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"Sticking with your ethics and morals always pays off in the end."

Martin, 37, was born in Amityville, New York and raised in Long Island. He graduated cum laude from Adelphi University with a business degree, concentrating in finance and management, and later graduated from The George Washington University National Law Center. He gained expertise representing some of the nations' largest real estate companies as a real estate attorney, and has also taught real estate and business law along with ethics, government and business policy. He is also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. In addition, Martin served as a Board of Director member for metro New York's Make-a-Wish Foundation. He is currently the Senior Assistant City Attorney of Atlanta, handling real estate, communications, utilities and commercial transaction contracts and negotiations that affect millions of people. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and collecting antiques, along with writing, publishing and coming up with creative lectures for classes. Martin feels he should be the next Apprentice because he says, "As an attorney and professor, I have the experience, leadership and technical know-how to run any of Trump's companies and projects."

"Success" can mean different things to different people; what does it mean to you and how will you know when you've achieved it?
"I make myself rich by making my wants few," Thoreau.

Success is a smile on my children's faces. As a parent, everything I do is motivated by how I can make their lives better. As an attorney, success is meeting and exceeding my clients' expectations. As a professor, success is opening the mind of that student that started the semester off in the back of the class. As a human being, success is ending the day having made the world a little better. Thus far my kids have smiled everyday I've seen them, a perfect record of success.

Describe the toughest business situation you've had to deal with and what you did to solve the problem.
My toughest business decision was a case where a client came to me accused of an unspeakable crime. I knew the case would have made headlines, but I just didn't believe his story. My boss at the time wanted me to take the case, but I chose to terminate my employment with him rather than doing something that bothered my conscience. My actions could have resulted in someone getting victimized as a result of my getting him out. I have since been very fortunate in my legal career despite taking the risk of leaving that job. Sticking with your ethics and morals always pays off in the end.

What lessons have you learned from past Apprentice winners or candidates?
1) When a team member says, "trust me", run; 2) When you interrupt Trump when he is screaming at someone, you're done; and 3) If you show too much ambition, the group will let you rot in the sun.

There's an ancient African saying, "Drip drip drip water will break the stone." You have to have endurance, patience and will power not to crack under all the pressure and criticism. You have to learn to smile at your enemy and outlast him.

Why should you be Donald Trump's next Apprentice?
As an attorney and professor, I have the experience, leadership and technical know-how to run any of Trump's companies and projects.

What's your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
The weather is heavenly, it's 78 and sunny everyday. You can hike, bike, swim and ski all in the same day. There aren't too many places on the planet where you can do that.

What's your least favorite thing about Los Angeles? And you're not allowed to say "traffic."
As they say, it's not show friendship, it's show business. Anyone who lives in L.A. will tell you that it's hard to connect with people, everyone is so focused on looks and your connection to show business. Coming from the east coast, it was hard for me to deal with that level of shallowness. We are generally up front and vocal as to how we feel. That truthfulness sometimes irks people but it's better than a facade.

What will surprise viewers about this sixth season of The Apprentice?
Pain, suffering and much gnashing of teeth!!! This season is by far the most intense thing America has seen on reality TV in a long while. Get your position early at the water coolers because there will be much to talk about the day after each show.

UP CLOSE

What's your marital/parental status?
Married and with two kids. The first time I ever saw my wife was on the alter; she was the Godmother and I was the Godfather for my friend's Christening. We have been together ever since.

If you could be the star of any movie ever made, which movie would it be and why?
I would want to star in a remake of Akira Kurasawa's "Seven Samurai." There is a character who is an expert samurai swordsman who stood for what was moral and right. At nightfall when the town he is protecting is attacked by primitive guns, he bravely runs into the fog armed with a sword. That morning he quietly walks out of the fog with an armful of guns and silently drops them at the feet of his apprentice. The overwhelming firepower of the guns was no match for his skills. In my career, I always tried to practice law attempting to have the skill sets needed to take out those guns, no matter how big, no matter how many. Being half Asian, I love concepts of the samurai codes and the spiritual will power needed to accomplish your goals.

What are your three favorite albums of all time?
"Book of Love" by Book of Love
"Red Hot and Rio," a bossa-nova album
"Hush" by Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin... simply brilliant.

What are your three favorite books of all time?
The Bible
"The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupery
"Power, Influence and Profiling" by me!

What hobbies do you enjoy, outside of trying to impress Donald Trump?
As we say down south, I love to go "junkin'." That is, to go antiquing and attending estate sales. I have found amazingly valuable pieces of furniture thrown out on sidewalks!!! I also like to tap the creative side of the brain. I write and even took acting classes to explore the creative side. Those skill sets also helped me in my practice as an attorney. I also love to hike. When you have a ton of responsibilities and cases, there's nothing like a good hike to free your mind. It's incredibly therapeutic.

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