Born and raised in the USA a little north of Detroit, Michigan in the city of Clawson, I took piano lessons for seven years before taking up the trumpet in grade 8. My mother was a lover of music, and I was exposed to various types, from Orchestral to Broadway to Big Band Jazz. I grew to love music to the point that I could not choose between athletics and band while in high school, so I took on the difficulty of staying involved in both. At this time I also met the love of my life besides music, and Janice is still with me today. In high school I became Senior Class Vice-president, and co-captain of a very successful wrestling team, while continuing to play in the Symphony Band as 1st chair tuba.

I left high school for Central Michigan University, where I studied Music Education. I tried to stick with wrestling, but at this new commitment level I could not keep up, so I said goodbye to wrestling. I married my wife during my college years, so it took me 5 years to graduate. I marched in the renowned CMU Marching Chips for 5 years, performed in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble for two years, and played piano in the Jazz Lab 1 big band jazz ensemble my senior year.

Upon graduation I accepted a position as Junior High and High School band and choir director in Newport WA, but did not stay after completing my first year due to having to also teach 3 grade 8 math classes, for which I was not qualified. I left teaching after several years of substituting in Spokane WA, and played keyboards and horns professionally for a season while also working as a waiter or a cook or a baker!

Eventually I took up a career in Non-residential Construction Inspection, which I became successful at. I left the industry after 18 years to come to Chiang Mai with my wife, who was hired by CMIS to teach grade 6. My son Brennan and his wife Karina had moved to Chiang Mai to work as missionaries, and Karina had given birth to their first child Ike, so we wanted to be nearby to help them in the new experience of raising a child.
While here, word got around that I was a qualified music teacher, and the Dr. Lance Potter at CMIS asked me if I would be willing to start an instrumental music program at the school. I accepted the challenge, and here I am today!