Embracing Life's "Curve Balls"...

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you need to step out of the batter's box to reevaluate your approach to the next pitch. Well, 21 months ago, that's exactly what I had to do.

I believe there comes a time in everyone's life/career where they ask themselves the questions "What am I doing?", "Why am I doing this?" and/or "Is this really me?". All questions, that in my opinion, we don't ask ourselves enough as individuals/professionals.

Over many, many months of reflection, deep thought, prayer, meditation, changing rituals and REALLY getting to know myself, I began to clear out the clutter that was weighing me down. I stripped away everything I knew and challenged myself to find what was at my core. I DID.

What I found was a highly skilled, innovative individual that loves to ideate, create, strategize, think big, think bold, think different, think beyond what is possible and challenge EVERYTHING that is known. I am finally OK and THRILLED to own that persona. For too many years, I tried to conform my ideals, be what others expected, be the best at things that didn't invigorate me and ultimately toe the line, all to feel continuously drained at the day/week end. Thankfully my mind and body finally said, "That's It!" "No More!"

After diving deep into the "me inside", the next 18 months truly changed my life. The time I took away from my CPG career, ultimately resulted in me being able to accomplish soooo much more than I ever could have imagined. After decluttering a lot of unnecessary "things" in my life, the haze began to lift. Ideas began to come fast, like really fast. And I decided to act.

For the past year and a half I have been a real estate investor and have formed my own company, Nomad Ventures L.L.C. ?I now own two lakehouse vacation rentals in Southwest Michigan, which has always been a dream of mine. It has felt AMAZING to build out a dream with my bare hands and feel that connection again?to something that truly invigorated me. I ultimately thought that was my path moving forward. Guess what...another curve ball.

A few months ago, I received a message from a recruiter asking me if I would be interested in a new opportunity with a Global Candy Manufacturer and that the role was "Very Unique". Unique you say...hmmm. "But you are laying down roots as a real estate business owner", my mind was also saying. Well, something inside pulled me to respond to the message. And thank goodness I did. That "Very Unique" role has turned out to be one that TRULY VALUES every experience, presentation given, webinar hosted, innovative product created, tough call delivered, customer call made, marketing activation designed, trade plan evaluated, every mentoring moment taken in and ultimately all of the incredibly talented individuals I have had the privilege to work along side throughout the years. I am truly grateful for everything and everybody that has crossed my path to make me who I have become today.

With that, I am so incredibly HAPPY, PROUD and HONORED to announce that I am now the Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Operations, US for Amos Sweets (Amos Food Group). Our INCREDIBLE line-up of innovative sweets like TastySounds Audio Lollipop, 4D Gummy Blocks and the 4D Gummy lineup, truly allows us to OWN our tagline as "The World's Candy Innovator". I have not enough good things to say about my new team and how they have welcomed me and my outside-the-box ideas. This journey is going to be FUN!!!

With that I will say, if the time comes where you too are asking the questions I was asking above, I implore you to take a deep look at your life and if your actions are aligning to who you are and what you are about at your core. You may find that if you "do the work" to find what makes you, well, YOU, it may prove to be the best decision you will ever make in your life.

A huge THANK YOU to my wife Joanne Petterson , you are a ROCK STAR! Your support has meant the world to me. Your love, patience and professional coaching (Certified Clifton Strengths Coach :-)) has put me in a position to succeed and for that I am very grateful.

A few others I need to thank in this process are Curt Balara , who has been such an incredible boss, mentor and coach over the years and I am honored to have you on my side. Dana (Winer) Daszczuk and Patricia Boyle Jackson for challenging me in my early years in Sales Strategy. You both played an integral role in my development and I thank you both. Kim Warriner and Brett Van de Bovenkamp for the opportunity to learn/grow my CPG knowledge and hone many necessary skills I continuously put into use today. All of my other incredibly talented Tyson team members that I had the privilege to work with for numerous years. And while there are WAY too many to thank from my time at Ferrara Candy Company, I will call out the SSCM "Bomb Squad" ( Carla Camp , Shaina Fox , Mark Bi , Brittany Radziwon LCSW, MSW , Matthew Cullen and Kristin Flood ). You all showcased what it truly was to be a TEAM and for that I am grateful and honored. Carla Camp , your trust of my work-style and positive feedback were/are always appreciated. Kristin Flood , your openness, spirit, genuinity and friendship in all situations has had a great impact on me and for that I am grateful. Justin Bonk , you are the epitome of what a GREAT salesperson should be and being able to strategize with you has greatly enhanced my ability to synthesize customer feedback/expectations and for that I am grateful. Rob Funderburk / Dennis Koczirka / Sarah Osbolt , you ALWAYS challenged me and helped me to see things through the customer's eyes and for that I am grateful. Gregory Guidotti , thanks for challenging me regularly, providing enthusiastic commentary on team wins, and keeping it real/fun. Same goes for you, Adam Roscher . And to all of my other Brand Team, Category Team, Commercialization Team, Sales Team, and cross-functional partners at Ferrara, thank you for being incredible.

My Recruiter, Lukas Vanterpool , you’ve just got “IT”. Your vigorous pursuit and timely feedback are something to be valued.

Lastly, I will thank a few (non-industry) friends that always have my back and are willing to provide alternative views to every situation; Nick Thompson , David Vennie , Daniel Tigner , Scott Main . You all are as real as they come.

And if you have made it to the end, you are lucky enough to see what I have been working on since I started in February. This is going to be a fun ride and I am certainly going to ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Follow me on Instagram @candyandy.us

#ImBack #NewRole #BeReal #BeAuthentic #BeYou #Appreciation #Gratitude #CPG #Candy #AMOS #4D #TastySounds