What’s up Homies, 

I grew up in a multicultural household. My mom, a school administrator from a small town in West Virginia, and my dad, a respected detective, originally from the Dominican Republic. Both of my parents’ upbringings were less than favorable, which forced me, child (#1), to be tested in ways I didn’t learn to appreciate until I was much older.  Growing up I was either known as “white boy” or “big red”. Most of my upbringing was shaped by saggy pants, Etnies, and a FTW mentality. As time went on, I had gone from skater punk to an Eminem wannabe just trying to find my way. 

In 2010, against all I had recently identified myself with, I got into Law Enforcement. This turned out to be the biggest blessing of my life, humbling to be exact. As frequent exposure to traumatic events paired with the addiction to adrenaline rushes, I caught myself in a downward rollercoaster. Abusing things like energy drinks, alcohol, and nicotine (no stranger to my profession), I allowed my personal life to get sloppy. In 2017 I dealt with some thoughts that would haunt me for my foreseeable future. Realizing this was not what I wanted for myself, I had to get my sh*t together. After much delay, I asked for help, and used the gym for what seemed to be my only grasp on masculinity. 

Years of better decision making, good homies, and better coping mechanisms totally changed the game for me. This adjustment in my personal life has opened more doors for me than I could possibly walk through, and because of that I wanted to give back. 

To do that, in 2021 LIFT TO LIVE was born. 

I deeply believe that using fitness as our foundation, we can thrive against all odds. 

Welcome to the family homie.

What’s up, Lift to Live Family!

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, with my parents both serving the community—my dad in Law Enforcement and my mom as a Nurse. From a young age, my passion was sports, particularly baseball. I played through high school and college at Shenandoah University, eventually going pro. In 2016, I was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 16th round as the 484th pick of the MLB draft. My professional baseball career spanned from 2016 to 2019.

After my release and retirement from baseball, I transitioned into another profession I grew to love; Law Enforcement. This transition was not without its challenges. Adjusting to the demands of policing was tough—both physically and mentally. I've faced the harsh realities of the job, from dealing with difficult relationships to witnessing the darker sides of humanity. These experiences have shaped me and deepened my understanding of resilience and mental health. I have also dealt with extreme challenges in my personal life as well and have overcome them, learned from them, and ultimately changed my life for the better!

I've been fortunate to be mentored, coached, and trained by some of the best in both my baseball and law enforcement careers. These experiences have taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, teamwork, leadership, discipline, and self-love. 

I am excited to share these principles with the Lift to Live community and to offer my experiences, guidance, and passion for mental health and physical fitness. 

Peace and love, baby!