Background
I've heard that every person has certain questions they continually ask themselves in any situation. Understanding someone's questions provides keys to their character and destiny. My questions are, "How can I do it better," and, "Is it fair?"
I am a down to earth guy who grew up with mid-western values of hard work (had my first paying job at 11), ethical living, independence (the Chicago Transit Authority was my childhood chauffeur), loyalty and taking personal responsibility for your life.
I was born in 1960 in Chicago, Illinois, the third of three sons. Two years later my sister arrived which shows the value of perseverance. I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a multi-racial and multi-ethnic community located just north of Chicago. Because I grew up in such a diverse environment and many of my best friends were non-white when I was younger, I developed a comfort around people racially and ethnically different from myself.
I attended Evanston Township High School, where my favorite subject was music. Up until my junior year in high school I had planned on majoring in music performance at college. Certain events occurred, however, during my high school years which caused me to switch to engineering. My passion for music, however, never died.
Upon graduating high school I attended Colorado State University, where I received BS degree in Mechanical Engineering. Colorado introduced me to the beauty of nature. Prior to living in Colorado the only mountains I knew were the Chicago Northwestern Commuter Railroad track embankment, which served as our sledding hill. Since leaving Illinois at 18, I've made up for missed experiences in this area of my life living in Colorado and Washington State, while seeing the Himalayas, Andes, Sierra Madres, and Canadian Rockies during my vacations.
After graduating college I moved to Seattle to work in the aerospace industry. I later ended up leaving Seattle a couple times, heading to Alabama, New Jersey, Michigan, and California for financial and career growth.
