| When I was five, my mother abandoned me.
I was in and out of foster care and attended nine different elementary schools. Instead of becoming a statistic, I completed high school and went on to serve my country. I was told I was too small to be a Navy SEAL. To overcome this, I worked out three hours per day and earned a chance. Two hundred men began my Navy SEAL training class with only 19 graduating.
After my ten-year Navy career where I served as a U.S. Navy SEAL all over the world, I founded SEAL Team PT, Inc. (SEAL Team Physical Training Inc.) in my hometown of Richmond where my team and I help teams and individuals become stronger, healthier, and more confident. My business celebrated 20 years this year. We now have 55 employees in several cities.
As my business was flourishing in 2006, tragedy struck when I broke my neck in an accident. Doctors said I would not make it through the night and if I did, I would not walk again. It took me three years to turn the key to my cars ignition, but with relentless hard work I beat the odds and continue to lead my business. Since my injury, I recently qualified for the Obstacle Course World Championships.
This is the same commitment that I bring to the General Assembly as your delegate.
In 2017, I had one of the largest Republican wins in Virginia. During the first week of my first session in the General Assembly, several newspapers said my team and I saved Virginia 100 million dollars by solving a eight year problem in just two days. We did this by treating people with respect and working as a team.
Since that first victory, we have had many more victories. My favorite so far is helping a veteran get his flag pole back where he raised the same American flag he flew over his bunker in Vietnam.
As a husband and father of five I know the importance of fostering a true partnership between our families, our communities and our state government. As your delegate, have used my background and acquired skills to strengthen this partnership. |