When people ask me what has shaped me as a leader, my answer is simple: faith and family. Growing up in suburban New Jersey and later moving to upstate New York, I learned early on the importance of strong values, hard work, and putting people first. Over the course of my career, from working as an equity trader in New York City to co-founding H&T Appraisal, I have seen how staying grounded in your beliefs and caring for your family can influence not only your personal life but also your professional success.
Faith as a Compass
My Catholic faith has always been at the center of my life. It guides the decisions I make, the way I treat others, and how I approach challenges. In business, you are constantly faced with difficult choices, sometimes ethical dilemmas, other times the pressures of competition or growth. Having a faith-based foundation gives me a moral compass. It reminds me to act with integrity, even when cutting corners might seem like the easier path.
Faith also encourages humility. No matter how much experience or success I accumulate, I remind myself that leadership is about serving others, not just leading them. Whether it is mentoring a junior appraiser, supporting my colleagues through a challenging project, or listening to a client’s concerns, approaching these moments with empathy and respect makes a real difference. Leadership without a moral foundation can be effective in the short term, but I have found it rarely leads to lasting trust or loyalty.
Family as a Grounding Force
Equally important is my family. Being a husband and father has taught me patience, responsibility, and the value of consistency. These lessons translate directly into my professional life. Running a business like H&T Appraisal requires long-term thinking. Decisions are not just about the next deal or the next appraisal. They affect people’s livelihoods, careers, and sometimes even their families.
Spending quality time with my wife and children keeps me grounded. It reminds me that success is not measured solely in revenue or growth, but also in the relationships you nurture and the people you support along the way. My family also encourages me to keep perspective during stressful periods. Real estate valuation, especially at the scale we operate, can be demanding. But remembering what matters most helps me lead with clarity and patience.
Values in Action
For me, faith and family are not abstract concepts. They show up in the way I run my business every day. I focus on building a team that values honesty, transparency, and collaboration. I work to create an environment where people feel respected and supported, where mistakes are opportunities to learn rather than reasons to punish. I have found that teams led with empathy and integrity tend to perform better, stay longer, and contribute to a positive company culture.
Ethics are another critical piece. In commercial real estate valuation, the stakes are high. Clients rely on accurate and unbiased assessments to make significant financial decisions. By anchoring my leadership in faith-based ethics, I can maintain credibility with clients and ensure that my team upholds the same standards. This approach not only protects the business but also strengthens relationships, builds trust, and sets a standard for excellence that lasts over the long term.
Leading Through Challenges
Life and business are full of challenges, and faith and family provide a steadying influence when things get tough. I have faced setbacks, including being let go from a leadership role earlier in my career. Those experiences were humbling, but they also reinforced the importance of staying true to my values. They taught me resilience and reminded me that success is not just about bouncing back, but about bouncing back with integrity and purpose.
Family and faith also help me maintain balance. Running a growing business can be consuming, and it is easy to let work take over. But having a strong support system at home and a spiritual practice to rely on helps me maintain perspective, manage stress, and approach leadership with calm and focus.
Long-Term Success
Ultimately, faith and family are essential to building long-term success. They keep me grounded, remind me of what really matters, and guide the way I treat people in both professional and personal settings. I measure success not only in terms of growth or revenue but also in the positive impact I can have on my team, my clients, and my community.
Leadership rooted in faith and family creates a strong foundation. It encourages ethical decision-making, fosters loyalty and trust, and helps navigate the inevitable challenges that come with growing a business. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it.
In my experience, the leaders who thrive over the long term are those who never lose sight of their values, who prioritize the people around them, and who let faith and family guide their journey. For me, that approach is not just a personal choice. It is the key to sustainable success, both in business and in life.