Q
How did growing up in Gainesville, Florida, shape you?
A
Growing up, I played basketball and baseball. I was nominated for Mr. Basketball in Florida— though I didn’t win—and in my senior year the Cincinnati Reds drafted me to play professional baseball. Sports were my whole identity at the time.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: “We never repeat trips— there’s too much of the world to see. As a family, we’ve been to 17 countries in the last five years, from Europe and South and Central America to Canada and the Caribbean. Most recently it was Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.”
FAVORITE MOVIE: Forrest Gump (“Nobody told him what was impossible, so he just kept trying.”)
FAVORITE BANDS: The Killers, Weezer, and Violent Femmes
FAVORITE PART OF FLORIDA OUTSIDE OF GAINESVILLE: Jacksonville (“My dad grew up there, and so did my partner, so it’s always felt connected to family.”)
FAVORITE BOOKS: Reflections on the Art of Living by Joseph Campbell and The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
FAVORITE GAINESVILLE RESTAURANT: Volcanic Sushi
FAVORITE DISH AT VOLCANIC SUSHI: The King Roll (“I once tried a sushi roll in Charleston and told Ella, who runs Volcanic, about it. She whipped one up, put it on the menu, and named it after me.”)
Q
What did sports teach you that you carried into business?
A
Sports taught me discipline, resilience, competitiveness, and the importance of a team mentality. You can’t win alone—you have to elevate the people around you. When baseball didn’t work out, it was my first real failure. That “now what?” moment forced me to let go of that identity and carry those lessons into the rest of my life.
Q
You were working at Lehman Brothers during its collapse. How did that experience lead you back to your parents’ agency?
A
When Lehman collapsed, it was my second major “now what?” moment—this time with a family depending on me. The uncertainty was heavy, but it pushed me to think differently: not just about a job, but about a future. My parents were nearing retirement, and I saw an opportunity to step in with the goal of eventually owning the business. I hadn’t envisioned that path growing up—I wanted to make my own way. But with some distance, I had a deeper respect for what my father built: not just a business, but a foundation for livelihoods and a legacy worth carrying forward.
Q
You’ve done every job in an insurance agency. How does that perspective guide you?
A
It gives me empathy and credibility. I’ve answered phones, issued certificates, cold-called prospects, handled renewals, and explained denials. I know what it feels like to run a small office and what it takes to grow beyond that.
Q
When you bought the agency from your dad, what was your vision, and how has it evolved?
A
I’ve always been driven to set big goals. Early on, I set the vision that King would be a Top 100 agency. Today we’re No. 51. But the vision has evolved into building something lasting—an organization that outlives me and gives our people and partners room to thrive.
Q
What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned as a leader?
A
Leadership can be lonely. You carry the weight of decisions that affect lives and livelihoods without always having someone to share it with. It’s taught me to build a strong inner circle and stay grounded in my values.
Q
What values from your father influence how you lead?
A
My dad was relentless about integrity. If you said you’d do something, you followed through. He pushed me to be my own harshest critic and never make excuses. At the time it felt tough, but now I see it as a gift. He always chose the honorable path, even when it was difficult. His example still guides me.
Q
How would your team describe your leadership style?
A
Ambitious and intense. Maybe even too intense. Once, someone said, “Not everything has to be a mission in Afghanistan.” I was just unloading the dishwasher.
Q
What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?
A
I take Spanish lessons with a tutor from Colombia. I’ve been at it for a few years, and I really enjoy it.
Q
If you could change one thing about the insurance industry, what would it be?
A
The perception. Often consumers see insurance negatively, but mostly we want to protect clients. That deserves more recognition.
Q
What gives you your leader’s edge?
A
Having come up in the business gives me a perspective that not everyone has. Whatever size someone’s agency is, I’ve worked at an agency that size. I’ve owned an agency that size. And I think just the human connection. I’ve always had that. People have always been important to me.
