Club Service came up with an easy way for both new and longer term members could learn more about each other. This will also prompt members to provide a current image and update their profiles on “MyRotary” and our club’s CR directory. Yes you can also consider this a vocational exercise, because it will provide the space for you to share information about your career.
Instead of asking members to come up with a paragraph about themselves We are suggesting that you have a set of questions to choose from (6-8) and then reply to. Total responses would range from 150-175 words.
Here are some examples of the subsets:
Business & Personal Related Questions:
Where were you born, education/degrees or associations/board seats?
I was born in Detroit May 22, 1951. I graduated from Grosse Pointe High School, earned a BBA-Finance degree from Western Michigan University, and did some graduate work in business at the University of Detroit. I was a member of many trade associations, but particularly in MMAC for 30 years, serving on some committees and as Chairman of the Board of COSBE (Council of Small Business Executives) from 2010-11 during MMAC’s 150th anniversary. When I was in real estate, I was President of the Milwaukee Chapter of IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) in 1998.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was generally interested in business and grew to become a business leader. As an Eagle Scout, I also became active as a Cubmaster for our son’s Cub Scout Pack, and did some Boy Scout activities too, including hiking in Yosemite back country in 2008.
Name of company & position, or your very first job.
After doing various jobs during my school years, my first career position post-college was in commercial credit analysis at Michigan National Bank in downtown Detroit. They liked my work in Commercial Mortgage Loans, so I was transferred to that division and helped the bank to become Michigan’s leading commercial lender with a 1977 portfolio of $200 million and was promoted to AVP and Mortgage Loan Officer at 26 years old.
I then loaned and brokered large loans nationally with Manufacturer’s Hanover Mortgage in Detroit, with my pride and joy being the 1st phase land development loan on the 2,300-acre PGA National development in Palm Beach gardens, FL. After that I did some real estate finance and development including a turnaround property in Michigan, then in 1982 started to manage regional malls in Grand Rapids (Woodland), Chicago (Woodfield), and Milwaukee (Northridge during its good days leading to its 1988 sale).
Then in 1989 I started Polacheck Property Management Corp. and we grew it to over 7 million square feet of commercial properties under management over 14 years.
Finally, I bought my own small business, a 100+ year old independent (food, environmental, and investigative) testing laboratory called SF Analytical. I sold it to Eurofins (a global lab company headquartered in Europe) in 2014 and retired in 2015.
Family
I was the 2nd of 4 children born to Ed and Floramae Kliber, with an older brother (deceased 2016), and 2 younger sisters, the youngest of whom just died in March. My parents fulfilled a dream of living in Grosse Pointe, Michigan when we moved there in 1957, and my 99-year-old Mom still lives there today. My Dad served in the Navy in WWII, then was a career CPA who owned his small practice. They traveled internationally in 1970s-90s, and Dad passed away in 2010.
I am married to Mandy who was born in DeKalb, IL and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where we were married in 1989. That town is home to Central Michigan University, rival college of my alma mater, Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI). We have 2 adult children Steph (29) who lives in Denver, and Jason (27), who lives in Brown Deer. We have lived in Mequon since 1990, and in our current home since 1997.
Interests/hobbies/last book read/favorite movie/what’s playing in on your car’s stereo/pastimes
My favorite hobby is golf! We love to travel too. I also like to bicycle on my e-bike with my wife, Mandy. We like going on bike trips with VBT groups and touring Europe and other places. I just finished reading Celtic Empire by Clive Cussler, my favorite author. In the past I played guitar and sang in rock and acoustic bands; and solo entertainment. I’m a big Beatle fan. Past sports included power volleyball, tennis, snow skiing, bowling, and sailboat racing. Now that I am 70, I choose activities easier on my aging body.
Best business decision, or hardest business decision. Biggest career accomplishment/highlight to date, or what do you like best about your job?
Hardest decision in 2001 was whether to work for another business again in a senior executive role, or to buy a business. I opted for the latter. I loved owning a business and becoming active as a leader in the Milwaukee region’s business community! The next hardest decision was expanding it in 2008 and taking on huge debt that my wife and I guaranteed, then selling my business in 2014. It starts with an emotional decision as CEO to let go of it. I did. We paid off all business debt. Now I enjoy a peaceful and fun retirement.
Most important lesson that you've learned in business? Career mentor/favorite words of wisdom/role model.
I learned about proper lending fundamentals from 2 great bankers in the 70s, then I professional management from the Taubman Company in the 80s. One key was Dr. Stephen Covey, who taught our company before he was famous. We learned how to apply the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, his bestselling book. His principles guided me throughout my career, and I taught them to my employees and my kids. My parents had many words of wisdom, including my Dad’s “If you’re not scared, you’re not growing”, and my Mom’s “If you want to be successful, surround yourself with success!”
Most memorable Rotary moment or event?
When I earned the Paul Harris Award for the first time. It was unexpected. I prize it.
Your favorite vacation?
My best was when I met my dear wife Mandy at Vail. We skied up to each other at a lift, decided to ski together that afternoon, then met her friends for drinks, then I took her out to dinner. We stayed in touch and dated long distance (she lived in Chicago) for over a year, then got married in 1989. We have had many memorable vacations since to many States, Canada, Caribbean Mexico, and several in Europe!
Rotary Related Questions:
What was your first experience or awareness of Rotary? How did you find MT Sunrise and what prompted you to join?
My Dad served in Rotary and Lions Clubs when I was young. Then Mequon neighbor Ken Zganjar (past President) invited me to a MT Sunrise Rotary meeting in 2001, and I joined because I liked what I saw and the friendly giving people. I have been a member now for 20 years!
How often do you wear a Rotary pin?
At most Rotary meetings and events. Occasionally elsewhere.
Have you ever attended Rotary International events?
No.
What do you want to do to give back to Rotary and MT Sunrise?
Continue to help serve on Rotary committees and at events. I have also served on the Board and Chaired Club Service and Vocational Committees. I also attended one District event and visited other Clubs.