John Cataldi Defined

This is my own personal weblog, where I express my own rants on finance, law, business, media, technology, entrepreneurship, my life in general, or anything else that comes to mind.   The views contained within this weblogs are of my own and not necessarily those of my employer, business partners, or any other affiliations. None of my editorial and/or commentary contained within this weblog should be interpreted as en endorsement, promotional, or advertisement.

PS. – I rarely apologize, however as a both a Capitalist & Constitutionalist. As such, I will leave the comment boxes open, and will not edit. Creating dialogue, leads to understanding, and I’ve been known to change my stance, when given fact, relevance, and within the correct context .

Cataldi Defined (Ca-Tal-Dee) n.

1. a creative, on-the-edge, impact investor, fund manager, creator of companies, extreme sports enthusiast,  and parent of two amazing kids 2. known for presentations, seminars and keynote addresses that are funny, insightful, and in your face. 3. real world. 4. off the wall. 5. on the money. 6. gives clients the power to take charge of their media budgets and make them accountable to the bottom line. See also: rainmaker, force of nature and the SoB that takes Bob R.’s parking spot. Note to Bob… get in earlier 🙂

About John Cataldi

I currently direct investment and fund strategies of the Native American Venture Fund Family (NAVF). NAVF is series of impact investment funds that promote Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) development activities for indigenous tribes throughout North America. I have a unique understanding of legal, economic, and business as it applies Federally recognized, Native American Tribes that allows significant economic development for those tribes and surround communities to create a sustainable future.

However, let it be known that I AM NOT A PHILANTHROPIST! I’m a card-carrying capitalist. My business model is simple….

1. Take an PROVEN industry;
2. Create “The Model” that can pass the sniff test that would be a REAL MARKET DISRUPTION;
3. Measure twice and cut once in the models implementation, remember “Perfect” is the enemy of “Good Enough”, you don’t want to miss the opportunity, because you were too afraid to deploy.
4. Bring the right people to the table that can unleash their potential;
5. MEASURE, IMPROVE, MEASURE, IMPROVE

‘Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago’ – Warren Buffet 

In a past life, I was the Personal Advisor to the Vice Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, where I later became their COO, of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc, and responsible for all current and new economic development practices. I led an amazing team that managed 47 businesses, under 11 business units, to include, new merger, acquisition activities and international expansion. STOFI’s business portfolio included construction, CPG, energy/petroleum, pharmaceuticals, Hard Rock Energy Drink, financial services, agriculture, restaurant/hospitality, gaming and enterprise technology.

Rule 1 – Though the aforementioned sounds impressive, I take great pride in being the dumbest guy in the room, with the smarts to hire and deploy the best talent for the mission at hand. – John Cataldi 

Some other past events, in no particular order include…

• Co-authored various tribal legislation and economic development opportunities . With one of our big winners generating both significant tribal revenue and a Internal Revenue Service (IRS) approved, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) sanctioned, 9 figure tax deduction (though my Co-managing Partner and staff get all the credit – see above – rule 1)
• Served nearly 8 years in the US Army, and I learned how to sleep standing up, land without a plane, use rope as the proper exit to a helicopter, taught bombs how not to explode and patched leaky soldier up on a as needed basis.
• Created, expanded, merged, funded dozens of businesses, some sold, some busted, but all of them taught me a valuable lesson.

My education is mostly self taught, I like to read a book a week…. in the words of one of my most favorite Presidents…

“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.” – Abraham Lincoln

However, for formal education…

• Published, as lead author, with peer review for cancer research in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH);
• Attended Université Grenoble Alpes (France), North Georgia Military College, University of West Georgia, with advanced studies in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
• As a hobby, I’m completing my Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree.

Personally, I am a fitness enthusiast, an amateur martial artist, an avid reader, poker player, community activist in responsible economic development, and serve or have served, when time permits in several great organizations…  to include Rotary International,  Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech, MIT Executive Forum, most notable is the Business Executives for National Security (BENS).

My inspiration in life come from my children, who brighten up daddy’s day with a hug. I don’t take life seriously, its already serious enough. I have a dream to make the impossible look easy, and along my life journey, leave this world a bit better than I found it, with the hopes that my foot print had meaning, and positively impacted the lives of others.

In travels through life, love, capitalism, (though, I’d like to believe less than half the story is currently written) I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

– John Cataldi