About the Author
I’m a small business owner, former nonprofit exec, and certified policy translator (made up term) for the chronically over-it. I built Bootstraps & Bureaucracy (& booze) because too many entrepreneurs are getting blindsided by government decisions that were made in rooms they weren’t invited to — or didn’t even know existed.
After getting fired from a job in early 2025 (cheers to new beginnings), I doubled down on what I actually care about: helping small businesses understand how power works — and how to push back when it works against them. Seen me in the news? I was an invited guest to the March 2025 Presidential Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Find me in the B-roll!
I’ve worked in economic development. I’ve run community programs. I’ve helped entrepreneurs open shop, navigate funding, survive pandemics, and fight for common sense. I’ve also watched entire organizations spend months planning initiatives that never once asked a small business what they needed.
So now, I write. I break it down. I serve it up with a drink. And I invite you to take up more damn space in the civic process — even if you’re busy making payroll or sweeping your own sidewalk.
✍️ A few things to know:
I’m based in Minneapolis, MN.
I’ve chaired business mentoring programs, sat in policy meetings, and worked both sides of the bureaucratic desk.
I love a dry martini with a twist. I do not love pointless red tape.
I believe small business is civic power — if we start acting like it.
📬 Want me to speak, consult, or collaborate?
Reach out — or just reply to the newsletter.
And if you ever think, “Wow, someone finally explained this clearly, without the bullshit,” — that’s the point. Share it with someone who needs it.
⚖️ Disclaimer
The views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect the views of any government agency, past or present. Nothing in this publication should be interpreted as legal advice, official policy, or a substitute for doing your own damn homework.
Basically: I write as a citizen, a business owner, and someone who’s seen behind the curtain — not as a representative of any public institution. Don’t call my old boss. They’re already tired of me.