There came a point in my life when the storms hit harder than I ever imagined. My wife, my high school sweetheart, Fiorella, was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. One day, we were making dinner and laughing with our girls; the next, we were navigating chemotherapy, surgery, and learning how to walk again. All while I was still leading a full team at work, raising three daughters, and trying to keep my heart from breaking.
This isn’t just my story; it’s a roadmap for anyone who finds themselves juggling work stress, family pressure, and the desire to show up strong when life feels like it’s falling apart. I wrote Together We Rise for people like you, leaders, caregivers, parents, and professionals who are doing their best to keep it together with faith and integrity.
For over 13 years, I’ve worked in human resources, resolving conflicts, guiding senior management, and helping people communicate with clarity. I’ve also worked in hospitals, classrooms, and now in the trenches of caregiving and parenting. What I’ve learned is this: leadership is not just what you do in the boardroom; it’s how you show up at the kitchen table, in hospital hallways, and in the quiet moments when no one’s watching.
In this book, I share real-life stories of how my daughter Kayrella balanced dual enrollment while helping care for her mother; how Gabriella stepped into high school with grace and honors; and how Dionella turned her creativity into a small business to bring joy during our darkest days. And I open my heart about what it’s like to be a husband, father, and professional trying to hold everything together through faith, grit, and grace.
You'll learn how I used the same communication tools at home that I teach at work. You'll see how the habits I built in the gym helped me build spiritual endurance. Most of all, you’ll find hope that even in the mess, even in the conflict, you can grow stronger.
Friend, this book is for anyone who’s ever cried in the car after a long day, prayed for strength in a hospital room, or tried to smile through a meeting while carrying a heavy heart.
I want you to know: you are not alone. You were made for more. You can lead with love, even when life gets tough. You can be the glue that holds your family and your team together—not because you’re perfect, but because you’ve got God on your side.
Let this book be your encouragement. Let it be your reminder that your setback is a setup for a comeback. And together—with faith in our hearts, grit in our steps, and grace in our words we will rise.
