My Story…..
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Staten Island. I have a passion for life, business and my family. I am a loving husband, father of two beautiful little girls (3 & 5), a NYC Firefighter (17 Years), serial entrepreneur and have a love for cooking (although I never wanted to be a chef). I’m best known for my famous painting invention, The Paint Brush Cover™, that I pitched to the “Sharks” on ABC’s hit show, Shark Tank. On the show, I pitched my concept, that was already in stores all over the East Coast, and created a Feeding Frenzy. I wound up cutting a deal with Lori Greiner for a 20% stake in my company. Since then, I have sold my share in the company to pursue other opportunities and passions, including The Squat Academy™, a unique Female Only fitness program.
I am also a 17 year FDNY veteran, have appeared on the FDNY Calendar of heroes and my love of cooking (and feeding people) inspired me to enter various FDNY sanctioned cook offs. In 2009, I went on the Rachael Ray Show and competed against 4 of the best FDNY chef’s in the city. One had written a cookbook (see my cooking page) and another had his own restaurants in Manhattan. I gave it my all with my Chipotle Jambalaya and took first place overall on live TV. I returned to the Rachael Ray show in 2011 with my “Baked Spaghetti & Clams” dish but lost to Duck wrapped in bacon. How can I beat that? I have also appeared on “Chopped” (didn’t fair so well) & “The Chew”.
My newest endeavor, Wealth Concierge Group, is a concierge service for business owners and investors, where I partner with the best companies in the industry on services such as tax credits, preventative health care, financial advisors, real estate syndications and much more. In the past 2 years, I have personally helped over 2,000 businesses receive over $100M in refunds. As a direct result of my network, an additional 10,000+ businesses received over $1B in refunds. Making money for others is something I always wanted to do and this is the perfect opportunity to do it. I will continue to live life with passion. Whether its fun, family or work, I will put my all into it and enjoy the hell out of life, hoping to inspire as many as I can along the way!
Shark Tank
Being a former painter, I had a vision that could improve the lives of painters worldwide, both professionals & weekend warriors. In 2012, I decided to make my vision come to life and created The Paint Brush Cover™. In 2014, I was able to get my idea in front of the Sharks on Shark Tank and started a feeding frenzy. In the end, I struck a deal with Super Shark Lori Greiner.
FDNY
On 9/11, I witnessed the Twin Towers come falling down right before my eyes. From that day I decided I would dedicate myself to the FDNY. In 2005, I was accepted into the Fire Academy, and am now a 17 year veteran of the best “job” in the world. “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.”
Cooking Career
Since I was a child, I enjoyed cooking. After spending a lot of time watching my mother cook, and then my chef cousin Patrick, I started cooking on my own, creating my own culinary delights. Never using a recipe, I took my cooking skills to the FDNY. From there, I decided to enter cooking competitions. In 2009, I was the clear underdog, but won a competition live on the Rachael Ray show against 4 of the city’s top chefs. I also appeared on the Rachael Ray show a 2nd time, as well as “Chopped” & “The Chew”.
The Squat Academy
Always a fitness & nutrition fanatic since I was young, I would privately train some of my female friends at local gyms. During the years of training, I figured that there was a glaring need for an all-female fitness facility that allowed women to be themselves, as well as focus on specific body parts to improve female aesthetics. I partnered with two close friends and developed the idea of The Squat Academy™ in 2016. The Squat Academy™ went on to become the Premier Women Only Fitness Facility.
Wealth Concierge Group
At Wealth Concierge Group, we redefine the way business owners approach their financial strategies. With a focus on alternative investments and tax credits, we've established ourselves as the premier concierge service in the financial world.
Our mission is to empower business owners, providing them with the knowledge and opportunities to optimize their wealth.