I graduated from Kutztown High School in 1984. I joined the US Army during my senior year and went to Basic Training at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK in August 1984.

 

After Graduating Basic as a 13F**, Fire Support Specialist (aka Forward Observer, military occupational specialty [MOS]), I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI, on the Island of Oahu for 2 1/2 years.  During my time in Hawaii, I had deployments to Japan and Korea where we spent a month each training with the South Korean (ROK) Military and the Japanese Military. Both were amazing experiences. I also had deployments to the "Big Island" of Hawaii twice, where we trained at the PTA, Pōhakuloa Training Area, located between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualalai Volcanoes. Basically, we were considered the "Eyes of the Artillery" and my job was to seek targets to attack for Artillery, Infantry, Air or Naval Fire.  My Drill Sergeant in Basic told us that life expectancy of a 13F was about 11 seconds in real combat, so yeah, that was exciting to hear!

 

Also, during my 3-year tour, I had the true honor to serve on the Honor Guard that would perform 21-gun salutes at military funerals on the islands when veterans passed.  

 

I came home in 1987 and served in the PA National Guard at the Kutztown Barracks, back then it was an Infantry Unit, today it is a Heavy Armored Unit. I served a total of 7 years between Regular Army and National Guard. One fun event I was able to participate in around 1989 was an Air Assault attack we staged at the Reading Phillies where we flew in on a UH-1 Huey helicopter and kidnapped their (fake) shortstop.

 

I was fortunate enough to not serve during any major conflicts and I am considered a "Cold War Veteran" with Honorable Discharges.

 

I then worked at DEKA for a few years, basically trying to figure out life, and then went back to school in 1991, earning my AAS in Biomedical Technology from LCCC. This is where I met my wife, Kellie.  We were lab partners in an Anatomy and Physiology Lab and dissected many things together, it was very romantic  

 

After graduating in 1991, I initially found work for a Biomedical Company that had me traveling between Bristol, PA and Pottsville each week.  After a few months, they had a full-time position open up in Stoneham, MA and I moved to MA in 1994. A few months later, Kellie was able to get a job transfer outside of Boston and joined me in New England. We were married in June of 1996 and bought our first home in Salem, NH later that year.  Our first son, Justin, was born in 1997.

 

Wanting to be closer to family, we moved back to PA in 1998, initially I transferred to a job in Wilkes Barre and we lived in Pittson for a year where our youngest, Aaron, was born in 1999. We came back to Kutztown in 2000, and lived in a couple of places until we settled in on Dietrich Valley Road in 2009/2010 (we have a debate on the actual year and I'm too lazy to look it up).

 

For work, in 1999 I found a position with a Biomedical Company out of Blandon, and I spent 11 years there.  The first year I commuted from Pittson to Blandon a couple of times a week until we found a home in town. I grew with that company, reaching Director of Technical Services before leaving in 2010 to work for a Diagnostic Laboratory Company called Beckman Coulter as a District Service Manager, covering Eastern PA. In 2014 I found my current position as Regional Service Manager for another Diagnostic Laboratory Company called DiaSorin. I am currently covering Eastern PA, NY, NJ and all of New England. I've been here 8 years now and love the job.

 

In the community I have volunteered for many organizations over the years. I coached every level of KYAA from T-Ball to Babe Ruth.  Also coached Aaron's Soccer Team for a couple of years. I was an Optimist from 2003 to 2019, serving as President in 2014 and every level of Leadership while I was a member.  

 

I also was Den Leader for a year and then Cub Pack Leader of Pack 101 in Kutztown while both my boys went through Cubs. I served in a Support Role/Committee Member while Aaron continued in Boy Scouts where he earned his Eagle his Senior Year.

 

I have also run my Golf Team on a Wednesday Night League that was at Pleasant Hills for many years. They shut down a few years ago and we are currently playing at Berkleigh on Wednesday Nights.  Kind of why I don't make a lot of meetings in the Summer!

 

Kellie and I have now been married for 26 years.  We love to listen to live music, and to hit the wineries or local pubs in the area when we can.  Now that the boys are on their own, we are trying to travel a bit more! Both our boys are enjoying their lives after school and we are proud of their accomplishments.

 

We have been Rotarians for a year now and enjoy the Club and what it represents in the community!