President, Tidal IT Solutions

Executive Director, Montgomery TechLab and the Alabama Collective

B.S., Ceramic Engineering, May 1998

What role do you play in the entrepreneurial ecosystem?

I like to think of myself as an ecosystem builder and connector. As President of Tidal IT

Solutions, I work at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, workforce

development, education, and economic development.

A significant part of my work is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies gain access to the relationships, resources, capital, and opportunities they need to grow. Through our accelerator programs, pitch competitions, technical assistance, innovation programs, and partnerships with industry, government, higher education, and the military, we are creating pathways for entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have access to those opportunities.

I’m also an entrepreneur myself, so I understand that journey personally. I know what it

means to build a business, pursue opportunities, navigate uncertainty, and sometimes

hear “no” before getting to “yes.” That perspective shapes how I approach ecosystem

building: not simply creating programs but creating connections that can lead to real

opportunities.

What are some of your best memories of your time at Clemson?

Some of my best Clemson memories are really about the people and the experiences that

helped shape who I became. Clemson challenged me academically, particularly as an

engineering student, but it also gave me lifelong friendships and taught me resilience,

independence, and confidence.

I was in AFROTC and had a great supporter and mentor in then TSgt Mike Gaskin, he is a

phenomenal leader who really held me accountable. I wanted to quit AFROTC, several

times and he wouldn’t let me, it absolutely shaped my career. I also became a member of

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. while at Clemson, which added another important

dimension to my college experience through sisterhood, service, and leadership.

Looking back, I probably didn't fully appreciate at the time how much those experiences

were preparing me for life. Clemson taught me that difficult things are achievable when you are willing to work, surround yourself with good people, and keep going.

What were the key inflection points in your career after you left Clemson?

After Clemson, I entered the U.S. Air Force as an acquisitions officer. That experience

exposed me to technology, government contracting, program management, leadership,

and the importance of mission. I also transitioned into defense contracting and program

management, earned my MBA with a concentration in finance, and began developing a

much broader understanding of business.

One of the biggest inflection points was deciding to become an entrepreneur and launch

Tidal IT Solutions in 2017. Moving from employee to business owner required a completely different mindset. I had to become comfortable with risk and understand that sometimes you have to create the opportunity you are looking for.

Another major shift came as my work expanded beyond building my own company to

helping build an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through Montgomery TechLab and The

Alabama Collective, I discovered that one of the things I enjoy most is creating platforms

that help other people and companies succeed. Today, much of my work is focused on

connecting technology, entrepreneurship, education, government, and economic

development in ways that create opportunities for communities.

Additionally, being appointed to the Board of Directors of Alabama Power Company has

been another meaningful milestone in that journey. I view the opportunity less as a

recognition of what I have accomplished and more as a responsibility to bring my

experiences as an entrepreneur, technologist, veteran, and community leader to a table

that has significant impact across the entire state. It is also a reminder of something I hope

Clemson students will take from my story: you may begin your career in one discipline, but

if you remain open to learning, serving, and taking on new challenges, your path can lead to places you never imagined when you first walked across campus.

What are your personal and professional dreams?

Personally, my dream is to continue living a life that is full and meaningful. At this stage of

my life, success is less about accumulating things and more about experiences,

relationships, impact, and freedom. I want to travel, spend meaningful time with the

people I love, continue learning, and be present enough to enjoy the life I have worked hard to build.

I also want my son and the young people I encounter to understand the real benefits of

hard work and trusted relationships.

Professionally, I want to continue building ecosystems that make innovation and

entrepreneurship more accessible. I would love to see Alabama become nationally

recognized as a place where technology companies, entrepreneurs, defense innovators,

students, and emerging talent can build and thrive.

My professional dream is bigger than any one organization. I want the work we are doing

today to result in companies being launched, jobs being created, students discovering

careers they never knew existed, entrepreneurs gaining access to opportunities, and

communities becoming stronger because innovation is happening there. Ultimately, I want

to build things that continue creating opportunities long after I am no longer the person

leading them.

What would you recommend students do to maximize their remaining time at Clemson?

Be intentional about experiencing Clemson beyond the classroom.

Your degree matters, but some of the most valuable things you will leave Clemson with are relationships, experiences, confidence, and an understanding of yourself. Meet people

outside your major. Attend events you normally wouldn't attend. Introduce yourself to

alumni. Find mentors. Take advantage of internships. Join organizations. Try something

entrepreneurial. Travel if you have the opportunity. And don't be afraid to ask someone for

20 minutes of their time—you would be surprised how many people are willing to help.

I would also tell students not to become so focused on building the perfect résumé that

they miss the opportunity to build an interesting life. Learn as much as you can, build

genuine relationships, stay curious, and give yourself permission to change direction when

new opportunities emerge.

And finally, enjoy Clemson while you're there. There will come a day when you would gladly trade a very busy Monday for one more afternoon walking across campus.

What else should we know about you?

I am an engineer who became an Air Force officer, defense contractor, entrepreneur,

ecosystem builder, nonprofit executive, and advocate for technology and innovation—

which is probably the best evidence that your college major does not have to define the

boundaries of your career.

At the center of all of those roles is something pretty simple: I enjoy bringing people

together to make things happen.

Whether I am helping a startup pursue a defense opportunity, connecting a student with

someone in industry, creating an entrepreneurship program, working with community

leaders to strengthen an innovation ecosystem, or building my own company, I am most

energized when an idea turns into something tangible.

Clemson gave me the foundation to solve problems. My career has taught me that the most interesting problems are rarely solved by one person or one discipline—they are solved when you bring the right people, ideas, and opportunities together.

And after all these years, and forever, I will always be proud to say: Go Tigers!