Occupation: I graduated from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University in 2002 with a major in finance and marketing. Today, I guess you could call me an entrepreneur because, as a follower of Sandy Hook businessman Mike Porco’s vision, I am also working toward a revitalized Sandy Hook Village. For two-and-a-half years now, I have owned and managed the Toy Tree at 115 Church Hill Road, and I have just opened a coffeehouse called Mocha on Glen Road, which is just around the corner on the other side of the Pootatuck River. Mocha means “a coffee of superior quality” and the coffeehouse is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm. We plan to have live music on weekends, and in the spring we will be building a balcony for customers overlooking the river.

Hometown Roots: I grew up in Easton and attended Joel Barlow High School, graduating with the Class of 1996. I now live in Bethel.

A Changing Sandy Hook: At first, it was only Mary [Fellows of the Little Green Barn] and me. Now it seems like there are more people in town who want to be a part of what is going on. Sandy Hook Village is a beautiful place and it has great vibes.

Family: My beautiful wife, Tracy, and I have been married for one year now. She works full time, yet she is so supportive of all I am trying to do and she helps me a lot on weekends.

Hobbies: I love to play the guitar and I love playing tennis –– both of which I did in college.

Pets: I have a 4-year-old golden retriever named Willis, and he’s the best dog ever. His father was in all the Ralph Lauren Polo ads.

Favorite TV Show, Movie, Book: Reggae musician Bob Marley is my inspiration. No matter what mood I’m in, there’s a Bob Marley song that can put you in a better one. I go to Jamaica every year to his house and sit on the rock where he wrote his songs.

Organizations: I donate to all the fundraisers because I believe that the more you give, the more you get back.

Most Vivid Memory: I remember when I first discovered Sandy Hook. I had been interning at Scholastic in Danbury and was looking around for a place to work and thought to myself, “I’ll just go over the bridge and see what’s down there.” I had never been to Sandy Hook. Now I get such satisfaction out of seeing people come there and watching the town grow. It gives my wife and me a very happy feeling. I was so happy when I noticed a family walking by the coffeehouse one day when we were putting up the Mocha signs outside. A little girl turned to her father and said, “Daddy, Daddy, let’s go there.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: Beside Jamaica, I love to go to Cape Cod. It’s hard with both my businesses to get away, but you have to make time for important things.

Personal Philosophy: You need to do what you love to do and not worry about money or other things that could drag you down. That takes away from the pleasure. Smile and be happy, and it rubs off. Even if you are in a bad mood, keep on going, and smile a little. Just looking at my dog Willis makes me happy. He’s always got a smile on his face.