EVERY SEASON WAS A BRICK.
I'm Louis “Louie” Cimino. My story began in Gary, Indiana, and took a turn in 1986 when my family moved to South Florida. A few days later, I started at McDonald's because I wanted a pair of Air Jordans. I had no idea that job would become a 32-year education in people, teams, and leadership.
I became a McDonald's Owner/Operator in 2001, eventually moving to Arkansas, where I ran six restaurants. The lesson I carried forward wasn't only about systems or results. It was that people matter, and what we build into them is part of what we leave behind.
I joined the Cabot Fire Department full-time in 2005 and later became a Battalion Chief. In public safety, standards, communication and trust aren't nice things to have—they affect the people counting on you.
Running became another classroom. What began as a health decision in 2008 turned into a marathon journey. Chicago in 2026 marked my 49th marathon, with many miles run for something bigger than a finishing time.
And when life challenged me to rebuild my own foundation, the message became personal: you don't become MORE by waiting. You lay a brick. Then another.
