About Me

I am the Chief Operating Officer for Bently Enterprises, overseeing operations across ten business entities and over 140 employees under a private owner. Each company specializes in different industries, including commercial real estate, alternative fuel, agriculture, cattle, and spirits.

While each business requires a unique strategy, operation, employee type, and subculture, they also share a synonym of values. My responsibilities include ensuring ethical standards are established and embraced by working closely alongside the CFO and reporting directly to the CEO. Reporting directly to me are a series of business-specific general managers and shared services directors; these include a ranch general manager, distillery general manager, security director, director of sales and events, director of real estate and legal, and the director of creative and technology.

Additionally, I lead all shared services. These departments include legal (civil and criminal), technology, marketing, events, HR, and security. In each case, I work closely with the CFO to align key performance measures across businesses while addressing financial needs, private wealth management, staffing concerns, and risk management. Finally, all new ventures begin with business strategy and execution according to the CEO's general vision.

Before COO, I was an Art & Technology Director, directly involved in the curation, management, and execution of creative and technical requirements for various industries. I’ve designed for names such as William Sonoma, the GAP, Nike, Harley Davidson, Snap-on, the Smithsonian, ComEd, Verizon, and AT&T.

My passion for creating art, and the technological refinements to achieve design solutions, pave the way for developing people. I’ve built a team of leaders over the past decade in an environment that embraces collaboration. My experience includes management guidance, employee development, property management, corporate governance, oversight of business litigation, mediation, and negotiation. Corporate social responsibility, business ethics, diversity leadership, responsible restructuring, and international business management remain guiding interests. Additionally, I continue to develop my background in computer technology, front-end coding, marketing, graphic design, and print production in both traditional and digital mediums.

Growing up in a military family, I’ve lived across the United States. I’m an avid reader and am currently studying Mandarin and writing simplified Chinese, watching baseball or basketball, playing video games with my daughter, or drinking too much coffee.

Career Highlights

  • Oversight on tangible and liquid assets exceeding $700MM across four states, five countries, 300,000 square feet, and 45,000 acres.
  • Architect, negotiator, and decision-maker for property sales exceeding $350MM.
  • Lead negotiator for the sale of Bently Holdings, Belvedere Place, the Bently Reserve, and Bently Heritage with the Director of Real Estate.
  • Oversee annual budget of $45MM.
  • Oversee construction projects exceeding $230MM.
  • Industry experience includes: agriculture, alternative fuel, asset management, distilled spirits, events management, food & beverage, health & wellness, land management, residential & commercial real estate, and private wealth.
  • Managed the responsible closure and divestment of 10 companies.
  • Established lobbying program, including leading Nevada SB 345 expanding direct to consumer sales.
  • Spoke before the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Energy; Apple Business Division; and Chamber of Commerce.
  • Built responsible investment policies for non-profit and for-profit entities.
  • Fiduciary oversight on company-sponsored 401(k).
  • Established learning management system encompassing business ethics, management 101, DEI, and technology.
  • Established modern retention packages such as pay-for-performance and debt-free education.
  • Leadership of all civil and criminal matters, including federal court, JAMS mediation, and private investigations.
  • Designed and developed custom business management software.
  • Designed the business plans for all new business ventures, executed starting strategy, and pivots.
  • During The Pandemic, pivoted to hand sanitizer production employing an ethical distribution model; minimized losses with no reduction in staff.
  • Established contact tracing program.
  • Integrally involved in talent acquisition final stage process and training to ensure corporate values.

Additional Skills

  • WSET Level 2, Wine & Spirits
  • COVID-19 Contact Tracing Certification from John Hopkins
  • Harvard ChinaX Certification
  • Beginner Mandarin and simplified Chinese
  • Advanced spreadsheet modeling
  • Advanced front-end coding experience (i.e., HTML, CSS, and frameworks)
  • Advanced design experience, including UI, UX, Art Direction, Marketing, Branding, and traditional Art theory
  • Experienced in python, JavaScript, and database management
  • Experienced in security, network administration, & data analysis
  • Experienced in a wide variety of operating systems, communication technology, and web applications

Education

  • San José State University (SJSU); M.A. in Philosophy.
  • Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU); B.S., Major - Finance, Minor - Philosophy, Summa Cum Laude.

Certifications

  • 2021, Leadership for Senior Executives, Harvard Business School Executive Education, Credential ID CeDiD: 21BJ-1WHS-BMYF and Name: BR
  • 2020, History of China: Bronze Age to the Last Dynasties, Harvard's ChinaX
  • 2020, History of China: The Modern Era, Harvard's ChinaX
  • 2020, Covid-19 Contact Tracing Certified, John Hopkins University Online
  • 2019, Venture Capital, Wharton Executive Education, Credly
  • 2018, Mandarin 1 & Mandarin 2, San Jose Learning Center
  • 2014, Certifications in HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, and Programming Logic & Design, Treehouse
  • 2013, WSET Level 2, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
  • 2008, Financial Analysis for Non-Financial Executives, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Memberships & Volunteer Work

  • YPO
  • NAACP
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Children International
  • Josie’s Place
  • Society for Business Ethics
  • Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum (SEAC)