Meet The Team
Tom
FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE COACH, AUTHOR & 3x CEO, ARMY VETERAN, LEUKEMIA SURVIVOR
Tom has closed more than $1.5B in new business throughout his career, has an MBA from Georgia State University, and holds multiple patents for his work in satellite technology innovation. Tom also served in the US Army as a combat medic and satellite controller, and volunteers as a mentor and speaker at Patriot Boot Camp, which helps veterans and military spouses enter the world of entrepreneurship. He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife of 20+ years and two teenage children.
In August of 2022, Tom was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and given less than two months to live. Six months of multiple hospitalizations, chemotherapy, and a handful of near-death experiences helped Tom to realize that of all the things he has done in his career, inspiring and mentoring others was the most rewarding and energizing for him.
With a second chance at life, Tom is leaning into these skills. Tom started Vertical Motion to mentor aspiring and emerging executives on how to build their own executive style, executive presence and executive network. With 15+ years experience in VP and C-level executive roles in high-growth environments, Tom has the advantage of having sat in the executive chair himself, and is excited to mentor and energize an entirely new generation of business leaders on how to become the best, most authentic leaders they can be.
Ryan
EXECUTIVE COACH, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & CLIENT SUCCESS
Ryan served 20 years as a U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot, leading high-stakes missions and shaping military strategy at the highest levels. After transitioning from the Air Force, he built and ran successful businesses, applying his expertise in leadership, strategy, and execution to drive measurable growth. As co-founder of a defense contracting firm, he secured multimillion-dollar contracts and led initiatives that set new safety standards in military training.
In 2018, Ryan embraced an unconventional lifestyle, leading his company remotely while living aboard a sailboat and exploring over a dozen countries and covering over 10,000 miles in the Atlantic and Caribbean. This experience reinforced his belief in adaptability, strategic vision, and the power of bold decision-making in uncertain environments.
Today, Ryan is responsible for overseeing business operations and ensuring client success, while also mentoring and coaching leaders to turn ambitious visions into reality. With extensive experience in executive leadership and strategic execution, he guides professionals in refining their leadership style, improving operations, and scaling businesses effectively. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and high performance, helping leaders thrive under pressure and navigate conflict as a driver for growth.
Ryan is committed to building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous growth and innovation. He believes that the right combination of strategy, execution, and adaptability empowers leaders to achieve lasting impact in their organizations and beyond.
Renard
VERTICAL MOTION CERTIFIED COACH
Renard is a visionary IT leader with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience across enterprise IT, infrastructure, service management, and cybersecurity. He is adept at transforming IT from a support function into a strategic business partner, driving measurable business value through cloud adoption, automation, and scalable digital platforms.
He is known for building and developing high-performing teams, instilling a culture of continuous improvement, and aligning technology initiatives tightly with business objectives. Throughout his career, Renard has successfully modernized operations, reduced costs, improved service delivery, and led digital transformations that enhance organizational agility, security, and customer satisfaction.
Renard’s leadership philosophy is strongly influenced by his background as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The discipline, adaptability, and composure required on the mat directly inform his approach to executive leadership and coaching. He applies these principles to help leaders operate effectively under pressure, make disciplined decisions in complex environments, and continuously refine their leadership craft.
In addition to his executive leadership and coaching work, Renard is the co-host of the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast, where he explores the intersection of executive leadership, technology, governance, and martial arts philosophy with senior leaders and industry practitioners. The podcast reflects his commitment to practical leadership development and thoughtful dialogue around what it takes to lead at the highest levels.
Jen
VERTICAL MOTION CERTIFIED COACH
Jen partners with C-suite and senior leaders to shape transformative change initiatives that demand enterprise alignment and disciplined prioritization. She works with leaders making consequential enterprise decisions during large-scale change, when unclear priorities and delayed trade-offs put performance, trust, and leadership credibility at risk. Her experience spans complex operating models across healthcare, franchise, retail, and public sector organizations, where decision quality directly affected outcomes.
Jen is known for stepping into situations where trust and clarity had eroded and momentum was at risk. Working at the intersection of strategy, technology, and people, she helps executive teams cut through noise, surface real trade-offs, and protect what differentiates the organization during change. This work requires judgment under pressure and the ability to realign leaders around decisions that restore focus and forward motion.
In parallel, Jen coaches technically and operationally strong leaders preparing to step into executive roles. Her coaching centers on how leaders think, decide, and show up as accountability expands. Drawing on her experience living and working internationally, Jen brings a global perspective to leadership and change, shaped by navigating cultural nuance while maintaining clarity, trust, and momentum.
Brett
VERTICAL MOTION CERTIFIED COACH
Brett’s leadership perspective has been shaped by experiences in military service, aviation, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity. His work centers on helping leaders navigate complexity with clarity, sound judgment, and a strong sense of personal accountability.
He began his professional journey in the U.S. Marine Corps, where the demands of service shaped his views on leadership, work ethic, and responsibility to others. Those lessons carried forward into nearly a decade in civilian aviation, including founding and operating a small business, before transitioning into cybersecurity and technology leadership roles.
As an executive coach, Brett emphasizes self-discovery and intrinsic motivation, helping leaders slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what drives their decisions. He believes meaningful growth often comes through discomfort—by leaning into challenging moments rather than avoiding them—and that sustained performance is built through alignment between values, purpose, and action. His coaching style favors thoughtful execution over urgency, emphasizing consistency over quick fixes.
Brett holds a Bachelor of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from Clemson University. He remains deeply committed to mentorship, particularly in supporting student veterans as they transition from military service to higher education.
Dave
VERTICAL MOTION CERTIFIED COACH
Dave is a senior executive with deep experience helping organizations navigate complexity, scale responsibly, and make sound decisions under pressure. He has served as a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer in multiple large global enterprises, PE-backed organizations, and private investment vehicles partnering closely with CEOs, boards, and executive teams across finance, operations, and commercial strategy. His work spans transformation and leadership development with a consistent focus on clarity, judgment, and execution. Dave holds a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, an MBA from the University of Dallas and is a former U.S. Marine.
Dave is also the host of The BJJ Executive Podcast, where he explores leadership through the lens of balance, discipline, and long-term sustainability. The podcast explores the tension many high-performing leaders face between ambition and wellbeing, responsibility and presence, success and fulfillment. The podcast emphasizes that effective leadership is not about constant intensity, but about knowing when to push, when to pause, and how to stay grounded over the long run. Dave also serves on the board of The Mat Mission - a non-profit organization charged with bringing jiu jitsu to underprivileged communities and providing mentorship and leadership to the youth within those communities.
Today, Dave works with executives, founders, and professionals who are capable, driven, and often navigating periods of transition or increased responsibility. His coaching focuses on clarity, alignment, and practical execution, helping clients cut through noise, make better decisions, and build careers and lives that are both effective and sustainable. He brings a steady and experienced perspective to help leaders move forward with intention.
Dan
VERTICAL MOTION CERTIFIED COACH
Dan is a global sports and entertainment executive with more than 20 years of experience driving commercial growth across the NCAA, NFL, NBA, international football, and emerging technology platforms. He has built, scaled, and restructured revenue organizations, negotiated seven- and eight-figure partnerships, and advised multiple companies on sponsorship strategy, go-to-market execution, and monetization. His career spans both the buying and selling sides of the table, giving him a rare, practical perspective on how partnerships are structured, sold, activated, and measured for real ROI.
Currently, Dan serves as Chief Business Officer and strategic advisor, working with rights holders, brands, and technology companies at the intersection of sports, payments, data, and fan engagement. He is known for designing modern commercial ecosystems that integrate sponsorship, premium experiences, hospitality, ticketing, content, and data into cohesive revenue engines. A Fulbright Scholar with four academic degrees, he brings analytical rigor and global perspective to every role, blending academic insight with real-world execution.
Beyond his executive work, Dan is a mentor, educator, and thought leader passionate about developing people and advancing the business of sport. He regularly writes and speaks on sponsorship strategy, commercial innovation, and career development, with a focus on building sustainable, community-driven partnerships that create long-term value for organizations and fans alike.
Dominic
DISCOVERY & STRATEGY COACH
Dominic brings a sharp, results-driven perspective to executive transformation rooted in real-world experience, not theory.
As the founder of LazyShredded, a concierge health and performance company trusted by executives, founders, and investors, Dominic has helped high-performers across the globe optimize the one area they often neglect: themselves.
He understands the pace, pressure, and standards of elite environments and what it truly takes to thrive within them.
At Vertical Motion, Dominic brings that same clarity and execution-focused mindset to career strategy. His approach is empathetic, but direct. Insightful, but practical. Designed for leaders who don’t have time to waste and are ready to move.
Nicole
CO-FOUNDER/ MARKETING & ADMINISTRATION
Nicole has more than 20 years of marketing experience, including working for startups as well as Fortune 500 companies. Her main focus was conferences, events and tradeshows. She has produced events ranging from 14 attendees up to 27,000 attendees world-wide.
She loves to manage things behind the curtain. Nicole co-founded Vertical Motion and is committed to ushering in a new group of empathetic, authentic and audacious leaders.
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