What is a favorite memory you have from your time at Midtronics?
There are too many to list, but a few would include: anything involving Karl Schraegle, the “no pen” story—ask Sweeney, the “dropped pop” story—ask Paul, and this one: Flying to Bend, Oregon to provide technical training for Les Schwab. I was able to get to Portland, but the next leg of the flight was cancelled due to weather. I put call into my contact at Les Schwab. He said “let me get back with you in a few minutes.” He called back and said “we’re sending the private jet to come pick you up, it’ll be there in half an hour.” There was one other passenger on board that we had to drop off at another small airport before heading back to HQ and evidently, we both had a red suitcase. The wrong one was given to him from the luggage storage so I was stuck with the clothes I was wearing. Word made it out to the Les Schwab technical team that I didn’t have a change of clothes and despite buying new duds that evening, my nickname with those folks to this day, is “Stinky…”
How do you like to spend your time when you are not at work?
When my oldest son turned 2 or 3, it really hit me how quickly time flies by so I’ve really made it a point over the last decade to spend as much time with my family as possible. For me that doesn’t mean a week long vacation once a year, but more of getting involved in things that my children and wife enjoy on a daily basis, which means anywhere from a bike ride with my wife kids around the neighborhood, sports with the boys or a tea party with my daughter and her dolls (yes, I’m that dad).
What are your hobbies?
I used to be very involved in restoring old motorcycles but as life has gotten busier with my family, I haven’t had a project in a couple of years now. My oldest son is on the Geneva Travel Baseball team so I’ve coached him for the last 3 years, which is a commitment of roughly 6 months for the season with games or practice at least 3 times a week. I also coach basketball and football for both of my sons. My 4-year-old daughter was insistent on my taking a more active role in her ballet classes but unfortunately COVID shut those down—darn…
Do you like music? What kind? What is/are your favorite(s)?
Well, science has proven that music attained perfection on July 21st, 1987 with the release of Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction so I’m a huge GnR fan and love 80’s hair bands in general. My wife listens to a lot of country and has gotten me pretty well hooked over the last couple of years, as Alan Jackson wrote—I’ve “Gone Country”
What is your favorite food?
McRib washed down with a Busch Light.
What is something you think other people would be surprised to know about you?
I was back-to-back Geneva Karaoke Idol champion in 2015 and 2016
