Before it was a brand—before it was even an idea—Outboard Surf Club was a feeling. The feeling of sunburnt shoulders and waterlogged smiles. Of early mornings on glassy lakes behind our 2006 Mastercraft, where the only agenda was fun and freedom. It started with a life jacket too big for me and a rope skimming the water. I didn’t know it then, but those weekends would shape everything: my passions, my purpose, and eventually, a movement I’d call Outboard. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are from those lake days with my family. I remember the rhythm of calm water before the wind picked up, the thrill of getting up on a board for the first time, and the quiet joy of ending the day tired and happy. The lake became more than just a place—it was a feeling of connection, freedom, and joy that I would spend years trying to hold on to. Over time, watersports became part of who I was. I learned confidence behind the wheel of a boat, teaching friends how to surf and wakeboard, and I felt a growing desire to share that feeling with others. I also started thinking more seriously about how I could make a positive impact on the lakes and oceans that had given me so much. That’s when the idea for Outboard began to take shape—not just as a brand, but as a community rooted in water, joy, and conservation. Outboard Surf Club started with sketches and logo concepts in my high school AP art portfolio. I kept designing even after the class ended, driven by a creative spark I couldn’t ignore. Using digital tools gave me the ability to take rough drawings and turn them into professional, production-ready graphics. This experience helped me understand the power of visual identity—how design can communicate a brand’s story and values before a single word is spoken. Digital tools didn’t just help me create the brand visually—they helped bring it to life strategically. Online platforms became essential to growing Outboard. Facebook and Instagram allowed me to share visuals, test different content styles, and build a real community. I paid close attention to what resonated—what people responded to, shared, and commented on. Platforms like TikTok allowed me to tell Outboard’s story in fun, relatable ways. As a college marketing major, chasing my dream, I’m not just learning in the classroom but building something real from my dorm room. Every shirt sold, every hoodie worn, every social media tag felt like a sign that the idea was working—that people weren’t just buying a product, they were buying into a lifestyle and a feeling. As the brand grew, I wanted it to give back to the waters that inspired it. I recently partnered with organizations like EcoDrive and 4ocean, and now every purchase on outboardsurfclub.com helps remove plastic from the ocean. For me, it’s simple: if you’re lucky enough to live the water life, you owe it to the water to protect it. Outboard Surf Club is more than a brand—it’s a crew, a movement, a love letter to those slow mornings and barefoot adventures. As I continue this journey, I’ll use my knowledge and experience to connect with others, to grow the outboard mission of protecting our precious oceans and lakes. For those who caught their first wave years ago or those still waiting for their chance, for anyone who knows that the best memories are made on the water, Outboard is a reminder that the feeling is out there.

Sustainability should be a priority in the apparel and lifestyle industry because the environments that inspire this field, our oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastlines, are being threatened. Fast fashion, mass production, and plastic pollution are all symptoms of an industry that prioritizes profit over the planet. But for people like me, whose professional journey began on the water, sustainability isn’t just a trend or responsibility, it’s personal. Some of my earliest and most meaningful memories were made on the lake with my family. Wakeboarding, surfing, and boating shaped my childhood. The lake wasn’t just a place. The lake was freedom, fun, and connection. As I grew older, I found confidence in teaching my younger brothers and friends how to ski and ride. I wanted to share that feeling with more people, but I also began to realize something deeper: if we love these places, we need to protect them. That realization led me to create Outboard Surf Club, a water-inspired apparel brand I launched from my dorm room with just a laptop and a vision. What started as a few logo designs for my high school art portfolio became a small business with a growing community. From the start, I wasn’t just trying to sell clothes—I wanted to share a lifestyle rooted in the joy and peace water brings. But the more the brand grew, the more I understood the environmental impact fashion can have. It pushed me to think bigger. Today, sustainability is central to Outboard’s mission. Every purchase funds the removal of one pound of plastic from the ocean through partnerships with Ecodrive and 4ocean. That’s just the beginning. I’m hoping to transition our packaging to eco-friendly materials and researching low-impact textiles for future product lines. I want Outboard to reflect the very values it was built on—adventure, community, and care for the natural world. Looking ahead, I see myself continuing to build a career at the intersection of design, marketing, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility. Whether expanding Outboard or creating new ventures, I want to use storytelling, branding, and analytics to drive positive change. I believe data and design together can help shift consumer habits, inspire community action, and hold businesses accountable for their environmental impact. Sustainability should be a priority in my field not only because our planet needs it, but because it adds depth and purpose to everything we create. We’re not just selling products—we’re shaping lifestyles, influencing culture, and choosing the kind of world we want to live in. For me, that world includes clean lakes, swimmable oceans, and generations of kids who get to rinse off lake water before dinner, just like I did. Outboard Surf Club is more than a brand. It’s a growing community of people who love the water and want to protect it. With continued support, funding, and education, I hope to turn this vision into a lifelong mission—using my profession to create products and experiences that celebrate nature while helping preserve it.

Before it was a brand, before it was even an idea, Outboard Surf Club was a feeling; the feeling of sunburnt shoulders and waterlogged smiles, of early mornings on glassy lakes, where the only agenda was fun and freedom. It started with a life jacket too big for me and a rope skimming the water behind our 2006 Mastercraft. I didn’t know it then, but those weekends would shape everything: my passions, my purpose, and eventually, a movement I’d call Outboard. Some of the earliest and fondest memories I have are of days spent at the lake with my family. I will always remember how it felt to jump into a lake with no agenda but fun. I knew the rhythm of morning water before the wind picked up, the support from my family when it came to learning to first stand up on a board, and the endless thrill of trying to stay up for just one more second. The lake was where I could slow down. It wasn’t just a body of water—it was a shared space for family time. These weekends didn’t just give me a love for watersports, they gave me a feeling I’d chase forever: freedom, connection, and joy. Over the years, surfing, wakeboarding, and all things boat-related became more than just weekend activities, they became part of who I was. I found confidence behind the wheel teaching friends and family the thrills of boat days. As time went on, I wanted to share my love for watersports with more than just the people around me. I also wanted to make a positive impact in the ecosystems in which we boat and surf. Outboard Surf Club began as a personal experiment, rather than a business idea. The original designs started as my high school AP art and design portfolio—words and colors made into logos and drawings. As time moved on I continued to make designs even after the high school class had ended. That’s when the idea came to life. Using digital design tools like Adobe Illustrator was a game-changer in this journey. It allowed me to bring my vision to life with precision and creativity. Using these tools, I was able to transform rough sketches into professional, scalable designs ready for production. These tools not only improved the look and feel of Outboard’s branding but also helped me communicate the spirit behind each product. As I pursue a career in marketing, I see this experience as a powerful foundation. Understanding how to design and build a visual identity from the ground up gives me an edge in creating campaigns that connect emotionally and visually. It’s a skillset that supports both creative expression and strategic storytelling, two things at the heart of great marketing. I launched Outboard as a solo project—just me, my laptop, and a vision. And while you're definitely not supposed to surf behind an outboard motor, it’s more about capturing the spirit of surfing. It’s about perfect ocean swells or coastal towns, surf sessions with your closest friends and days spent on the beach. It’s about lake days, and barefoot adventures. It’s about anyone who finds their peace in water, no matter what kind of board they ride.The brand, built in my dorm room, hasn’t been an overnight success, but every t-shirt sold, every hoodie worn, every tag on social media felt like proof that the idea resonated. My hope is for people to not just buy apparel—but to buy into a feeling they already knew deep down. As my brand grew, so did its purpose. I wanted it to give back to the waters that shaped me. With that in mind I recently partnered with EcoDrive and 4ocean and can finally see this coming to life. Through this partnership, each purchase of a hoodie or shirt from outboardsurfclub.com contributes directly to ocean conservation by pulling 1 pound of plastic from the ocean. In my opinion, if we’re lucky enough to live the water life, we owe it to the water to protect it. My goal is for Outboard Surf Club to be more than a brand; to be a community, a crew. I see Outboard as a club for those who crave the lake days and sunsets. As I continue this journey I will continue to harness the power of digital design tools to bring more products to market and to give inspiration to others who share my passion for clean fun and clean water. For those who remember catching their very first wave and for those still waiting for their chance. It’s for the ones who grew up rinsing off lake water before dinner and now pass on that joy to their friends, their family, or their future kids. From the boat pier to the products that now ship across the US, this brand is rooted in something real. In shared joy, in slow mornings, in art and adrenaline, in digital design and in dedication, and in the belief that the water has something to offer all of us. Www.outboardsurfclub.com

Outboard Surf Club didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with a life jacket too big for me and a rope trailing off the back of our 2006 Mastercraft. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of lake days with my family. I remember jumping into the water with no agenda but fun, the calm of morning glass before the wind picked up, the support of my family as I learned new skills, and the thrill of trying to stand on a board just one more second. The lake wasn’t just water—it was connection, freedom, and joy. Over the years, wakeboarding, surfing, and all things water-related became part of who I am. I found confidence teaching my younger brothers and friends how to ride. Eventually, I wanted to share this love with more people—and also make a difference in protecting the ecosystems we rely on. The first shirt designs were just part of my high school art portfolio—simple words and colors turned into logos. But even after class ended, I kept designing. The idea grew, and eventually a name and a business was born: Outboard Surf Club. While you’re not technically supposed to surf behind an outboard, the name is about capturing a feeling—those perfect swells, coastal towns, lake days, barefoot adventures, and the peace we find in water. I launched my business from my dorm room with just a laptop and a vision. I designed everything myself. It wasn’t an overnight success, but every hoodie worn, every tag on social media, every sticker shipped out was proof the idea resonated. I didn’t just want to sell apparel—I wanted to share a feeling people already knew deep down. As the brand grew, so did its purpose. I became aware of the plastic crisis in our oceans and felt driven to act. I partnered with Ecodrive and 4ocean, so every purchase now removes one pound of plastic from the ocean. Outboard isn’t just about reflecting the water life—it’s about giving back to it. If we’re lucky enough to live this lifestyle, we owe it to the water to protect it. Ultimately, starting Outboard has inspired me to want to build a career at the intersection of design, marketing, entrepreneurship, and analytics—where I can use data to drive creative decisions and storytelling to connect with people. Every campaign, product, and initiative I create will reflect my commitment to blending creativity with purpose. I want to make Outboard Surf Club more than a brand. I want to build a community, a club for those who crave lake days and slow sunsets. For those who remember their first wave, and those still waiting for theirs, for kids who rinsed off lake water before dinner and now pass that joy to the next generation. From the boat ramp to shipping gear across the U.S., Outboard is rooted in shared joy, art, adrenaline, and the belief that water has something to offer all of us. Whether you’re surfing wakes, chasing waves, or just relaxing on the dock, this brand is for anyone who loves the water and wants to help protect it. With the support of a growing community, funds to support my education and future opportunities, I hope to turn this vision into a lasting force for good.

Before it was a brand, before it was even an idea, Outboard Surf Club was a feeling. The feeling of sunburnt shoulders and waterlogged smiles. Of early mornings on glassy lakes behind our 2006 Mastercraft, where the only agenda was fun and freedom. It started with a life jacket too big for me and a rope skimming the water. I didn’t know it then, but those weekends would shape everything: my passions, my purpose, and eventually, a movement I’d call Outboard. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are from those lake days with my family. I remember the rhythm of calm water before the wind picked up, the thrill of getting up on a board for the first time, and the quiet joy of ending the day tired and happy. The lake became more than just a place. It was a feeling of connection, freedom, and joy that I would spend years trying to hold on to. Over time, watersports became part of who I was. I learned confidence behind the wheel of a boat, teaching friends how to surf and wakeboard, and I felt a growing desire to share that feeling with others. I also started thinking more seriously about how I could make a positive impact on the lakes and oceans that had given me so much. That’s when the idea for Outboard began to take shape—not just as a brand, but as a community rooted in water, joy, and conservation. Outboard Surf Club started with sketches and logo concepts in my high school AP art portfolio. I kept designing even after the class ended, driven by a creative spark I couldn’t ignore. Using digital tools like Adobe Illustrator gave me the ability to take rough drawings and turn them into professional, production-ready graphics. This experience helped me understand the power of visual identity—how design can communicate a brand’s story and values before a single word is spoken. Digital tools didn’t just help me create the brand visually—they helped bring it to life strategically. Online platforms became essential to growing Outboard. ChatGPT helped me craft product descriptions, brainstorm campaign ideas, and refine my marketing. Instagram allowed me to share visuals, test different content styles, and build a real community. I paid close attention to what resonated—what people responded to, shared, and commented on. Platforms like TikTok allowed me to tell Outboard’s story in fun, relatable ways. As a college marketing major, tools made it possible to not just learn in the classroom but to build something real from my dorm room. Every shirt sold, every hoodie worn, every social media tag felt like a sign that the idea was working—that people weren’t just buying a product, they were buying into a lifestyle and a feeling they already understood. As the brand grew, I wanted it to give back to the waters that inspired it. I recently partnered with organizations like EcoDrive and 4ocean, and now every purchase on outboardsurfclub.com helps remove plastic from the ocean. For me, it’s simple: if you’re lucky enough to live the water life, you owe it to the water to protect it. Outboard Surf Club is more than a brand—it’s a crew, a movement, a love letter to those slow mornings and barefoot adventures. As I continue this journey, I’ll keep using digital tools to grow, connect, and create. For those who caught their first wave years ago and those still waiting for their chance—this is for you. For anyone who knows that the best memories are made on the water, Outboard is a reminder that the feeling is still out there.

I want to build something bigger than just a brand. I want to build a purpose-driven business that merges creativity, sustainability, and community impact. As a sophomore at Elon University in the 3+1 Master’s program, majoring in marketing with plans for a Master of Science in Business Analytics, I’m focused on building Outboard Surf Club, a water sport clothing brand I launched to express my love for wake surfing, digital design, and the outdoors. But more importantly, I want this business to stand as a model of how young entrepreneurs can use creativity to fuel positive change. Outboard Surf Club features playful, stylish apparel inspired by life on the water, and with every purchase, a portion is donated to ocean cleanup efforts. I’ve partnered with 4Ocean to ensure that each sale helps remove trash from our oceans. I’m hoping to build more than business. I strive to build a platform where passion meets impact. This commitment extends beyond entrepreneurship. By using creativity,I build relationships, whether it’s with potential clients in my business or peers in my marketing role at Elon’s campus recreation department. These connections remind me that the most meaningful growth happens through collaboration. One defining experience was a service trip to rural Costa Rica, where I helped build stoves for families. It taught me that building something, even with bare hands and limited resources, can dramatically improve lives. Studying abroad in Australia deepened my global perspective and inspired me to align my future work with environmental responsibility. I learned about the threats facing the Great Barrier Reef and the role of ecotourism in promoting conservation. This experience reinforced my goal of building a business that not only sells products but also advocates for sustainability and responsible consumerism. Ultimately, I want to build a career at the intersection of marketing, entrepreneurship, and analytic, where I can use data to drive creative decisions and storytelling to connect with people. Every campaign, product, and initiative I create will reflect my commitment to blending creativity with purpose. By building a business rooted in values, I’m also building a future where passion, impact, and innovation go hand in hand; not just for me, but for the communities I serve.

Creativity as a Compass: Charting My Path in Business and Impact Creativity has always been more than just a skill for me—it’s how I connect with the world, solve problems, and express myself. As a sophomore at Elon University in the 3+1 Master’s program, majoring in marketing and a planned masters of science in business analytics, I’ve come to see creativity as the bridge between my personal passions and professional ambitions. My creative journey recently took a major step forward when I launched my own small business, Outboard Surf Club—a water sport clothing brand inspired by my love of wake surfing, the outdoors, and digital art. My designs are playful, stylish, and meant to reflect the excitement and energy of life on the water. But Outboard Surf Club is more than just a brand—it’s a platform for purpose. I donate a portion of every sale to ocean cleanup efforts, and I’ve proudly partnered with 4Ocean: for every $2 raised through sales, one pound of trash is removed from the ocean. This initiative is my way of merging creativity with sustainability and using business as a force for good. Creativity has also shaped the way I build relationships. It’s what connects me to teammates on the soccer field, clients in my business, or other students through my marketing job through the campus recreation department or business fraternity. Whether I'm helping someone improve their skills or collaborating with others to grow my brand, I’ve learned that creativity fosters empathy, collaboration, and community. One especially powerful experience was a service trip to rural Costa Rica, where I helped build stoves for families in need. This hands-on project reminded me that creativity can be used not just to design or build products, but to uplift lives and find simple, impactful solutions in unfamiliar settings. Earlier this year, I studied abroad in Australia, where I learned about ecotourism and the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. This experience deepened my awareness of environmental challenges and inspired me to continue aligning my business goals with global sustainability efforts. Traveling, exploring new cultures, and learning through experience are all things that fuel my creative thinking and broaden my perspective. I’m grateful that Elon University encourages innovation through programs like mine and through its support for student entrepreneurship. That said, I believe schools like Elon—and higher education in general—could benefit from more cross-disciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. Imagine if students across majors were regularly challenged to co-create solutions to real-world problems. Greater emphasis on open-ended projects, creative problem-solving labs, and design thinking could make learning more engaging and relevant across all fields of study. Looking ahead, I plan to use my creative talent to build a career at the intersection of marketing, entrepreneurship, and analytics. Whether I’m designing campaigns, developing sustainable products, or telling meaningful stories through branding, I want to continue using creativity to make an innovative and positive impact on the world. In every project I take on—whether it’s a business venture, a community service trip, or a new design—I aim to blend creativity with purpose. That’s what drives me, and that’s how I plan to leave my mark