My journey began in Massachusetts, but my heart has always been in Franconia, where my grandparents lived. I grew up skiing at Cannon Mountain Ski Area in Franconia Notch State Park—some of my best memories are from those early days on the slopes. I learned to ski at Cannon soon after I could walk and even worked there, which deepened my connection to the community.

After serving in the Marine Corps, my entrepreneurial spirit led me to own a stor...