I first became interested in business as a child. My father was a great role model and instilled in me an entrepreneurial spirit.

After starting my career in the corporate world, I saw how employees were often treated as numbers and wanted to create opportunities for workers to be appreciated and supported in their professional and personal growth. In 2011 I decided to start a trucking company, Simpson Logistics, known now as SL Companies, Inc., with my father, who had been in the transportation and logistics business for many years. Beginning with a single truck, we quickly grew the operation and later merged with several other trucking companies.

At the end of Fiscal Year 2016, Simpson Logistics earned FedEx Ground’s District Entrepreneur of the Year award. Having received this award is one of my proudest achievements. After our trucking business grew to a certain point, we decided to sell its assets to a larger company.

I then transitioned Simpson Logistics to SL Companies, Inc., a firm focused on mergers and acquisitions. I am proud of every deal that I accomplish due to the time, energy, and expertise put into it. Any time I can add value to an organization, that makes me happy.

Learning is an everyday process, and I try to make it a daily practice through reading and listening to podcasts. Working with and managing people has provided me with the foundation for how I appreciate others as a businessman. Collaboration has been a significant source of my personal and professional growth.

Beyond business, I advocate for mental health in my community, using the slogan I Am Mental Health®. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child but never understood how to manage it until I became an adult — being able to experience that aspect of life and express to people why receiving care and support is important is something I highly value. The more we understand about mental health, the more we can support those affected to be successful in their everyday lives.

Another way I participate in my community is by serving on nonprofit advisory boards. Guilford Basics is one of my favorite organizations and is focused on childhood development; eighty percent of brain development occurs before age three, so ensuring that a child is set up to learn from an early age is critical. A reason this is especially important to me is that as a father, I seek to give my children the best opportunities to flourish.