I had the opportunity to grow up in Mequon. I attended Range Line School, Lake Shore School and Homestead between the mid 60’s & late 70’s.
After HS, I choose the opportunity to serve in the US Navy where I learned some very good habits, advanced my education, and traveled the world. It was a very enlightening and memorable experience. I gained book education and life experience simultaneously, which suited me well. Throughout my Navy career I traveled to and lived in many different lands, way too many to list here, but it was a great experience. My last duty station was San Diego, where I planted myself for many years after 14 years of Navy service ended. I made many good friends while in the navy and keep in touch with many of then to this day.
While in San Diego, I attended some medical class at SDSU, architecture and construction management at Mesa Collage and started my first Design/Build Construction Company - American Dream Construction. During this time I was first introduced to Rotary and joined the Coronado Rotary Club. I must say, lunch meetings in the Crown Room at the Hotel Del Coronado was a terrific experience and I have to admit I initially saw Rotary as a networking source for my business and it was. My first international service trip was at this Club where we completed plumbing and electrical in a small village south of the border. That experience was probably my “trigger moment” when I became a Rotarian, and I never looked at Rotary the same again.
In 2001, family healthy issues prompted me to sell my business to an employee (who still runs it today) and move back to WI. I wasn’t certain about starting a new business, but soon discovered I was not as successful working under someone else. So I started Home Perfect as a Design/Build Construction & Remodeling firm. I found some very reliable employees and we completed a variety of projects over several years, then in 2008 is when I received my training on economy-dependent business. Fortunately for me, I had completed education and had credentials as Building Performance Analyst and was able to transition into Building Energy Assessments and Consultation, not so fortunate for my employees / friends.
Having taken my training in economy-dependent business to heart, I sought to find a back up, or plan B and started a business, Smart Living, in which I do marketing in the health & wellness space, a less economic-dependent market. As feared, the COVID pandemic happened, proving that a wise choice. Currently I am working on a project that really combines the two together. I’m partnered with a non-profit organization called :Step Beyond Green to Healthy” started by an architect friend of mine, Jonathan Synovic. Our niche is providing healthy home inspections and solutions for families that have been educated, either by choice or by experience, in the negative health effects of toxin exposures in the air, water or electromagnetically. I am excited to launch and see where it takes us.
I have been a volunteer firefighter for the City of Mequon for the past 10 years, serving our community there and through Rotary gives me great satisfaction. I have participated in the Guatemala Medical Resources Project (GMRP) mission for 8 years and service on the Board of Directors for the Oliveras Scholarship Fund (OSF), a group that provide education scholarships to students on the tow that GMRP operates.
I live with my best friend and confidant Jen DeLaura. We share interests in water sports, health & wellness, gardening and music, I have two daughters, Taneal (35), who lives in Greenfield with my two grand daughters, Mila (8) and Ava (6), and my younger daughter Hannah (16) whom many of you know. She is a sophomore at Homestead HS who lives part time at my home and part time at her mothers home in Cedarburg. She just got her drivers temporary license, so look out for her on the roads…
Outside of the office, I enjoy pleasure sailing, sailboat racing, surfing and stand up paddle boards, scuba diving, motorcycling, and live music. I enjoy giving back through Rotary and the Fire Department, but my role as a father and grandfather is the most rewarding.