Read below to understand my life's journey, which has been guided by faith and spirituality. From heavy physical labor to extensive business building and community volunteer involvement, God has led me here.
Below is a rounded list of jobs and responsibilities that have shaped my views and reactions to the world. You will notice that hard physical labor, difficult choices, and creative solutions emerged from great friendships and a diverse range of experiences, some good and some not so.
As a youth, I baled hay from before dawn until after dark. I cleaned the Drive-in and movie theater grounds (not a pleasant job). I caddied at local golf courses, often carrying two bags at once, twice a day when possible. I was a projectionist at a family movie theater, later managing, cleaning, hiring, training, and more.
I worked on a road crew, cutting grass in county cemeteries, along the sides of roads, blacktopping and repairing road pavement, installing signs, cleaning ditches by hand, and maintaining parks. I served as an electrician's assistant, wiring houses during the summer. While in college, I opened and managed a gym for student use during their free time. I drove a pit truck at a local gravel pit, traveling 45 miles at 5 am on my motorcycle to be on time, and managed gravel and boulder separation equipment for the company.
I assisted in geology and physiology labs for undergraduates, earning a college degree with strengths in biology, geology, physiology, and secondary education. I was a four-year starter on the college varsity football team as a running back and mentored local high school athletes while on a football and track scholarship.
I managed an area bar and entertainment venue with five bartenders and seven barmaids in a disco-style environment that alternated with live music. After college, I taught physics, chemistry, and biology while coaching wrestling and football. I also volunteered as an EMT with the local life squad, providing support for addiction recovery initiatives.
I managed a movie theater at night while teaching school daily and spent 15 years in the car business as a salesman, general sales manager, used cars, and finance manager, excelling in training and closing sales for brands such as Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and Audi. I acted as General Sales Manager at Lexus.
Alongside my wife, I owned an Air & Water purification business, as well as a home remodeling business, where I grew our revenue from $140k to over $3 million in 13 years. I owned an indoor paintball facility and played competitively at a national level until age 60, sponsoring two traveling paintball teams and the University of Cincinnati's NCAA team.
I participated in a local Disaster Relief Team, serving tornado-affected areas and Hurricane Sandy victims. Additionally, I mentored at the local city alternative drug and alcohol treatment center, focusing on vocational and spiritual growth. I ran the central division of Texas for a large sunroom company while living there and consulted on web-based marketing strategies and mobile app design.
Currently, I day-trade in the U.S. stock market and help run a Celebrate Recovery Program with my wife at our church, along with hosting a weekly Bible study group at our home. I have traveled across the country, to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Israel.
Later in life, I reconnected with Jesus, who seemed to grant me an extension on life after I was told in 2008 that I had less than six months to live. In 2014, I was baptized in the Jordan River along with my wife. My drive is to improve the lives of others and to make them aware of their possibilities, especially in the context of support for addiction.
