It’s hard to believe we are approaching 50 years since our time at LHS. I also feel fortunate to have grown up in our little hamlet, Livingston, New Jersey. Lifelong memories, friends and experiences molded us and are truly priceless. So how did we get from there to here?

So, during the summer of ’77, I worked for a family friend’s company in the salvage business in Jersey City. It was all about working In the warehouse, getting dirty and loving it. The next summer I did it again and my boss said to me that “you would be great in sales.” So, I tried it. It was a great education – I became the “soft goods specialist” at 19 years old (lol). We handled ocean and domestic insurance claims, and we had products from every industry from soup to nuts. My category was clothing, shoes, accessories, etc., and it laid the groundwork for the future. After a brutal winter snowstorm a in the early 1980’s, some pals and I went to visit my parents in Delray Beach, Florida. It was a week of sun, sand, surf, golf and girls.

I moved to Florida two short weeks later.

The move to South Florida led to a job selling “off price/closeout” apparel to retailers from coast to coast. Six months later I opened my first business specializing in…you guessed it…branded clothing. The business grew, but my partners seemed to forget who we were and had a vision that we were bigger than we truly were. Seven years after our start, one of my NY/Long Island vendors moved their operation to Fort Lauderdale and made me “the offer I couldn’t refuse “.

I sold my interest in the company and started the next chapter. My experiences were the start of many ventures in the apparel world. Manufacturing, design, sourcing, production, piece goods, buying, selling, warehousing logistics. If you wore it, I at some point did it. I love my industry and don’t see stopping working until I can’t do it anymore. I love the action! Every day is a new day and adventure.

It’s not always a bed of roses. My life has been filled with triumph and tragedy and ups and downs. Welcome to the real-world kiddo. I’ve fallen off the horse and always got back up, shook off the dirt and got back on that horse. All experiences that make you stronger, a little smarter and human. I’ve learned that the end of a problem is only a solution away.

On the personal side, life has been colorful. My wife, Felice and I have been together close to 30 years. Our daughter Sarah (an educator) recently got married to an awesome guy, Ryan. He’s a fabulous addition to our family. They live 20 minutes from us and that is something we love.

I actually met Felice through my now brother-in-law Jeff, who I had previously worked with, and later became partners and we formed a company together a few years later. We have a nice extended family that’s super tight and gets together as often as possible. Blessed to have a family that truly loves each other, adventurous and occasionally, a little controversy (who doesn’t?). And as the next chapter starts, we will continue to enjoy the things we love: music, concerts, sports, ball games, movies, books, wine & dining and love and laughter. One of my greatest gifts is my friends of our youth who are still my friends today. You know who you are. I want them to know I cherish those friendships; they are valuable and greatly appreciated and worth more than words can say.

It’s been a fun ride, a little bumpy along the road and wouldn’t trade it for anything. To my LHS Sisters and Brothers, I thank you. We are all building blocks in each other’s story. Remember, you can take the boy out of Jersey, but you can’t take JERSEY out of the boy,

Carry On. ✌️&❤️