Founder Insights: The Network That Caught Me (and How to Build Yours Now)

Today someone asked me, “How did you create this network? You know the most interesting range of people.”

That simple question stuck with me—and inspired this post.

Because the truth is, it didn’t happen overnight. It happened over two decades, through moments that didn’t look like networking at all.

Twenty years ago, I was clipping on a radio and clocking in at Hurricane Harbor in Chicago—eighteen, scrappy, and just figuring it out. I was running rotations, balancing safety with service, and learning how to lead one shift at a time.

I didn’t know it then, but I was building more than operational skills. I was building a network. Not in a strategic, polished, “I’ll-follow-up-in-Q3” kind of way. I was just showing up. Staying five minutes late. Helping during shift changes. Catching someone in the middle of their chaos and offering to listen.

That network changed everything.

It led me to leadership roles years before I was “qualified.” It opened the door to working abroad. It brought me into tech. And most importantly, it showed up hard this year—when I got laid off.

When You Fall, You Learn What You Built

The moment the layoff hit, I braced myself for what every operator dreads: silence, uncertainty, and the scramble to figure out what’s next.

Instead, the opposite happened.

Texts. DMs. Real offers. New conversations. I didn’t even post the news before people started reaching out.

These weren’t strangers. Some were former teammates. Others were people I met at Safety School, IAAPA, WWA. Some were LinkedIn names I turned into real coffee chats. These were people I had checked in on, sent job leads to, connected with just to connect—not to close a deal.

I make those asks regularly. I answer them the same way: a resounding yes. Because I don’t just want to meet people—I want to connect them. To share what I’ve learned. To create movement that goes beyond me.

That’s what I built. And when I needed it, it held.

Three People Who Changed the Way I Show Up

I’d be missing a huge piece of the story if I didn’t acknowledge the person who opened the door for me in the first place.

Yes - a picture of a picture, and Yes 20 years ago --- this was a Polaroid that still lives on as do these memories!

Kristie Moses wasn’t just my first real boss—she became a mentor, a collaborator, and one of the most consistent forces in my career. We started at Hurricane Harbor together 20 years ago, and she’s been part of nearly every chapter since.

She saw something in me before I had the confidence (or résumé) to back it up. And when someone like Kristie bets on you, you start betting on yourself too. That first opportunity, that first season, changed everything for me.

Later, when I stepped into my first sales role, I connected with Mark Moore. We knew each other, but hadn’t worked closely.

When I told him I was stepping into a new chapter, he asked me:

“Do you just need someone to say yes first?”

That one line flipped a switch. My network trusted me—before I had metrics, titles, or a track record. That trust made the transition real.

A few years later, I reached out to Matt Heller. I had followed his writing, bookmarked his posts, quietly absorbing from the sidelines for a long time.

Eventually, I sent a message—just asking if he’d be open to connecting. No agenda. Just a genuine conversation. He said yes. And that simple “yes” helped me understand how powerful it is to ask. To reach out. To move from follower to connection.

It shifted how I approach people even now. (Thanks Matt!)

I still do this—day in and day out. I ask for the coffee meeting, virtual or IRL.

And it always pays off. Because connection is real. Tangible. And honestly? It’s what makes this industry a hell of a lot more fun. Building Connections, Building Trust.

The Career-Defining Moments Are Never on the Schedule

The dinner I almost skipped. The awkward message I almost didn’t send. The follow-up I almost told myself wasn’t worth it.

Those moments landed me jobs in Dubai. They brought me into the rooms that shaped my next chapters. They connected me with people I now consider lifelong collaborators.

If you're waiting until you're “ready,” you're already behind.

Build a Network That Works Without Asking for Anything

Early in your career?

Try this:

• Reach out to someone you admire and ask them to coffee or a Zoom—without an agenda.

• Volunteer for projects that let you work cross-functionally. You’ll build exposure and trust.

• Follow up with kindness, not a pitch. “I saw this and thought of you” is a relationship builder.

  
  

Mid-career and plateauing?

Shift gears:

• Diversify who you talk to. Lateral moves don’t always give you perspective—upward and downward connections do.

• Start keeping track of who you’ve helped and who’s helped you. That invisible web is your net.

• Connect people today—someone looking for a job and someone hiring. Just make it happen.

  
  

Already a leader?

Act like it:

• Say yes when someone asks for 15 minutes—even if you’re busy.

• Pull up a chair for someone else when you get the mic.

• Tell your origin story—yes, even the messy parts. People need to hear what it actually takes.

  
  

This Isn’t Networking. It’s Leadership.

The strongest operators I know aren’t transactional. They’re relational.

They invest in people without a playbook. They show up when it’s inconvenient. And they lead by making sure the next generation isn’t just watching—they’re invited in.

That’s what I’ve tried to do. Not just because it’s the right thing, but because it’s the only reason I’ve been able to keep moving forward when things got uncertain.

If you want to build something real—start now. One conversation, one check-in, one helpful nudge at a time.

The guest experience matters. Your tech stack matters. But in the end?

The people matter more.

Always.