Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My inspiration is the collaborative pursuit of excellence. I’m not building just another location to buy supplies. I’m building a high level partnership that gives contractors a real advantage over their competition. The materials pay the bills, but the partnership is the inspiration. I’m driven by the opportunity to help others achieve their dreams while I achieve mine. When we win together, we move the industry forward in a positive way. That is my purpose.

How do you stay motivated?

The chance of being alive is less than winning the lottery every day for the rest of your life. Why waste that chance being mediocre? I stay motivated by the drive to be #1 and the refusal to give anything less than everything I have. Whatever I'm doing, I’m all in. If I lose, it will be because someone else was better, not because I gave up or didn’t push. I don’t just want to participate in this industry, I want to dominate it through relentless effort and purpose.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’ve been grinding for this since I was 16 years old. At 45, I am finally capturing the dream of ownership. This $25,000 is the final piece of the puzzle. It goes directly toward purchasing my equity in Winsupply Albany. This is it, running a company is the dream. It solidifies my ability to lead, innovate, and continue helping my fellow contractors achieve their own dreams for the next 30 years.