I grew up in a tiny village outside Antwerp, Belgium. My grandfather, a soft-spoken aristocrat, was responsible for rebuilding Belgium’s electric grid, which was mostly destroyed during WW2. He and his team went on to deliver a safe and stable network used by millions of households and businesses. Several years later, at his funeral in 1986, his closest colleague’s eulogy not only emphasized his kindness but also how he had fought like a lion to invest in better PPE and to introduce the first safety rules at the company. Union leaders then read a long list of workers that survived thanks to his initiatives. I was 10 years old, and the goodness and fierceness of my grandfather left an enduring mark on my soul. My Dad inherited his personality, and – even though I left my family in Belgium for New Jersey – he’s my North Star in growing SkillSignal.

I went on to start my professional career in 1999, working in top international banking and insurance. I sharpened my skills in building complex digital platforms and data systems during intense projects in London, Paris, Istanbul, Cincinnati, and New York City. SkillSignal is combining my roots in the trades and the wings I built in systems management!

Most important life lesson: Becoming an Eagle Scout taught me to never back down and stay together.

Favorite business principle: Always day 1.

For public speaking engagements on construction safety and wellness, please email:
info@skillsignal.com

Having grown up surrounded by family members in the trades, I was always led by those who understood grit and hard work which in turn helped foster a genuine passion for taking care of those that build. Following the navy, my father dedicated his professional life to the trades as a carpenter. I watched my dad day-in/day-out work to build his company and contribute to some really incredible jobs along the way. I’ll never forget those proud moments of driving past his flagship projects, noting “I helped build that”. I believe those special moments really laid the foundation for recognizing the nobility of this industry and wanting to play my part. My professional background includes working within ultra-high-end customer service positions for NYC’s elite and public health and safety with the Department of Health. In my current role as head of customer success, I tie my client-facing experience and expertise together to guide teams towards enhanced compliance and greater success. I understand that every project is different and often works in different ways, I truly love to embrace that aspect of complexity.

I have many passions outside of work, one of which is world travel, having visited 18 countries and counting. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie and love scuba diving in new waters, scaling mountains via Ferrata, and learning new cultures.

Favorite business principle: momentum = action + desire + reflection.