Johnathan has never really left home and for him, that’s a point of pride.
Born and raised in Wayne, New Jersey, Johnathan still lives in the same town where he grew up. “It’s safe, it’s quaint, nothing really goes on,” he says with a laugh. “But that’s the kind of town you want to raise a family in.”
That sense of grounding has shaped much of Johnathan’s life and career. After attending Montclair State University, where he earned a dual MBA in Digital Marketing and Project Management, he headed straight into the fast-paced world of startups in New York City. It was there, at a company called 10X Ventures, that everything clicked.
“That was really where it all started,” he explains. “That’s where I found my love for project management, for tech, for working with software developers and building and innovating.”
The startup world lit a fire in Johnathan. He loved the energy, the creativity, and the feeling of building something from nothing. One project in particular still stands out.
During his startup years, Johnathan was deeply involved in building an app called Gesture, an on-demand gifting platform based in New York City. The concept was simple but powerful. For a flat fee, users could send wine, champagne, flowers, or chocolates anywhere in NYC in under 30 minutes, powered by local shops and a custom-built logistics platform.
“We bootstrapped the entire thing,” he says. “From the app itself to the logistics platform, everything was built from scratch.”
The result was a product that caught the attention of major players. “We had companies like Uber looking at us to acquire our logistics platform alone,” Johnathan recalls. “Being in rooms with billion-dollar companies and watching them look at us like we were gold, that’s something most people never experience.”
It was thrilling. It was validating. And it was exactly what he loved.
But as exciting as startup life was, Johnathan knew it came with tradeoffs.
“I knew I wanted to get married. I knew I wanted to have kids,” he says. “And startup life isn’t exactly known for stability.”
That realization led him to rethink what success looked like, not just professionally, but personally. “I had to ask myself where I was going to find that stability. A startup. A software firm. Or one of these large companies where people stay for 40 years.”
Eventually, Johnathan made the decision to move into a more corporate environment without losing himself in the process.
Today, Johnathan is on contract with Citi through Blend, where his role has evolved in unexpected ways.
Originally brought on as a Project Manager for a long-term initiative, shifting timelines forced a pivot. Suddenly, Johnathan found himself working in operations and data analytics, an area far outside his formal background.
“I’d never done anything like it before,” he admits. “But when they asked if I was ready, willing, and able, I gave them the biggest yes I could.”
The transition wasn’t easy. “It’s still a little scary,” he says honestly. “Knowing that customers could be impacted by the work I’m doing, that responsibility doesn’t go away.”
Because of that, Johnathan approaches his work with care and accountability. “I’m triple, quadruple checking everything. I don’t want anyone negatively impacted by something I missed.”
That mindset hasn’t gone unnoticed. Johnathan has received consistent praise from his team and leadership, reinforcing what he already believes. Growth lives just outside your comfort zone.
For Johnathan, consulting doesn’t carry the stigma some people attach to it.
“I don’t look at it any differently than full time employment,” he says. “If you do a good job, keep your head down, and put the work in, there’s a good chance your contract gets extended.”
What he values most is flexibility. “If I ever feel like I’ve reached my peak on a project, I can have an honest conversation and start looking for what’s next,” he explains. “That doesn’t really exist in traditional full-time roles.”
And there are perks too. “I don’t have to commute into New York every day,” he says. “That alone is huge.”
When asked what truly drives him, Johnathan doesn’t hesitate.
“My family. One hundred percent.”
A husband, a father to a two-and-a-half-year-old son, and with another child on the way, Johnathan is clear about his priorities. “If they weren’t here, I’d probably be overseas chasing dreams,” he says. “But I’d choose them ten times out of ten.”
Work, for Johnathan, is a means to an end, one that allows him to provide stability and opportunity for his children. “If I can’t chase my dreams,” he adds, “I hope I can help them chase theirs.”
Outside of work, Johnathan enjoys the simple things. Golfing at Preakness Valley, playing video games, watching sports, and spending time with his large Italian family, all of whom live within minutes of each other.
“It’s about 30 of us,” he says. “We’re always together.”
In many ways, that sense of closeness mirrors how Johnathan approaches life. Grounded, intentional, and deeply people first.
And while his path may look different than the one he once imagined, it’s clear he’s exactly where he needs to be. Building a future that balances ambition, responsibility, and heart.
Johnathan has never really left home and for him, that’s a point of pride.
Born and raised in Wayne, New Jersey, Johnathan still lives in the same town where he grew up. “It’s safe, it’s quaint, nothing really goes on,” he says with a laugh. “But that’s the kind of town you want to raise a family in.”
That sense of grounding has shaped much of Johnathan’s life and career. After attending Montclair State University, where he earned a dual MBA in Digital Marketing and Project Management, he headed straight into the fast-paced world of startups in New York City. It was there, at a company called 10X Ventures, that everything clicked.
“That was really where it all started,” he explains. “That’s where I found my love for project management, for tech, for working with software developers and building and innovating.”
The startup world lit a fire in Johnathan. He loved the energy, the creativity, and the feeling of building something from nothing. One project in particular still stands out.
During his startup years, Johnathan was deeply involved in building an app called Gesture, an on-demand gifting platform based in New York City. The concept was simple but powerful. For a flat fee, users could send wine, champagne, flowers, or chocolates anywhere in NYC in under 30 minutes, powered by local shops and a custom-built logistics platform.
“We bootstrapped the entire thing,” he says. “From the app itself to the logistics platform, everything was built from scratch.”
The result was a product that caught the attention of major players. “We had companies like Uber looking at us to acquire our logistics platform alone,” Johnathan recalls. “Being in rooms with billion-dollar companies and watching them look at us like we were gold, that’s something most people never experience.”
It was thrilling. It was validating. And it was exactly what he loved.
But as exciting as startup life was, Johnathan knew it came with tradeoffs.
“I knew I wanted to get married. I knew I wanted to have kids,” he says. “And startup life isn’t exactly known for stability.”
That realization led him to rethink what success looked like, not just professionally, but personally. “I had to ask myself where I was going to find that stability. A startup. A software firm. Or one of these large companies where people stay for 40 years.”
Eventually, Johnathan made the decision to move into a more corporate environment without losing himself in the process.
Today, Johnathan is on contract with Citi through Blend, where his role has evolved in unexpected ways.
Originally brought on as a Project Manager for a long-term initiative, shifting timelines forced a pivot. Suddenly, Johnathan found himself working in operations and data analytics, an area far outside his formal background.
“I’d never done anything like it before,” he admits. “But when they asked if I was ready, willing, and able, I gave them the biggest yes I could.”
The transition wasn’t easy. “It’s still a little scary,” he says honestly. “Knowing that customers could be impacted by the work I’m doing, that responsibility doesn’t go away.”
Because of that, Johnathan approaches his work with care and accountability. “I’m triple, quadruple checking everything. I don’t want anyone negatively impacted by something I missed.”
That mindset hasn’t gone unnoticed. Johnathan has received consistent praise from his team and leadership, reinforcing what he already believes. Growth lives just outside your comfort zone.
For Johnathan, consulting doesn’t carry the stigma some people attach to it.
“I don’t look at it any differently than full time employment,” he says. “If you do a good job, keep your head down, and put the work in, there’s a good chance your contract gets extended.”
What he values most is flexibility. “If I ever feel like I’ve reached my peak on a project, I can have an honest conversation and start looking for what’s next,” he explains. “That doesn’t really exist in traditional full-time roles.”
And there are perks too. “I don’t have to commute into New York every day,” he says. “That alone is huge.”
When asked what truly drives him, Johnathan doesn’t hesitate.
“My family. One hundred percent.”
A husband, a father to a two-and-a-half-year-old son, and with another child on the way, Johnathan is clear about his priorities. “If they weren’t here, I’d probably be overseas chasing dreams,” he says. “But I’d choose them ten times out of ten.”
Work, for Johnathan, is a means to an end, one that allows him to provide stability and opportunity for his children. “If I can’t chase my dreams,” he adds, “I hope I can help them chase theirs.”
Outside of work, Johnathan enjoys the simple things. Golfing at Preakness Valley, playing video games, watching sports, and spending time with his large Italian family, all of whom live within minutes of each other.
“It’s about 30 of us,” he says. “We’re always together.”
In many ways, that sense of closeness mirrors how Johnathan approaches life. Grounded, intentional, and deeply people first.
And while his path may look different than the one he once imagined, it’s clear he’s exactly where he needs to be. Building a future that balances ambition, responsibility, and heart.
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