me.

I've never really liked these things. It always seems to be so self centered to write about "me". But alas... I've found this to be a good exercise on where some of my physical, emotional, and artistic influences have come from. If you've got questions... ask. Hope you enjoy.

I was born on the 26th of April 1979 to a pair of newly wed college students in northern Minnesota. After my parents finished college, my father entered the Air Force. We moved from Wisconsin to Mississippi to Florida and then on to the country of Turkey. Five years later my father left the Air Force. My family settled in Rice Lake Wisconsin. I was 12. I spent the remainder of my adolescence growing up with local hicks, jocks, geeks and cast always that any small town seems to have.

I graduated high school in the spring of 1997 and promptly moved myself to Bozeman, Montana in search of snow and mountains. This was easily one of the best times of my life. The alone time spent in the mountains was a huge learning experience. A year later I was back in Wisconsin.

I chose to not return to Montana the following winter, and I started college in January of 1999 at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

 I lived with many people while I was in Eau Claire, the four whom I had the pleasure of living with at 632, I consider my best friends.

 I transferred to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee to finish my schooling in 2002. I graduated from UW - Milwaukee in the spring of 2004 with a bachelors in Communication. I took a job later that summer back with UWM in the Department of Recruitment and Outreach. I love what I do for UWM and feel lucky to have found a career path in academia.

Somewhere in the mix of college parties, classes (sometimes) and work, I met a girl. Melissa. The way she carried herself, and the attitude that she put forth drew me to her. I learned many more traits and characteristics that Melissa possessed over the couple of years we dated and I fell for her. We were married on the 3rd of August 2002. After her graduation from UW-La Crosse, Melissa took a job with the Milwaukee Public School district (the reason for my transfer to UWM). She has moved on from MPS and is teaching 5th grade outside Milwaukee.

My influences-

My Parents:
I don't think I could have ever asked for better people to have raised me. They've taught me so much about so many things...and I've only begun to truly understand what all of those things are. As I start to get older and do things that "adults" do I keep seeing why they've made those decisions they made and I admire them. Thank you.

Turkey:
The saying goes...you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Between the ages of 6 and 11, my father was stationed in the country of Turkey with the Air Force. I am very grateful to have had an experience outside of the U.S. when I was young for that very reason. To forge relationships with other kids your own age not knowing their language or culture has taught me many things about how to treat others from other backgrounds and cultures. To have been exposed to such an experience when I was young shaped how I've looked at others my whole life.

Snowboarding:
This lone sport has had the second most influence on my life. It has taught me to look at athleticism and creativity in new ways. It has brought me countless friends and adventures galore. It makes me feel strong and graceful, powerful and quick. In short I love what snowboarding does for me. It's awfully hard not to smile when I'm strapped to my stick. But mostly I think that snow shreding helped me find myself; Who am I in relation to this world?

These adventures and the vast next work of friends has allowed me to get to know a lot of people in skateboarding, rollerblading, skiing, and BMX as well.

Melissa:
(like dessert...the best comes last)
You're individualism and strength is phenomenal. Your humor and attitude is ever present. Your honor, integrity and devotion is never questioned. You exceed expectations and "raise the bar" for everyone. Most of all you hold me to all these things too. You've made me strive to be better. Better than what I might have ever been, or wanted to be. You give me encouragement and advice. You love me in ways I've never thought possible. I love you 12. Thank you.