First In Consulting

05/17/2026

Why is our family business different?
Because God made us first responders before He ever made us business owners.
He taught us service before success. He taught us how to stay calm in chaos, how to put people first, and how to carry responsibility when things get hard. Long before we ever ran a business, we learned what it meant to serve others when they were having the worst day of their lives.
That changes the way you lead. It changes the way you treat customers, employees, and families. We don’t just look at people as transactions or numbers. We look at them as people who matter.
A lot of businesses are built around profit first. Ours was built from a foundation of service first. Because when God molds you through public safety, sacrifice, pressure, and compassion, you learn that leadership is not about being served — it’s about serving others well.
That’s why our business is different. It was built from the heart of first responders.

05/15/2026

So, as many of you know, I’m a retired paramedic, spent years in public safety, and have done truck driving and wrecking pretty much my whole life. Not many things surprise me anymore. I understand traffic in Atlanta. I understand traffic in Charlotte. I understand traffic in Charleston… or at least I thought I did.
We took what sounded like a simple job moving concrete forms 28 miles. There were two loads, and I told the broker, “We’ll knock both out in one day.” Everybody agreed. But the people we were moving for said, “Nope, only one load per day.”
At first, we couldn’t understand why. We figured we knew Charleston well enough. Well… yesterday and today taught us otherwise.
The job was on the far side of James Island/Johns Island. When you’re still 30 miles away, GPS is already saying it’ll take an hour and 15 minutes to get there. I honestly didn’t believe it… until it did exactly that.
Then loading the forms took over an hour because of different delays. By then, you’re rolling right into after-lunch traffic, and somehow a 28-mile run turns into a two-hour drive.
So now you’re almost FIVE hours into a 28-mile move.
I would expect this in Atlanta or Charlotte. I’d even expect it during rush hour in Charleston. But for it to take over three hours just to move around 50-something miles inside the Charleston area? Never would’ve thought it.
Moral of the story: the only person who truly knows everything is God Himself. The rest of us just keep finding out how little we actually know the older and more mature we get.
Hopefully this gives some of y’all a laugh today. It’s not meant as fussing or venting — just one more reminder that life will humble you quick.
Everybody have a great day and stay safe out there.

05/11/2026

VA is going back to winter.

05/08/2026

Truck Driving vs. Regular Driving
First off, let me say this: I’m a huge believer that the left lane is for passing. Period. And yes, I know everybody gets frustrated watching what people call “truck racing,” where one truck takes 10–15 miles to pass another. I’ll even apologize for some of that. Truth is, a lot of drivers today didn’t truly earn their CDL the old-school way. Years ago, you learned the trade. Now, too many people can pay a few thousand dollars and walk out with a license. That’s another conversation entirely.
But let me explain the other side of this from inside the cab.
These trucks get around 6–8 miles per gallon. Most are governed around 68–70 mph. One or two mph may not seem like much to a car driver, but when you drive 10 hours a day and get paid by the mile, it matters. More importantly, fuel prices are through the roof, so truckers try to keep a steady speed because constant braking and accelerating kills fuel mileage.
Now add traffic into the mix.
A lot of people “foot pedal drive” — speeding up, slowing down, speeding up again. A truck tries to pass, and suddenly the car speeds up. Truck falls back, car slows down again. Meanwhile, newer trucks have cameras and safety systems going crazy: beep, beep, beep nonstop because we’re too close to another vehicle.
And here’s what many people don’t realize: when you cut off a loaded truck, you can trigger automatic braking systems. That can damage cargo, equipment, and sometimes cause serious accidents. These trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds. We cannot stop like a car.
Most professional drivers are not trying to hold you up. We’re trying to: • Keep a safe, steady speed
• Save fuel
• Stay profitable
• Get home to our families
• And most importantly, not hurt anybody
So if you see a truck trying to pass: Either ease up and let them over, or go on ahead and get around them. But cutting them off or playing speed games helps nobody.
And yes, there are bad truck drivers out there. I’ll be the first to admit it. Some people behind the wheel of these rigs shouldn’t be driving them. But a lot of us are professionals simply trying to make a living and safely move the goods everyone depends on every single day.
At the end of the day, these trucks are why stores stay stocked, businesses stay running, and people keep the lifestyle they enjoy.
So maybe instead of road rage, we all try a little patience and a little grace. Put yourself in that driver’s seat for a minute with alarms screaming nonstop while hauling 80,000 pounds down the interstate.
Just something to think about. Stay safe out there.

05/07/2026

So what is freedom?
Freedom is taking God’s blessings, bringing people together as a family — not always by blood, but by purpose — and building something meaningful together. It’s taking what God gives you, working it, growing it, and turning it into more than just a job. It becomes a lifestyle.
After 25 years in public safety, and having my kids involved in it as well, we learned what real service looks like. Then we studied successful corporate companies and learned what makes businesses thrive. We took both worlds — service and success — and brought them together. That is what First In Consulting is.
We roof. We have a transportation division. We do improvements. But the biggest blessing in all of it is this: I get to have my family with me every day.
Because of that, Monday feels just as good as Saturday or Sunday. That’s not just work. That’s a business built around freedom, purpose, and family.

05/06/2026

I stopped at this Wendy’s right off I-95 at the Savannah exit, next to the QT where you take Highway 17 into Savannah. I’ve got to say, this place stood out.
Instead of the usual loud music you hear in most fast food spots, they had good, wholesome music playing with a positive message. Coming from a Christian background, that really caught my attention in a good way.
But what really made the difference was the atmosphere. You could feel it. The employees seemed genuinely happier, they were attentive, and they were doing their jobs well. It just felt like a better environment overall.
For anyone traveling through the area—especially truckers—the QT next door makes it easy. I parked there, fueled up, and walked over with no issues.
I’d highly recommend stopping here if you’re passing through. Definitely one of the better experiences I’ve had on the road.

01/26/2026

Long shift and now a dog to make sure he gets rest.

01/05/2026

12/17/2025

A little chilly this morning, but we out doing what we love.

We love getting a call and customer getting a solution.