PRESENT DAY
Building CKTH.com aka Cantknockthehustle.com.
UPBRINGING & COLLEGE
Born and raised in San Diego, CA — I grew up at the intersection of sports, art and doing my homework.
While attending Dartmouth College, I lived in Siena, Italy on a language study program, in New York City while working for Charles Barkley’s agent at IMG and later in Los Angeles with Deutsch Advertising.
Prior to graduating, I was asked by Dartmouth to be the Reverend Al Sharpton's official campus tour guide.
I also lettered in Football and Track & Field.
Go Big Green.
2003-2005
For two years, I worked at a fintech startup chaired by Alex “Pete” Hart, the former CEO of MasterCard International. In that role, I was fortunate to live and work in Johannesburg, South Africa for nearly six months. On the job, I also learned how to raise capital.
While working an event at the NBA All Star Weekend in 2004, I was asked to be a freelance writer by ESPN President, John Skipper — who then introduced me to the legendary sportswriter and editor, John Papanek.
For the next 3 years, I pitched concepts across editorial staffs for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com. My primary focus was the NFL, the NBA and the intersection of Sports and Culture.
During this time I also regularly contributed to KING Magazine — including a feature article about my childhood best friend and Heisman Trophy Winner, Rashaan Salaam.
2005-2018: MATUSE, INC. FOUNDER, PRESIDENT CEO & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
From minute one: I founded, scaled and shaped "OG” Matuse, Inc. — and led it for 13 years.
Starting in 2005, via a phone call to the Yamamoto Corporation in Osaka, Japan, I pioneered the use of "Geoprene" limestone rubber: A material that is 98% water impermeable compared to the standard 65% offered by traditional neoprene (Hence, Geoprene is lighter, warmer, longer-lasting and kinder to mother nature).
Matuse’s category-leading wetsuit offering didn’t happen overnight — or in theory via a sketchbook. The actual product development — and continual improvement thereof — is 100% from the constant feedback of customers and most importantly via the specialized skills of people working at the factory level.
Though the product range matured slowly, it was inspiring to see the brand’s ethos, message and aesthetic immediately capture the interest of a unique group of worldwide customers — transforming a startup company into a global performance lifestyle brand sold across 50+ countries with licensed relationships.
Collaborations with industry executives at leading CPG companies include: Loro Piana, Nike, Burton, Net-A-Porter, CWD Saddles, Ralph Lauren, James Perse, Snow Peak and Retrosuperfuture in Milan (https://retrosuperfuture.com/products/i22n).
Along the way, I was invited to speak at Nike, Wieden+Kennedy, Zappos' Speaker Series in Las Vegas and the 2016 Maine Startup Week in Portland, Maine.
With new vision, I exited as Matuse’s CEO with the operation profitable and debt free.
I am now watching from afar -- wondering if the organization can create a voice of its own (i.e., and not just imitate me), innovate once again (i.e., something that requires taking risk) and find someone committed enough to match the first 13 years of passion, originality and growth (i.e., doubt it).
Onto the next one. Can’t knock the hustle.