A.J. was born in Florida, growing up immersed in fishing and hunting opportunities along the Gulf Coast and in Central Florida, and attended the University of Florida, where he took advantage of the diving opportunities in the springs throughout northern Florida. He then attended grad school in Buffalo, NY, where he fished as often as he could year-round. He worked in the fishing industry doing product design and content creation and this is where he was first able to start volunteering with Project Healing Waters, as both a donor for (and angler in) the Smoky Mountain Grand Slam several years running and as a volunteer for the yearly fall event held on the Salmon River in Upstate NY. At these events he was able to see the wonderful things PHWFF was able to accomplish through their efforts and those of their volunteers. He now lives back in Florida, where in his free time he shares the outdoors with his young son Ronan.