Q1: Tell us about your career path. What moved you to take a step back from Fort Wayne UNITED and join Surack Enterprises?
My life experiences built a foundation that helped prepare me for my former role as executive director of the Fort Wayne UNITED Initiative that was launched by Mayor Henry to guide the Black Male population in achieving their full potential. Mayor Henry allowed me to help build and lead the city-wide initiative that gave me invaluable education in coordination, convening and collaboration as components of collective impact. I had the privilege to build relationships with national leaders, including Chuck Surack. Chuck became an amazing supporter of our work and someone that I developed admiration and respect for, not because of his tremendous success, but his core values. Subsequently, we developed a great relationship that led to me joining his team at Surack Enterprises, which I consider an honor. I’m grateful that Mayor Henry graciously extended an invitation for me to stay engaged with Fort Wayne UNITED by remaining on the Steering Committee and sharing leadership responsibilities alongside other community leaders.
Q2: What do you do as director of business development? What do you hope to accomplish?
Gratitude and excitement for a new journey at Surack Enterprises were my dominant feelings, in tandem with fear of the unknown. However, MLK reminds us that taking the first step in faith without seeing the whole staircase is sometimes required. Stepping out of what I knew so well made me question the security of my footing, but my trust in God and admiration for the leaders of Surack Enterprises increased my confidence to take the next step. Under the Surack Enterprises umbrella are several businesses that provide unique services in optical, automotive, entertainment, aviation and much more. This season requires me to be a great student first, learning as much as I can about the businesses that I hope to impact. With full maturity in my role, I aim to use my experience to support the leadership team and businesses, as we continue to grow beyond our own expectations.
Q3: What do you enjoy most about your job? What is your biggest challenge?
As an on-ramp into Surack Enterprises, I get to work with a diverse group of high-capacity leaders who serve under the Longe Optical umbrella. The most challenging aspect of my role is finding ways to improve and enhance what is already a successful business that serves our community. However, I sometimes wonder if the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mindset” hinders improvement. While I hope not to break anything, I do aim to strengthen what is not broken; creating non-traditional opportunities for Longe Optical to engage Fort Wayne as customers, but as neighbors, too. Also, I find fulfillment in knowing that I can reflect the heart of the leader that I work for.
Q4: Tell us a bit about your love of music.
Because listening to music wasn’t enough for me, I ended up in music performance as a Jazz drummer, music composer and producer. One of my greatest memories; at seven-years-old in my home country of Trinidad and Tobago, my mom made my sister and I sing a Mother’s Day song at my father’s church. My job was to harmonize every note that my sister sang. It was a terrible song, but I killed it! At 14-years-old, I had my first studio recording session with my then Hip-Hop partner Javar Hamilton, and I fell in love with the process of creating music from scratch. Music production built my creative capacity and pursuit of excellence, as I learned that every adjustment proved to be important to the final product. I do hope to dive back into the world of music production, but for now I enjoy listening to the creative expressions of producers like Mutt Lange, Timbaland, The Underdogs, and performers like Jazmine Sullivan, Thad Jones and a few others.
Q5: What is it about Fort Wayne that has made you want to live, work and stay here?
While Fort Wayne isn't surrounded by water and mountains for those of us who need visual dimension in our spaces, I have grown to enjoy the simplicity of the landscape and our local economy. While growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, I took the beauty of the surrounding waters, mountains and rich culture created by the BIPOC for granted. However, one of the anchors that has kept me in Fort Wayne is my psychological connection to my family’s struggle. One once said, “out of suffering emerges the strongest souls,” and another once said, “only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambitioned, inspired and success achieved.” My mom and I survived the worst part of our lives right here in Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne almost became the graveyard that housed our wounded souls, but instead, Fort Wayne became the place where God demonstrated His love for us while we hung on to each other for dear life with strength, perseverance and a desire to thrive. We’ve been through the worst right here in Fort Wayne, but are now living amazing lives right here in Fort Wayne, and we still believe the best is yet to come, right here in Fort Wayne.
Q6: What does your life look like outside of work?
While cliché, my faith and family are my sources of warmth and significance. My two gifted sons are both creative and talented musicians who make fatherhood enjoyable in ways I never imagined. I didn't have the privilege of having a meaningful relationship with my biological father, so my bond with my sons is a gift that I get to unwrap every day. My wife is a wise, strong but gentle soul, who has stood in front of me as my protector, beside me in partnership, behind me in support and with me in commitment during many challenging seasons. We are extremely different in many key areas, which makes our union a healthy balance that is beneficial to both of us in everyday life. Our backgrounds and personalities are opposite, but our vision and values are identical. I love the Headleys, but like them, too, which makes our time together so rich and wholesome when we travel and share new experiences. We are a close-knit unit that prays together, prays for each other, and prays for the world around us, and outside of work and school, we enjoy music, foodie travel and cooking together.
Q7: If you could give one piece of advice to someone interested in helping better their community, what would it be?
I can share a few quotes that have provided great guidance to me along my journey.
Trust happens to be the lens in which I see the world through, which holds tremendous importance in my vertical relationship with God and my horizontal relationships with others. My only advice, even if with one person, build genuine relationships rooted in trust and love, with love being defined as someone doing what is ultimately best for you and you doing what is ultimately best for them, too. It helps us to experience something much greater than just happiness, which is fulfillment.
