My first job out of college was in the regulatory industry, working for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as a bank examiner. I spent the next 11 years learning about the banking industry, conducting bank audits, and becoming familiar with federal rules and regulations pertaining to banking and finance. 

While at FDIC, I developed an interest in programming which was the spark that led me to go back and get my Master’s in MIS.  During that time, I interned at UAMS in the cancer institute while learning database development.  I then earned a full-time position as a developer, working on SQL databases, and performing ad hoc data requests.  As part of the Cancer Institute IT team, I mainly provided informational support in the form of data requests, to researchers working on various types of cancer treatments. 

After 6 years of supporting cancer research data requests, I used that knowledge to transition into a programming career at Vestcom International where I was a software developer. In addition to working on SQL databases, I began to learn to code in C# and spent the next 4 years as software developer. While at Vestcom, I worked on the company’s order management system that grocery store clients use to customize and order shelf tags for numerous stores across multiple locations.

I eventually ended up connecting with Brad Raines, the Principal Advisor at Applied Capital, where we discussed the growth the firm had experienced over the last several years. Brad expressed that the firm had recently crossed the size threshold that would require a full time Chief Compliance Officer, and presented a scenario of a young, but experienced firm with high growth potential. After months of deliberation, I decided to join the team in March of 2021, following a year of working from home.  Although I have been happily married for 22 years to my wife Anita, she was probably happy to have me working outside the house again.