Something about me most people don’t know

I got my start in IT during junior high school. Growing up during the 7th grade my best friend was lucky enough to have parents that owned one of the earliest “Apple Stores.”

Free copies of all of those games eventually made their way into their first “Introduction to Computer Technology” class, and my logical mind was focused on questions such as “how do the programmers make the dots on screen look like a pilot parachuting out of a crashing World War II era fighter plane”?? From that moment on my career path was set.

What I’m passionate about?

Scuba diving! I got my initial PADI certification in a stone quarry on the outskirts of Chicago suburbs. Since that time my scuba experiences have been primarily in one of 2 locations – the Caribbean and in US aquariums with specialized scuba diving experiences.

What’s the most valuable piece of advice I ever received?

You were born with two ears and one mouth for a reason, so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

One word my colleagues would use to describe me

Tenacious

My most impactful role model

My father. He taught me the value of hard work and dedication, and that it’s ok to be your own unique individual.