Bio
I was born in Portugal and was raised in the Ironbound section of Newark, NJ since I was 10 years old. I attended Hawkins Street Grammar School and Newark East Side High School. After graduating from high school, I attended Glassboro State College (Rowan University) and Montclair State University – Panzer College of Physical Education where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education with a Minor in Adult Fitness.
While attending Newark East Side High School I was a standout Cross Country and Track & Field Athlete. Some of my many achievements include: Representing the City of Newark in Track & Field at the 1978 Youth Games held in Detroit, Michigan, top AAU Jr. Olympics competitor representing the Newark YWMCA Track Team, member of the 1979 Newark East Side Cross Country team that won the 67th Newark City Championships (first time ever in school history), member of the 1980 Cross Country team that achieved the following; won the 68th Newark City Championships (second time ever in school history), won the Essex County Championships (first time ever in school history), won the Ridgewood Invitational Cross Country Meet (first time in history that a Newark school had won an invitational meet), placed 3rd in the State Group 4 championships (best finish ever in school history), I was selected by NJ Track to the 1980 Essex County Cross Country Regional All-Star First Team, I placed 1st in the 3,000 meters at the 68th annual 1980 Newark City Track & Field Championships, I placed 1st in the 5,000 meter run at the 1980 Mount Olive Invitational Track & Field Meet, I was awarded the Salvation Army Ironbound Boys and Girls Clubs “Distinguished Achievement as an Outstanding Ironbound Teenager” Certificate in 1980.
While attending Glassboro State College (Rowan University) I was a top competitor for the undefeated Division III Champion school in both Cross Country and Track & Field achieving many top finishes in dual and championship meets. While attending Montclair State University I was the recipient of the 1984 Paul Bogatko Scholarship.
I was a standout masters competitor in the NJ, NY Metro Road Racing circuit finishing in the top 3 in my age group at most races. I ran my first marathon when I was 20 years old (1983 NY City Marathon 2:42:33) a race which I have run a total of seven times. I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon, the 2012 Philadelphia Marathon and the Chicago Marathon twice in 2013 (2:56:53) and again in 2014 (2:50:13 at 51 years old 9th in AG). In 2014 at 51 years old I finished 2nd in my AG at the NYC Half Marathon (1:21:14) and 3rd in 2015 (1:22:32).
I am the President of Metro & Rural Marketing, LLC a sales agency that I founded in 2006 which represents or has represented many of the leading sporting goods companies (brands) in the industry.