Dream It. Build It.
Solving problems worth solving through business.
Investor & Advisor
Investor
Disclaimer: I’m not actually Gordon Gekko. However, I do actively invest in startups that are attempting to solve real problems and have the potential to make a positive impact on the world. Most of my personal investments focus on pre-seed and seed-stage opportunities.
Venture Studio
I enjoy helping other founders navigate the complexities of launching a new startup. That’s why co-founded Nashville-based Mark II Ventures, one of the first venture studios in the Southeast focused on building AI-enabled startups. You can learn more about Mark II Ventures here.
Board Member
I serve on a small number of select Boards of companies and organizations that are attempting to solve hard problems that I think are interesting and important. Good governance is an under-appreciated, but incredibly important aspect of helping an organization achieve ambitious goals.
Fintech + HRtech (2018-Present)
I had the incredible experience of building a venture-backed startup that was a spin-out of my previous company.
$18M Raised
Raising capital is never an easy process. Spur gave me an opportunity to learn more about venture financing and structuring both equity and debt fundraising rounds. I was lucky enough to do this with some of the most talented and high-integrity investors around.
HR Meets Fintech
My team and I set out to solve an ambitious problem. Our goal was to use real-time employment data to help blue-collar workers get better access to financial services. We built an integrated HCM platform for hourly workforces with a highly structured data framework. This allowed better financial underwriting of people with fluid earnings and thin credit files.
Culture Building
When you work 100 hours a week with amazing people, you learn a lot about high-performance cultures. This experience taught me how to build and foster a strong culture among true A Players. It’s a balance of working hard while not sacrificing personal connections.
What A Ride
I don’t believe in shying away from our failures. Failure is where most learning takes place. Unfortunately, we had to dramatically pivot in 2020 due to the impact of COVID on our target industries. We ended up re-merging with Spur Staffing, the company we had spun out of a couple of years earlier. But thanks to that move, we survived and the new combined Spur is now thriving like never before.
Reimagine an Industry (2012-Present)
In 2012, the staffing industry was still fairly early in the use of software automation. I started Spur Staffing with the goal of using software and smart automation tools to drive down costs and improve the experience for both sides of the staffing marketplace (workers and businesses).
Marketplaces
This was my first experience building a two-sided marketplace. Through this experience, I learned a lot about platform dynamics and the right way to scale a marketplace.
My team and I have grown the company into a successful industry leader that is still going strong today and employs thousands of people across the US. I stepped down from the CEO role in 2020 after successfully merging Spur Staffing with our HCM software spinout. Today, I’m able to support Spur’s continued growth as Chairman of the Board.
College Dropout Story (2006-2013)
Imagine calling your mom and saying “I’m giving up my scholarship and dropping out of college… to start a tutoring company”. Yeah...it went about as well as you’d imagine. But it turned out okay in the end (told you, mom).
Learning the Ropes
This was my first experience with developing algorithmic software automation tools. We built one of the earliest web-based platforms that automatically matched tutors and students based on a variety of preferences and attributes.
Tutor What?
What started as a side-hustle in college that my friends affectionately referred to as “tutor pimping” eventually became a multi-million dollar tech-enabled tutoring and test prep company that spanned from Austin, TX to Atlanta, GA. The company was eventually acquired by N’genius Tutoring & Test Prep.
Some Awards & Such
Venture Atlanta (2020)
One of only 21 Founders chosen to present at the 2020 Venture Atlanta conference as a Spotlight Company
US Chamber of Commerce (2010)
Recognized as one of the top 75 small businesses in the country by the US Chamber of Comm.
Ernst & Young (2017)
Recognized by Ernst & Young as a Top 3 Finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southeastern Region.
Small Business of the Year (2010)
Chosen as Small Business of the Year by the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce.
BusinessWeek (2011)
Recognized nationally by BusinessWeek in 2011 as one of the Top 5 Entrepreneurs under the age of 25.
Entrepreneur of the Year (2009)
Recognized as the youngest Entrepreneur of the Year ever in Alabama (age 23).