HOw I got Here

First off, thanks so much for joining me here. Before I get into why I love coaching and how I can help, here’s a quick snapshot of my background and how I got here.

I was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, a small, blue-collar manufacturing town tucked up in the chimney-top corner of northwest PA. I grew up in our family business, Durst Trucking Company, founded by my grandfather over 90 years ago. It’s still in the family today, now run by my brother and cousin. In fact, no one in my family ever worked for someone outside the Durst name. It was all family, all the time.

Naturally, I spent a lot of time working there. But even while I was elbows deep in the hustle, I had this creative pull. I loved music, building treehouses, drawing, playing piano, and the trumpet into my teens. That creative spark never left.

Fast forward, I graduated from Kent State University in 2005 with a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree. While a lot of my classmates pursued master’s degrees, I had different plans: skip the debt and head west. I landed in Las Vegas at an architecture firm designing hotel resorts and casinos, which, I’ll admit, was more exciting than another two years in a lecture hall.

And here’s where things got interesting…

Coming from a family that had always worked for themselves, nobody around me knew anything about resumes, interviews, or navigating a job search. I had to figure that part out on my own. How to stand out, how to communicate, how to look and act confident even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I taught myself how to write a sharp resume, craft a compelling cover letter, give a firm handshake, and hold my posture like I belonged in the room. And…it worked!

After two years in Vegas, I set my sights even higher. I emailed KPF, a global architecture firm headquartered in New York and told them I wanted to work in their London office. One interview (and one long expensive flight to the UK) later, I got the job :)

I spent nearly five amazing years living and working in London, where I met my wife (she’s from Budapest). After getting married in Hungary, we relocated back to the States. First to Pittsburgh, and then to Chicago where I currently live with my wife and twins. I spent 7 years at The Gettys Group, designing hotels across the country and working my way up to Director. From there, I moved into a leadership role as VP of Operations at Mary Cook Associates, where I’ve been for the past four years.

In my role today, I’ve reviewed and interviewed hundreds of candidates, virtually and in person. I’ve been lucky to work alongside incredible mentors, many of whom have decades more experience than me. And through it all, I’ve realized: I really enjoy helping people find their path.

So why career coaching?

It’s simple: I just want to help. I’ve been the person with no clue where to start. I’ve been the person trying to figure it all out with no roadmap. And I know what it’s like when your parents or teachers don’t really understand your industry or your goals.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little guidance and a push in the right direction.

Recently, I gave a lecture at Purdue University to a group of 40 students. Their questions were amazing. And yes, I did tell them to comb their hair before a virtual interview. You’d be surprised at the little things I’ve seen over the years.

Look, I don’t claim to be an “expert” or a “guru.” I’m just someone who’s been through a lot in a 21-year career, and I want to share what I’ve learned to help YOU.

If I can give you five minutes of perspective, if I can help you look at your situation a little differently, I’ll consider it a win.

Now let’s get to work!