CURRENT CAREER – Certified Orthotist/Prosthetist at Teter Orthotics & Prosthetics.
EDUCATION – Bachelors degree in physical education and health (major), and history (minor) from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI). Masters degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics from Northwestern University (Chicago, IL).
FAMILY- My beautiful wife, Jessica and daughter, Avery Jane, who is 5 months old.
FAVORITE DESSERT – I'm not much of a sweets guy, but my wife makes this dessert called "better than sex" (Oreos, whipped cream, and some other stuff) and it's delicious. Though I can't tell you if it's actually better than its name, you'd have to try it for yourself.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY – I love hanging out with my family and doing just about anything. I also like anything sports related and being active. I love to golf and I go to the gym quite regularly.
LAST BOOK READ – In all honesty, I'm not a huge fan of just sitting down and reading, but I'm a big history buff so I believe it was a book called "The Gangs of Chicago."
FAVORITE MOVIE – I have a lot of them, but hands down "Tommy Boy" is a movie I can watch over and over.
FAVORITE SONG – Anything country, but if I have to choose one it would be Kenny Chesney's "Back Where I Come From."
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF NO ONE IN THE CLUB
LIKELY KNOWS – I'm very close with my family. I'm a middle child (maybe that's why I like Oreos so much). I have an older brother who is two years older and a younger sister who is two years younger. My sister has three kids. My parents have been married for 39 years. My wife has 3 brothers and a sister. Her parents have been married for 37 years. We grew up 2 miles from each other and never knew it until we were much older. Now my wife and I (and Avery) literally live between our parents with mine living a mile in one direction, and hers living a mile in another direction. I guess you could say it was meant to be!
LIFE ROLE MODEL – My Dad. He has always been there for me and I was so fortunate to grow up in a family like mine. Now that I'm a parent, I understand some of the things I probably put him through and why he cared so much. I try and mimic my parenting based on how I was raised.
MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT – Finding my wife who puts up with me! And finishing grad school and all my board exams for my career too.
PROUDEST MOMENT - The day Avery Jane was born. What a moment to be a part of. And out of pure coincidence, the day we brought Avery home, I opened up my mailbox to find my certificate stating I had passed all my board exams and was now a Certified Orthotist/Prosthetist. Needless to say, it was emotional and the proudest day of my life.
FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU - It's a story I probably shouldn't share! Sorry for the letdown.
SECRET AMBITION - I dabble on the guitar every now and then, but I really wish I was more musically talented (most likely you will never see me singing at Rotary, for good reason). Apparently, I didn't get that gene because the majority of my life was all about sports. Looking back, I would have loved to have learned how to play the guitar at an earlier age.
IF YOU COULD BE ANYONE IN THE WORLD FOR A DAY (present or historical), WHO WOULD THAT BE---AND WHY? Well since I love history I could name a few, but for the sake of time, I'd say either of the Civil War generals at the time of the war. Obviously not to see the cruel aspects of war, but just to see what it was really like living at that point in time; the way soldiers talked, dressed, engaged with each other, etc. The weapons used at that time have always interested me. Also, the medical care on the battlefield and tactics would be cool to see.
MOST FAMOUS PERSON MET - I technically didn't meet him, but I saw Wayne Gretzky sitting at his table while I was bartending at Boones Long Lake Inn a few years back. Everyone was asked not to make a big deal out of him being there. Nonetheless, it was pretty cool just to see him in person and in street clothes, rather than in his hockey uniform and skates. Other than that, I'd say the next most famous person I've met was Amy Smart. Her and her husband own a winery on Old Mission Peninsula and we just happened to run into them when we were there.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE – It's been great getting to know more and more Rotarians since I joined a few months ago. If I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you, please feel free to stop me and say hello!
