I was born in Denver as the second of five sons. My dad was attending CU to become a doctor when he met my mom, who was studying to become a nurse. As part of the Air Force ROTC, my dad served for two years in San Antonio, TX, followed by two years in Duluth, MN, before we moved to Fort Morgan, where he joined my maternal grandfather’s medical practice. I grew up in Fort Morgan, where my parents still live today.
Karen moved to Fort Morgan with her family during junior high school. Although we didn’t date at the time, we knew each other—small town life! Well, maybe there was one date… but I’ll let her share that story when she tells her bio.
After high school, I moved to Greeley to attend UNC, where I graduated with a degree in Accounting. Karen also moved to Greeley, and we reconnected when—believe it or not—she picked me up in a bar. That’s another story she can tell if she wants! We were married in 1983 and will celebrate 42 years of marriage this April. We are blessed to have both sets of parents who have been married for over 70 years.
Our first daughter, Kellie, was born in 1988, followed by her sister, Shannon, in 1989. Kellie, a nurse in Denver, married Mark last October in an outdoor wedding in Estes Park. They now live in Thornton. Shannon and her husband, Brad, live in Columbus, OH, with their two boys—Conrad (3 ½) and Griffin (almost 1).
For 30 years, I worked in the Greeley area as an accountant, holding roles such as Director of Finance, Controller, and VP of Finance. However, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. While working full-time, Karen and I purchased a service station in Severance, Colorado—right across from the world-famous Bruce’s Bar, if you know the name. We also bought a convenience store in Greeley, where I managed operations, and Karen handled the bookkeeping. Running these businesses taught us the challenges of small mom-and-pop stores competing against large corporations. When Safeway started selling gas cheaper than we could buy it, we knew it was time to sell.
Around that time, we took a trip to Mexico with Pat and Wayne Newsom. Wayne encouraged me to move to Estes Park and join him as a Realtor, offering to be my mentor. So in 2008, we took a leap of faith—leaving Greeley, where our home would have doubled in value if moved to Estes, and trading a steady paycheck for a commission-based career in a town where we didn’t know a soul. At the time, Kellie was already in college, and Shannon was a high school senior preparing for college. Sound like a good idea? Well, if you recall, the 2008 housing market crash made for some lean years. But that experience allowed me to focus on delivering a five-star customer experience that has defined my career.
Rotary’s Impact on My Family
Kellie was in the International Baccalaureate program in high school and joined the Interact Club. When she went to CSU, the Rotaract Club had been inactive for years, so she restarted it—serving as President, just as Shannon did later when she attended CSU. The club was aligned with the Fort Collins Rotary, and Kellie had the opportunity to go on a Rotary mission trip to Guatemala. That experience profoundly shaped her passion for serving low-income, Spanish-speaking women. It also led her to join the Peace Corps, where she spent 2 ½ years in Ecuador.
One of Kellie’s Peace Corps projects involved our Rotary club partnering with an Ecuadorian Rotary Club and Engineers Without Borders to rebuild a water system in the small mountain village of Cebadas, Ecuador. Kellie has since been involved in Rotary in Denver and was part of the satellite club that introduced us to Crutches for Africa.
Shannon has also been active in Rotary, leading numerous projects and even serving as President of her club. We had the privilege of attending the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta with her.
My Rotary Journey
Despite my family's deep Rotary involvement, I had never been a member. When I joined Wayne’s business in 2008, I knew he was a Rotarian, but at the time, Rotary clubs typically had only one Realtor per club, and I didn’t want to compete with him. I initially saw Rotary as a way to grow my business but wasn’t sure it was the right fit. However, with Wayne’s encouragement, I joined in April 2008—and now, 17 years later, I can’t imagine life without it.
I quickly discovered the impact Rotary has at the local level through projects like the Estes Park Duck Race, where I first served as Big Duck in 2011 and now again this year. I also served as President in 2015-16 and have held multiple leadership roles. Beyond the local level, I saw Rotary’s global impact, especially through water projects like Kellie’s in Ecuador. Attending the national convention and learning about End Polio Now was eye-opening.
I may have joined Rotary to help my business, but I stayed because of the good it does—both locally and around the world. Rotary’s motto, "Service Above Self," isn’t just a phrase—it’s a way of life.
Thank You
I appreciate the opportunity to share my Rotary story, and I look forward to many more years of service alongside my fellow Rotarians.
