I come from humble beginnings. Born in the Bronx, raised in Orlando, and moved to California at 17, I was raised by two incredibly strong women my mother and grandmother who overcame insane challenges. My childhood was happy, though financially tough. But by my teenage years, things started to shift. I was running with the wrong crowd, struggling with my identity, getting into fights, and caught in a cycle of drug and alcohol use. My future? Not looking great.

So, what was missing? A strong, positive male role model. My father wasn’t a bad guy, but he was absent. And that absence left a mark. Statistically, men without a father figure are more likely to struggle crime rates, self-esteem, poor finances, even suicide rates are higher.

Then, in my mid-20s, I met a mentor who changed everything! He showed me what it meant to be a strong, masculine, and disciplined man not in a toxic way, but in a way that built me up. That was my deep dive into personal growth, masculinity, and leadership.

Fast forward to my mid-30s I had a great career, a strong family, and an amazing network. But something was missing again. I still didn’t have the brotherhood I craved. There were religious men’s groups, self-improvement circles, and business networks, but nothing that brought self-development, business, mindset, and fitness together.

So, I built my own. Along with some like-minded men, I co-founded The Association of Excellence—a space where men push each other to greatness, hold each other accountable, and build meaningful relationships. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just real men leveling up together!