The date was December 16, 2024. That’s the day I was sentenced to 22 months in a federal prison. I never imagined my life would end up this way, especially at 59 years old but I do take responsibility for my actions and poor decisions. Either way, I know this one event does not define the person I am today. As a father to two grown young women, and married to my wife Lori for 33 years, I am indebted for their boundless love and support.
Born in Brooklyn, NY
I was born on May 20, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of five children and one half of a pair of identical twins. My father, a milkman for Sunnydale Farms, started his workdays at 4 a.m., while my mother devoted herself to raising us until I was twelve. After that, she took a bookkeeping job at a Jewish assisted living home. Thanks to their tireless efforts, we lived in a safe and diverse neighborhood in Midwood, surrounded by people of all backgrounds, and had everything we needed. To be honest, when I look back now, I realize we actually weren’t middle class but barely got by. My parents worked hard to provide, and our extended family in Brooklyn and Long Island filled our lives with love and support, creating a warm and nurturing environment.
School and Moved To Sheepshead Bay
School was a steady but unremarkable part of my life; I earned average grades in public schools and spent much of my energy outside the classroom. My twin brother and I were inseparable, playing every sport we could and attending Hebrew school at a Reformed temple. At thirteen, we moved to Sheepshead Bay, and by fourteen, I landed my first job stocking shelves and delivering orders for Nottingham Pharmacy. At seventeen, I started working in the deli department at Waldbaum’s supermarket, where I stayed for five years. That job taught me the value of hard work and gave me my first taste of connecting with people—a skill that would shape my future.
High School and Brooklyn College
High school was filled with activity. My brother and I competed in doubles tennis, and we performed in the school theater group called SING, learning to share the spotlight on stage as easily as we did in life. After graduating from Sheepshead Bay High School in 1983, I enrolled at Brooklyn College, where I studied communications and video production. I juggled my classes with shifts at Waldbaum’s and discovered a new passion: DJing. My classic and alternative rock program on the campus radio station became my creative outlet. During this time, my brother and I also worked as ushers for David Brenner’s Nightlife. Once, the show even wrote us into a skit—about twins, naturally.
Worklife
In 1987, armed with my bachelor’s degree, I began working as a video technician at Maimonides Medical Center. It was a perfect match for my skills and interests. I transmitted medical lectures to hospitals, produced training videos, and even filmed surgeries. I loved the job, and I stayed there for 27 years.
In 1988, everything changed when I met Lori, a passionate and driven woman pursuing her master’s degree in special education. We fell in love, and by 1991, we were married. Three years later, we moved into our current home, ready to build a life together. Lori began teaching in the Half Hollows School District, while I braved a two-hour commute to Maimonides. Our family grew with the arrival of my two daughters, one in 1995 and our second in 1997. Around this time, I launched my own video production company, capturing life’s special moments at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and sweet sixteen parties.
In 1998, Lori and I took a leap into entrepreneurship, joining Amway, a network marketing company. For a decade, we thrived, not financially but personally, as we mentored others to achieve their own goals. That experience sparked a passion for motivational leadership that I carried into other ventures, including selling energy drinks and self-help products.
In 2014, I made a pivotal decision. After years of commuting, I left Maimonides to focus fully on my independent business projects. I was ready to embrace the freedom and challenges of entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, my path took a turn when I became involved with a digital products membership company, and later, with an illegal pyramid scheme. Those choices led to significant legal consequences.
While my journey has had its highs and lows, I am proud of the values instilled in me by my parents: hard work, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to family. These principles have guided me through every chapter of my life, from my childhood in Brooklyn’s diverse Midwood neighborhood to the challenges and successes of adulthood. Through it all, I’ve remained dedicated to creating meaningful connections and inspiring others to reach for more.
