I’ve always been the kind of person that wants to take control of things and bet on myself.

I got that from my mother, Valerie.

When she started her own business, it left a big impression on me just how proud she was of building that. I was proud of her for building it, but it also left me wanting to test that out for myself.

If I’m honest, that’s the one thing I don’t feel like I did a ton of in my career in the USL Championship. Yeah, I made moves I believed would push my boundaries and raise my level – like heading to Orange County the season after I’d been voted Goalkeeper of the Year for the Rochester Rhinos – but once I retired, I wanted to see if I can forge my own path as an entrepreneur.

With that goal in mind, I recently completed my MBA in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Bellevue University. I believe it is going to be essential to my future success in the world of business.

I’ve always wanted to get an MBA, ever since I graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. As I started to branch out during my career in the USL Championship, I started to realize how beneficial it was going to be for the business I was aiming to build.

For me, it was great to have the option to set my own pace when I decided to start my MBA after my playing career ended. When I started out, I was taking two classes each semester, allowing me to get to grips with the coursework in addition to working on my business. It might have taken me a little bit longer to complete my MBA, but at the same time, I was able to finish with a really good GPA, get really good grades and learn at a better pace.

I’m proud to be one of numerous USL Championship and League One players who have continued their education through Bellevue University.

As the USL evolved over the course of my career, the league’s partnership with Bellevue University has been a game-changer. On a personal level, in addition to earning my MBA, I was fortunate enough to get a grant that was definitely helpful in growing my business. On top of that, I gained connections with good people around the country.

Most importantly, it really challenged me to start to think about my business a little bit differently. It changed my outlook on how I address new situations and challenges. How do I manage them a little bit differently? How can I think outside the box to try and get a better outcome?

I’m now applying that to my business life. Whether it’s as a public speaker or business consultant, leading my own business which provides online resources and equipment to aspiring goalkeepers, I’m pushing forward to address needs in the marketplace.

Not that I’ve stepped away from the game completely. I just completed a goalkeeping analyst course with the United Soccer Coaches. I’m also currently working toward my U.S. Soccer “C” Coaching License, so I’m continuing to improve my coaching education.

Three years after stepping off the field for the Charlotte Independence for the final time, I think I'm starting to get a clear view on where I want to go with things. My hope is to help the next generation of goalkeepers find success in the game, avoiding some of the pitfalls that I experienced.

If they want to play professionally, I want them to have a better career than I did.

As far as I’ve come in my post-playing career, should I accomplish that, I can sit back and be proud to have achieved the goals I had for myself when my journey with Bellevue University began.