When I look back on my life and the journey to becoming the Vice President of Finance at Little League®, it is hard not to smile at everything coming full circle. Growing up in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania — a place so small it only has one red light in the entire county— I learned at a young age to always lend a helping hand to my neighbors and to be an active member of the community.
Throughout my life, my parents played a big role in that. They were deeply involved in the community and encouraged my brother and me to give back and create relationships through the sports that we played. The two of us were always active, whether we were shooting a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, or taking batting practice. We were constantly moving and learning what it meant to be part of a team.
Sports taught me discipline and friendship, but my love for numbers came from my mom. She worked in a bank for more than 30 years, and I always admired her precision, care, and attention to detail. My father, on the other hand, worked swing shifts in a factory and taught me the value of hard work and dedication. I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career with something that involved problem-solving and people. In high school, I took an accounting class and quickly grew a passion for it. Numbers made sense to me, and they told stories just like sports did. That led me to Lycoming College here in Williamsport, where I studied accounting and, unknowingly, set up the foundation for a lifelong career that would never take me far from home.
After college, I spent 17 years in public accounting, learning not just about balance sheets, but about people, too. Eventually, I returned to Lycoming College as the Vice President of Finance, a role that I held for 12 years. During that time, I got to be part of some incredible projects, one being the new collegiate baseball field. It might sound funny, but that field still means the world to me. It is so cool to see something that you have invested so much of your time in come to life and mean so much to a community. A few months ago, my son celebrated his 10th birthday there with a wiffle ball game. As I watched the kids laugh and play, I realized I had helped build more than just a field. I helped create a place where kids can make lifelong memories and have the same experiences I had as a child.
My journey to Little League, believe it or not, stems from a date with my wife to the Little League Baseball® World Series. We were sitting in the stands watching one of the games, and I said to her, “You know, if I ever left the college, this is the one place where I would want to work.” I was not looking for a job, but a few months later, I got a LinkedIn message asking if I would consider a finance position at Little League. At first, I thought it might have been a scam until I reached out to my friend, and current Little League President and CEO, Pat Wilson, to check. He said, “Yes, it is real, let’s talk.” One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was stepping into this new chapter of my life.
Funny enough, I had met Pat years ago when his dad used to clean our accounting office after hours. Pat would sometimes help out. I always tell people to treat everyone with kindness and respect, because someday the person taking out your trash might be your boss. Life has a funny way of coming full circle.
These days, it is not the numbers, spreadsheets, or projects that excite me most about coming to work every day. It is the people. I love the sense of camaraderie, laughter, teamwork, and sense of purpose that fills these halls. I still coach my two boys, who are now 12 and 10, and seeing their faces light up when baseball season rolls around reminds me why our work matters so much. I see the excitement of the kids who visit Williamsport for the first time, the awe in their eyes as they walk through the complex, the friendships formed across different countries and languages, and the connection that this game provides. There is a feeling at this complex that is indescribable.
During my first LLBWS this summer, I was surprising fans and families with tickets during Championship Weekend. Watching those kids’ faces light up when I told them they could go inside the stadium is nothing like I have ever experienced.
It is a feeling that you can’t put into words. In those moments, I am reminded that my job is not just about numbers. It is about the impact. It is about creating moments that last a lifetime.
On a personal note, my wife is now two years cancer-free from her battle with breast cancer. After going through that journey with her and my family, it changed the way I live my life and taught me so many lessons. The first being that every day is a gift, and we cannot take life for granted because it is such a beautiful thing. My wife’s battle also taught me to slow down, be thankful, and to live with intention. I continue to pass those lessons along to the baseball teams that I coach and teach them to live in the moment, enjoy themselves, and treat everyone with respect. My wife continues to inspire me. She is the strongest woman I know and my best friend. Without her, I would not be where I am today.
When I look back on my journey and where it has guided me, all I can do is smile. From a one-stoplight county to Little League International, I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for my parents who gave me every opportunity to learn and fail, and try again. Gratitude for the mentors who took the time to guide me. Gratitude for the people I work with today who bring passion and joy into everything they do. And most of all, gratitude for the chance to give back and help shape experiences for kids the way others once did for me. This is only my rookie year here at Little League, and my journey is just getting started.
This feature is part of a series of Little League International Staff Spotlights, highlighting the career journey of the organization’s employees, which began during Little League’s Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Celebration (LittleLeague.org/GWG50) in 2024.