Welcome to Pistol Pete

"Let me tell you my favorite Pete story, the reason he was my first call when the blackout hit, even though he’d never set foot in New York City. From his office in Atlanta, Pete became the calm, steady voice I needed during the chaos at VH1’s pitch-black building and the streets of Manhattan. That night, I witnessed what his wife Natasha calls “Pete Magic”, his freakish ability to turn disasters into heroic wins. But Pete’s magic isn’t just about fixing problems; it’s about connection. 

Pete leaves you better than he found you, no matter the storm.That resilience? It’s baked into him. As a mentee of Rear Admiral Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and the son of a Navy vet with a razor-sharp wit, Pete learned grit and brutal honesty early. His dad famously quipped, “Kid, you’d end up going down to friendly fire,” when Pete dreamed of joining the military. 

Instead, Pete turned that blend of ambition and candor into business brilliance.

Need proof? He helped theme parks revolutionize eCommerce, built seamless experiences for millions, and has become the go-to consultant for boards looking to future-proof their enterprises. 

And then there’s CarMax: a company bleeding $100 million a year until Pete helped transform it into a $16 billion industry giant. But Pete’s more than a turnaround artist. He’s the guy who drops everything to help a friend, who steps into chaos and brings order. He’s got instincts you can’t teach, the brains to see a dozen moves ahead, and the heart to bring everyone along with him.

Pete doesn’t just solve problems; he reshapes trajectories. Whether he’s tackling a blackout, saving a sinking company, or cracking a joke that has you spitting out your drink, Pete’s the person you want in your corner. Always."

"During the nine months leading up to UnitedHealth Group’s acquisition of Change Healthcare, Pete reshaped our team in ways I didn’t think possible. Brought in to develop over 200 Inside Sales Reps and Account Managers, he turned an overlooked initiative into a powerhouse with sharp strategy and relentless focus. In the chaos of acquisition, Pete orchestrated transformation, streamlining processes to reduce transaction times from weeks to minutes. He introduced a fast-track contract execution system using tools like Conga and Apptus, slashing bottlenecks and driving a staggering 285% increase in sales. Remarkably, he achieved all this without prior Healthcare IT experience, leveraging BI Hub data to spot opportunities others missed. But it wasn’t just his brilliance that stood out. Pete brought clarity, confidence, and a magnetic energy to every interaction. He united teams, inspired focus, and turned complexity into opportunity. Watching him in action, calm, decisive, and sharp, left an impression that was hard to shake.

Pete didn’t just lead us through the acquisition; he elevated us. He left behind a legacy of growth, resilience, and a team forever better for having followed him."

"In the history of AJ Networks, Pete was 전무후무—unprecedented and unrivaled. As our first non-Korean-born Senior Director, he redefined the role. Standing six feet tall, towering over the average Korean height, Pete’s visits to Seoul were legendary. Crowds took notice, women asked for photos, and Pete, with his trademark laugh and warm smile, played along like a celebrity. Meanwhile, the rest of us (especially the men) couldn’t help but wonder if we should’ve worn taller shoes. 

Pete’s impact was as big as his presence. He revolutionized our digital team, uniting diverse talents to develop groundbreaking strategies that set new industry standards. Under his leadership, we adopted innovative processes that drove measurable progress, strengthened collaboration, and elevated performance across the board.

Beyond the results, Pete’s authentic leadership transformed our workplace culture. He fostered trust, remembered personal details about every team member, and inspired us to think bigger. He didn’t just lead, he built lasting relationships and made us better at what we do.

Now that he’s gone, the void is undeniable. Pete’s tenure wasn’t just a chapter; it was a golden era of innovation and connection. His influence, and yes, his ability to make us all look shorter in photos, will shape AJ Networks for years to come."

"It began in Houston, just days before the world changed forever. Pete walked into the interview with a reputation that spoke for itself. This was the man who built CarMax’s eCommerce model, launched their first online sales platform, and developed the DealBuilder app that became a cornerstone of Autotrader.com. As Senior General Manager, his store moved over 1,000 vehicles a month—numbers most dealerships wouldn’t touch in years. Pete wasn’t just a name; he was a force.

The decision to bring him on for a six-month consultancy wasn’t a gamble, it was genius. Days later, Covid-19 hit, and Pete, working entirely remotely, stabilized and transformed operations for our nine DFW Mazda stores. 

His leadership rewrote the rules and set a new standard. One afternoon stands out. In a virtual coaching session with our inside sales team, Pete zeroed in on the essentials: listening, empathy, and turning objections into opportunities. The team went from routine to razor-sharp in 45 minutes. Next, he unified senior leadership with a clear, undeniable strategy that turned skeptics into believers. Finally, he faced dealer principals, dismantling concerns about online sales with surgical precision, transforming resistance into buy-in.

The results were historic. 

Under Pete’s leadership, our nine stores surged from fourth to first in Mazda’s U.S. sales rankings, surpassing competitors like Honda and Toyota. He revolutionized digital sales strategy, inventory logistics, and marketing, leaving a legacy of transformation.

Pete’s brilliance wasn’t just in what he accomplished but in how he did it. He connected with everyone, elevating the entire team. Six months later, he was gone, but his seismic impact redefined what we believed possible. Pete isn’t just a leader, he’s the leader you call when failure isn’t an option."