While in elementary school, he struggled with a negative self-image and low self-esteem. However, during his later high school years he grew ten inches and began the process of transformation. In fact, after reinventing his image and transferring to a different high school his junior year, he began to regularly achieve honor roll status, awards, became quite popular and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" his senior year. When he graduated he was honored as one of six Exchange Club Students of the Year in his community. One major aspect of his transformation process was encouraging and inspiring his classmates to succeed as well. In fact, he had the ability to see the potential in others that they could not see in themselves. Later, as an undergraduate and graduate student at The University of Toledo, he continued to refine his image. This new positive self-image enabled him to achieve several academic honors, including induction into three honorary societies, inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities, selection as a Rotary Scholar finalist and graduation with cum laude honors. R.J. earned a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology from The University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio). He also completed coaching coursework with Coach University and became a Certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Practitioner in 2005.
After graduate school, R.J. went on to do some runway modeling in Ohio, become a federal law enforcement officer with The United States Department of Justice, an aspiring actor in New York City, a caterer/server to an upscale/celebrity clientele in Los Angeles, CA, a college professor in Ohio, and an award-winning public speaker with Toastmasters International. All of these experiences and more attest to the power of image and the importance of managing it effectively. In addition to image consulting, he is presently a Disabilities Services Counselor at The Ohio State University. R.J. is a state and national judge for the SkillsUSA Prepared Speech Competitions and a member of The Association of Image Consultants International (AICI).
"You cannot consistently perform in a way that is inconsistent with the way you see yourself." --Dr. Joyce Brothers
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This background has given him great insight into social psychology as it relates to one's personal brand or image. His approach to image consulting is that of a holistic perspective in that he takes into consideration one's mind, body and spirit when serving his clients.