I was born In Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan August 13, 1966, but I lived in Rudyard (aprox. 25 miles south of the Sault) for my first seven years.
My family later moved to Sault Ste. Marie, where I attended the public schools until 1981
My dad got different job in Traverse City so my family moved. I graduated from Traverse City Senior High School in 1984
After I graduated from High School in 1984, I worked part time do construction work and attended Northwestern Michigan College part time taking Mechanical Drafting, and other entry level college courses part time.
I eventually became more interested in working in construction rather than taking drafting courses. So I went to Ferris State University, because they offered an Associates degree in Building Construction Technology.
I earned my Michigan Builders License in 1989, and graduated from Ferris State University in 1990, and got married in 1991.
I moved to Manistee in 1991 so that my wife could work for her family buisness and I've been here ever since working in the construction trades for myself and others.
We have a seven year old daughter that attends a local perocial school.
My spare-time hobbies include trading and collecting automobillia such as old auto magazines and ads, small scale die-cast replicas, plastic model kits and toys.
I also enjoy tinkering with my real collector car, attending car shows, flea markets and swap meets.
Another hobby of mine would include working with my computer playing around with multi-media and putting together web sites.
I got 'the bug' for a career in the construction trades sometime in 1983 and got a laborer job working for a custom homes contractor. He needed a laborer to shovel dirt, stuff insulation, and eventually had me applying polyurethane to the woodwork.
After I graduated from High School in 1984, I continued to work for this same contractor part time and attended the local college, (Northwestern Michigan College) taking Mechanical Drafting, and other entry level college courses part time.
I eventually became more interested in working in construction rather than taking drafting courses. That's when I decided to attend Ferris State University, because they offered an Associates degree in Building Construction Technology which I found more interesting.
After I earned my Michigan Builders License in 1989 and graduated from Ferris State University in 1990 I went back to work for Warren Company in Traverse City for a while before I decided to get married and move to my wife's home town.
When I moved to Manistee in 1991 I worked for Structural Specialties company for a couple years. During these years I did a lot of micsellaneous commercial and residential construction work like finish and rough carpentry, metal building assembly, flat concrete work and tuck pointing brick walls.
I got laid off , so I got a carpentry position for Wagner Construction. I worked for John Wagner for two years before I was offered a better position and pay working for another construction company.
In 1995 I got hired to do finish work for Don Alfred Construction. In addition to finish work I did just about everything else involved with both new and remodel construction. I worked alone, with others and was also put in charge of small crews on occasion.
After working for Mr. Alfred for over 4 years John Wagner hired me back at a higher hourly wage and I worked for him again for over a year until I decided to work for myself on a full time basis.
