I went from hacking dial-up at 14 to defending millions from cyber attacks
What started as a teenage obsession with breaking systems turned into a lifelong mission to protect people from them. I've built and rebuilt companies, faced failure head-on, and created one of the world's most advanced breach defense platforms.
This isn't just a tech journey, it's a fight to give power back to the people in a world where cyber threats never sleep.
I hacked the internet at 14... and it changed everything
I still remember the moment I figured out how to bypass our family's dial-up internet restrictions. I was just a kid, self-taught and hungry to break the system, not to cause chaos, but to understand it. I wrote a program that gave me unlimited access. That small act of rebellion wasn't just about getting online, it sparked something deep.
By the time I hit college at BYU, I had transformed from hacker to defender, protecting university networks from the same kinds of attacks I used to explore. That shift, seeing the other side, set the course for my life. I wasn't just passionate about technology. I was obsessed with protecting people from digital threats.
Building a 400-person cyber empire in 14 months
Insane growth, national recognition, and three separate companies landing on the Inc. 500/5000 list five times, these weren't just wins, they were validation that I could build at scale. I was honored by Utah Business as a "Forty Under 40" leader and our startup was labeled one to watch.
I'd found a formula for growth, but success came with a warning: scale fast, but never lose sight of your foundation.
When the market shifted, I refocused and rebuilt smarter
Like any fast-scaling entrepreneur, I faced some growing pains. Industry changes and shifts in platform policies impacted our momentum, and I had to make tough decisions. But instead of seeing it as a setback, I saw it as a catalyst.
I took every lesson — about leadership, resilience, and building teams that last — and channeled it into something bigger. That's when HEROIC was born.
Where we're headed
Today, I lead a team of builders, engineers, and security pros who are just as obsessed with protection as I am. We're constantly evolving, staying ahead of AI-driven threats, credential theft, and whatever comes next.
Whether you're a growing business, an enterprise CISO, or a startup founder looking to secure your future, HEROIC was built for you. Let's stop breaches before they start and help you become the hero of your own story.
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