I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, but ever since one of my best friends moved to Aspen during high school, I have been hooked on Colorado. In fact, when it came time to apply for colleges, I only applied to schools here in the Centennial State. While various life experiences, both personal and professional, have bounced me around this great country, my heart has always been with Colorado and I was finally able to move back here in July 2015 with my wife (then fiancée), Stephanie.
Growing up in South Florida provides slightly different experiences than here in Colorado. For example, kids in Colorado have easier access to ski on world-class mountain slopes while children in Miami get to play hide and go seek from Zika-carrying mosquitos—but I digress. Joking aside, my years in Miami were fantastic and I was fortunate enough to have parents who worked hard, stressed the value of an education, and sacrificed vacations and other discretionary expenses to send my sister and I to an incredible preparatory high school.
While in high school, I swam and played water polo (yes, I wore a speedo). At this moment you may be wondering what I look like in a speedo, but I assure you that my point here is to stress how playing sports taught me how to work in a team environment—whether it’s in a pool, on a tennis court with my doubles partner, or in a law firm setting where I need to collaborate with my colleagues to get the best results for our clients.
I believe that true effort yields success. In fact, the high school water polo team that I was on won two state championships, one during my sophomore year and another during my senior year when I was a team captain. To this day, I apply the same work ethic in my practice of law that I did 20+ years ago to achieve fantastic results in the pool. I may look a little different now, and have a few less strands of hair, but my heart is the same and that is what I give to my clients for each and every matter that comes across my desk—no matter how big or small.
(Cat Skiing on Buffalo Pass)
(Meeting My Childhood Hero and Heisman Trophy Winner at the Cordillera Member-Guest)
Now that Stephanie and I are finally where we want to be, you’ll most often find us hiking in the summer and fall with our Golden Retriever, Nacho, and our Newfoundland, Biscuit; skiing and snowboarding in the winter; and spending time with so many of our cherished friends in the Valley.
Cheers to you and yours, and hopefully I can find a way to be of service to you whenever the need arises.