First-person accounts from 30+ years building, buying, and selling the consumer-direct lead. Published when there's something only I can say.
Software, agency, lender, author. Every seat on the consumer-direct lead is confidently wrong about something only the other three can see.
August 2026
In 2016 I built the initial go-to-market strategy and operations for SpringEQ, a home equity lending fintech. Here's what the playbook actually looked like.
April 2026
When Kaleidico had its acquisition and liquidity event, I kept 10% and stepped into the CRO role. Here's why — and what it taught me about structuring a deal that keeps the founder in the game.
April 2026
I helped grow Quizzle — one of the first free credit report platforms — before Bankrate acquired it to fuel their customer strategy. Here's what I learned about building for acquisition.
April 2026
In 2004, I joined Quicken Loans to build EquityOnline — their first platform that gave borrowers a real offer online, not just a lead form.
April 2026
Before I built lead generation platforms, I ran counterespionage operations for the Air Force. The skills aren't as different as you'd think.
April 2026
In 2000, I left Air Force intelligence to join DeepGreen Bank as Employee #7. We launched the first unconditional online HELOC. Here's what building an internet bank looked like before most banks had websites.
April 2026
In 2005, I built a platform called icoSales and needed a name for what it did. It wasn't a CRM — there was no relationship yet. That distinction created an industry category.
April 2026