Hi, I’m Austin

Growing up in Tampa, Florida, I was surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. My parents both worked for themselves in the healthcare industry and instilled in me the belief that a dollar earned means more than one given. This lesson has shaped my approach to business and life.

As a young child with an expensive taste for candy and video games, I realized I needed get to work. Although I was too young for a traditional job, I quickly learned that age wasn’t a barrier to entrepreneurship. I discovered that I had a knack for identifying what people wanted and finding creative ways to deliver it. From selling candy between classes to buying and selling items like razor blades and Black Friday line spots, I honed my skills in making money by addressing customer needs.

At Colgate University, I addressed the high cost of airport rides by starting a gray market cab service to pay my way through school. In hindsight, this venture might have been an early precursor to something like Uber, had I been a computer science major.

After college, I moved to NYC to work in finance but soon realized that being away from customers and buried in spreadsheets wasn’t for me. I then transitioned to McMaster-Carr in Atlanta, focusing on operations and technology while managing teams of up to 160 employees. During this time, I obtained my MBA at the University of Chicago, by flying to and from school every Saturday.

Shunning the typical MBA path from business school to finance or consulting, I wanted to find something more fulfilling. A turning point came at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, where I discovered the opportunities in the sports industry. I quickly realized that I was more suited for the business of sports rather than the player analytics dominated by Ph.D. astrophysicists. Inspired by the strong bonds fans and communities have with their favorite teams, I aimed to apply my business experience to the Sports and Entertainment industry.

I have I had the privilege of working with the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, and Seattle Seahawks—organizations that, despite their large followings, operated like lean small businesses. In these roles, I helped companies create meaningful impacts through sports partnerships while also obsessing over the fan experience. While my passion for sports and entertainment remains strong, I often found myself missing the entrepreneurial drive and the thrill of managing and running an organization.

Now, I’m excited to return to my roots. While I’m no longer selling candy out of a duffle bag, I’m ready to channel my experiences and passion into meeting customer needs and driving innovative business solutions.