The story of Yellowjacket Ceramics and Supply LLC is rooted in a lifetime of service, perseverance, and the discovery of a new purpose.

Before joining the military, I proudly served my community as a commissioned police officer. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I felt a deeper calling to serve my country. In May 2002, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

That decision took me to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, where my battalion fought in some of the most challenging conditions of the war and suffered heavy casualties. The experiences and sacrifices made alongside my fellow Marines would forever shape who I am.

After completing my military service, I returned to law enforcement to continue serving my community. However, like many combat veterans, I carried home experiences that were not left on the battlefield. Over time, those challenges made it increasingly difficult to continue in law enforcement, and I was ultimately forced to retire earlier than I had envisioned.

Instead of allowing that chapter to define the rest of my life, I chose to build a new future. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program, I enrolled at Baldwin Wallace University.

While attending Baldwin Wallace, I took a ceramics class that unexpectedly changed the course of my life. What began as a single elective quickly became a passion. Ceramics provided me with a creative outlet, challenged me to acquire new skills, and reminded me that healing and growth can stem from creating something with your own hands.

I continued my education and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a Master of Business Administration in 2020. Throughout my time there, the university's mascot—the Yellowjacket—came to represent far more than school spirit. It became a symbol of the place where I rediscovered purpose, gained the education to pursue entrepreneurship, and found the passion that would eventually become this business.

That is why I chose the name Yellowjacket Ceramics and Supply LLC.

The name honors the university that helped me rebuild my future while also recognizing the journey that brought me there—from serving as a police officer, to answering the call to serve my country as a United States Marine, to ultimately finding a new mission through education and ceramics.

Yellowjacket Ceramics and Supply LLC is more than a ceramic supply store. It is the realization of a dream born from resilience, lifelong learning, and the belief that creativity has the power to change lives. I hope to create a place where artists, students, educators, veterans, and families feel welcomed, inspired, and encouraged to discover their own passion for ceramics.

Every piece of clay begins as something ordinary. With patience, skill, and vision, it can become something extraordinary. I believe the same is true for people, and that belief is the foundation upon which Yellowjacket Ceramics and Supply LLC is being built.