The details

First job: Gridley's BBQ as a dishwasher making $3.80 an hour. I was 15 years old.

Most recent job: Operations manager for Corropack Containers Corp.

Career highlights: Being recruited by three-time UFC Champion and Hall of Famer Royce Gracie to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark for a six-month stay where I instructed Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling at Mikenta Muay Thai gym. While there I had the opportunity to teach seminars, travel extensively and fight in an event that was televised all across Europe via Eurosport Network.

Most satisfying career moment: I take satisfaction in the achievements of others. From the 130-lb. guy who walks in needing self-defense training and confidence to the overweight, out-of-shape man or woman who needs to get his health and weight in order or the student who sets out to become a professional fighter one day. It gives me great satisfaction to know that Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu's great staff of instructors helped people like these achieve their goals.

Career advice: Do not for money, do for others. Follow your dreams no matter what. There is a lot to be learned from your mistakes; be a good student. Find a spiritually enlightened mentor and seek their advice. Surround yourself with positive people.

Person I most admire: My mother and father, Jeff Presley, Joel Gingery, Winston Churchill and 44-year-old ex-UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture.

Hobbies: Good food; good friends; following the fastest growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts; WWII history.

Last book read: "The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt.

Favorite film: "Saving Private Ryan."

Where is your favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with great history and culture.

What is something about you that most people don't know: I was the lead in a local full-length sci-fi zombie movie called "Hunter of the Dead."

Change I would like to see: I would like to see teachers paid more for going into the daily battlefields called public schools. Teachers are woefully under-appreciated for what they go through day to day and that is truly sad.

Resume

Company: Memphis Judo & Jiu-Jitsu, LLC, 6600 Stage Road, Suite 133. Bartlett, TN 38134. (901) 355-8091. memphisbjj.com. We opened in the University of Memphis area in October 2003 in the dim basement of Memphis Martial Arts with only 15 students and a few mats. We only offered adult classes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo and Muay Thai kickboxing with some classes with only one student. Over the next 4 years built the school into a national and international competition powerhouse while adding over 300 new students. We moved to a new 8,000 sq. ft. facility in the heart of Bartlett in April 2007. Since then, we've added submission wrestling, mixed martial arts, Filipino martial arts, fitness kickboxing, boxing and children's classes in judo and jiu-jitsu. We offer classes for beginners, plus advanced students looking to increase their self-defense skills, flexibility, fitness level, cardiovascular abilities, self-confidence and/or for those looking to become competitive champions one day.

Date of birth: Jan. 18, 1975.
Hometown: Memphis.
Education: B.A. international business from the University of Memphis.
Personal: Single, no children.
Civic involvement: Shriner's, March of Dimes and St. Jude.