intheBEGINNINGI'm originally from Elkhart, Indiana, the recreational vehicle RV capital of the world. I graduated from Concord High School in 1997 (home of NBA slam-dunking Shawn Kemp). I was in the top 5% academically, in student council, plays & musicals, track, cross country, and other clubs. I come from a large blended family and have a long and complicated family tree, representing all kinds of political, social and life-style persuasions. Being 20 miles east of the University of Notre Dame's campus, I have always been a Fighting Irish football and basketball fan.
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MywifeTracyTracy and I met at the end of my freshman year in college at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois (home of the Chicago Bears summer training camp and fellow student, Ben Zobrist, 2016 World Series MVP of the Chicago Cubs). We met when we were summer counselors at Great Oaks Camp, started dating back at college, and married in August, 2000. She is originally from Effingham, Illinois (with a unique high school mascot). Both of our sets of families still reside in the places where we were born, so holiday travels tend to get pretty crazy.
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FaithandReligionMy grandmothers were the stronger ones in faith and religion. My dad's mom was a staunch Catholic and my mom's mom always attended small churches near her home. Both of my grandfathers, however, were not religious at all. As for me, I grew up in a Free Methodist Church, briefly in a Missionary Church, and then a Church of the Nazarene, with my dad and step-mom. All three churches being conservative, evangelical, Wesleyan-holiness denominations. Whenever I go home to Elkhart we attend my home-church, Crossroads Community Church, now one of the larger churches in the state. (Their growth came after I left for college). I would love to share my testimony with any individual or group.
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WherewewereIn 2001, after college, we moved to Kansas City for four years and had our first two children there. I graduated from a graduate school in KC. Tracy was a elementary school teacher in Raytown, MO. I worked part-time for UPS for three years. In 2005, we moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, one of America's best communities. We lived there for seven years. At first, I worked in youth ministry but I also gained experience in substitute school teaching, SAT test instructing, tutoring, and various sales, marketing and development roles. I also attempted my first business venture. Tracy remained a school teacher for most of these years in Valpo and we added two more children, for a total of four and no more! :)
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WhereweareWe currently reside in Findlay, Ohio (known as the #1 micropolitan in the nation for it's economic development and business growth). From 2012 to 2020, I served on staff at Findlay First Church of the Nazarene. My wife serves at the Naz as the children's pastor and Upward Sports Director. In the past few years, I have increased my solo-entrepreneurial efforts and working with local organizations. As of January 2020, I am representing Findlay Area Living, in addition to my own businesses.
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OurfourchildrenWe are truly blessed to have a houseful of wonderful children. As of fall 2019, Alauna is a junior in high school, is very creative, and in an engineering club at the Millstream Career Center. Avery is in 9th grade, helps run the school store, sports, and several clubs. Addison is in 4th grade, loves gymnastics and crafts. Alexander is in 2nd grade, loves running and origami. They all have tremendously bright futures ahead of them. We love our Findlay City Schools, go #trojantrue!
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MytruecolorsCircumstances often bring out true colors. A lot of people are like me, but none quite like me. (Duh! :) If I were to assess myself, I think I am 100% of Green, then 90% Blue, followed by 80% Orange and still 70% Yellow. See the personality color comparison chart to see what I mean. My top 5 StrengthsFinder results are: Developer, Futuristic, Individualization, Strategic, Learner. I would love to know about your profile.
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Likes, Hobbies&InterestsI love to listen to music (most genres), play music (bass guitar), DJ / MC events, create things, and go to concerts with my wife or children. I usually like meeting new people over a cup of coffee. I land somewhere in the middle-right politically. I also occasionally try to squeeze in some walking, biking, landscaping, reading, frisbee golf, movies, and certainly Notre Dame football!
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