mar 2023 - Present

  Huntsville, Alabama, United States



Golden Grace Imports, LLC

• Managing Director & Co-Founder

  • 2021 - Dec 2022

  Huntsville, Alabama, United States I have been the partner in charge of leading operations to support a start-up import/export company requiring execution of foundational activities including devising the financing and funding plan, budgeting and forecasting, contract negotiations, licensing and compliance, and distribution and logistics. ✦ Worked with digital agency on strategic marketing plan and formulated go-to-market roadmap to bolster brand recognition in new and innovative ways in a global, post-pandemic… Show more I have been the partner in charge of leading operations to support a start-up import/export company requiring execution of foundational activities including devising the financing and funding plan, budgeting and forecasting, contract negotiations, licensing and compliance, and distribution and logistics. ✦ Worked with digital agency on strategic marketing plan and formulated go-to-market roadmap to bolster brand recognition in new and innovative ways in a global, post-pandemic marketplace. ✦ Negotiated and signed exclusivity agreements with highly sought-after wine producers in Western Australia and Spanish La Rioja regions to be the sole US importer and the first ever to bring their products into the US market. ✦ Partnered with attorney to lead and complete the licensing process required to operate a business importing and exporting alcohol into and out of the United States. ✦ Researched, negotiated contract with, and secured US-based logistics provider to establish specialty warehouse and distribution of alcoholic beverage products. ✦ Made strategic decision to outsource purchase order processing and management of compliance protocols. ✦ Boosted employee morale by fostering positive relationships, listening to and acting upon feedback, and creating a culture of inclusion. Show less



Western Grace Distilling, Inc.

• Managing Director & Co-Founder

  • 2013 - 2020

  Nashville, TN My partners and I built this company from the ground up. In this role, I led research and development and go-to-market strategies for a first-of-its-kind brandy that was cultivated and distilled from grapes sourced from La Mancha, Spain. Together, we invented a product geared toward a new niche in the brown spirits market. ✦ Entered an underrepresented category in the brown spirits marketplace and carved out a space to compete against dominant players like E&J, Korbel, Christian… Show more My partners and I built this company from the ground up. In this role, I led research and development and go-to-market strategies for a first-of-its-kind brandy that was cultivated and distilled from grapes sourced from La Mancha, Spain. Together, we invented a product geared toward a new niche in the brown spirits market. ✦ Entered an underrepresented category in the brown spirits marketplace and carved out a space to compete against dominant players like E&J, Korbel, Christian Brothers, and Paul Masson which collectively accounted for 96% of the American brandy market. ✦ Conducted market research and developed pricing strategy to enter the market in a space with zero competitors. ✦ Developed relationship with distillery in Spain, negotiated contract and conducted tastings to perfect the brandy recipe. ✦ Designed and launched product pitch and marketed concept to friends/family, raising $500K in first round. Produced first batch and shipped to the US market. ✦ Conducted ride-alongs with distributor’s representatives to pitch product to owners and buyers in bars, restaurants, and liquor stores to create brand recognition, leading to 100% YOY increase in sales annually from 2016 to 2020. ✦ Leveraged network and market penetration strategies to gain distributor relationship, resulting in taking the product to nine US markets with rapid growth across 1,500 accounts. Show less



Factory Floor

• Co-Founder

  • 2012 - 2015

  New York, NY Start-up collective whose goal was to assemble a diverse group of talent from three pools of skillsets--Business, Creative & Technology--in order to tackle a wide array of different projects, ranging from TV shows to tech offerings to sustainable farming. The overriding principle of the company was to center the Creative element and to ensure that the ownership slice of every disparate project was allocated based on direct contribution, thus providing equitable and justifiable… Show more Start-up collective whose goal was to assemble a diverse group of talent from three pools of skillsets--Business, Creative & Technology--in order to tackle a wide array of different projects, ranging from TV shows to tech offerings to sustainable farming. The overriding principle of the company was to center the Creative element and to ensure that the ownership slice of every disparate project was allocated based on direct contribution, thus providing equitable and justifiable remuneration directly proportional to one's output. Produced two TV projects--one children's show teaser, and a pilot for a comedy/cooking-show hybrid--and prototyped a couple tech products. Show less



Gleacher & Company

• Investment Banking
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Head of Asset-Backed Securities Trading

  • 2008 - 2011

  New York City Metropolitan Area As the head of asset-backed securities trading, I worked closely with the sales team to expand business opportunities with 100+ client relationships, bringing awareness to product offerings. Our team traded auto loans, credit card loans, student loans, equipment leasing, and more. I delivered increases in ROI for clients across the United States. As the more senior member of the team, I had the opportunity to mentor junior traders to increase overall productivity. ✦ Reinvigorated dormant… Show more As the head of asset-backed securities trading, I worked closely with the sales team to expand business opportunities with 100+ client relationships, bringing awareness to product offerings. Our team traded auto loans, credit card loans, student loans, equipment leasing, and more. I delivered increases in ROI for clients across the United States. As the more senior member of the team, I had the opportunity to mentor junior traders to increase overall productivity. ✦ Reinvigorated dormant business segment by creating trusting relationships and increasing visibility with new and existing client contacts. ✦ Generated $10M+ in profit over three years through consistent and proactive relationship-building efforts. ✦ Coordinated strategy to focus on primary bond issuance, creating a new and significant revenue stream for the firm. ✦ Educated sales team on new products and how to pitch products effectively to clients, boosting activity to close deals and increasing total production generated by the team. Show less



Barclays

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Director, Asset-Backed Securities Trading

  • 2005 - 2008

  New York City, NY I was selected to lead the growth of the asset-backed securities trading division in the New York office. This position required me to travel across the US to represent the team in 1:1 meetings with high-profile clients and at industry conferences. ✦ Hired as employee #2 and worked to build the team to seven top-performing traders who became known on Wall Street as one of the best asset-backed securities desk teams in the industry. ✦ Prepared insightful market analyses utilizing… Show more I was selected to lead the growth of the asset-backed securities trading division in the New York office. This position required me to travel across the US to represent the team in 1:1 meetings with high-profile clients and at industry conferences. ✦ Hired as employee #2 and worked to build the team to seven top-performing traders who became known on Wall Street as one of the best asset-backed securities desk teams in the industry. ✦ Prepared insightful market analyses utilizing massive database to deliver valuable and industry-specific intelligence to fulfill client needs. ✦ Increased profit from $5M to $125M in three years by implementing an innovative analytical model to increase client contact. ✦ Rebuilt and directed all department operations to increase productivity and efficiency in tracking sales and trades, analyzing activities, and ensuring best use of department database. ✦ Appointed to train new hires to ramp up production and contribution, quickly resulting in increased speed to market.

• Sales Specialist, Asset-Backed Securities Sales

  • 2001 - 2005

  New York, New York, United States Here, I was quickly promoted from sales associate—generalist sales, to sales specialist—asset-backed securities sales, based on my strong ability to build trusting global client relationships. I partnered with sales leadership in strategic client conversations to become the daily point of contact. ✦ Pioneered new revenue channel with four team members by establishing asset-backed securities sales team. ✦ Closed deals across a wide variety of products and through a strategic… Show more Here, I was quickly promoted from sales associate—generalist sales, to sales specialist—asset-backed securities sales, based on my strong ability to build trusting global client relationships. I partnered with sales leadership in strategic client conversations to become the daily point of contact. ✦ Pioneered new revenue channel with four team members by establishing asset-backed securities sales team. ✦ Closed deals across a wide variety of products and through a strategic go-to-market plan requiring reactivating 25+ previously dormant accounts.