College: Purdue University
Currently living in Denver, Colorado
Occupation: Software Sales Hack
Current Occupation: Right now, I work on a sales team at Oracle Corp., the 2nd largest software company on the planet. The standard definition of software sales reps ("Thieves selling crap to idiots") definitely doesn't apply here. That's the other guys.
Things I've done alonge the way: I assume you're talking career-wise here, but along the way I spent my first 5 working years in St. Louis at a Shell Oil refinery doing accounting work. Then in 1984 I moved to Denver to work for a regional gas utility company. That was just in time to make the last round of lay-offs in the oil & gas business in Denver.
I tried some totally off the wall sales jobs (Does "Tin Men" ring a bell?) with some real fly-by-night organizations selling "Energy Management" hardware (motto: "We'll sell you this stuff for exactly what we project you'll save with it.") and print advertising. I finally got smart and borrowed $30K to start my own business.
Now, 1987 was not exactly the best time to try and sell accounting and advisory services to small businesspeople in Denver. I spent about a year trying to make a go of it, but eventually had to go back to working for someone else after signing exactly zero ("0") new clients.
Along the way: I had also gotten married late in 1986, about two months before I got laid off in the energy business. Lots of issues and pressures seemed to converge throughout 1987 - 1989 and contributed to our eventual divorce at the end of 1991. In my opinion, we didn’t know each other very well, and didn’t stay connected through enough common interests and priorities. I also didn’t deal with the adversity of job loss and business failure very well. Fortunately, we didn’t have any kids in the middle of all that. It’s still kind of painful to look back on.
Other things I’ve done along the way are mostly travel- and fitness-related. I’ve been fortunate to get back to HK for the big reunion last year, spend some time in Thailand, and go to Israel twice on business. Oracle has also rewarded me with a couple of trips to Hawaii, and in September ’98 an excursion to Germany.
I’ve developed quite an affinity for cycling, both road- and mountain-biking, as well as skiing and hiking here in the Rocky Mountain state. There have been a couple of cycling events and tours that have been quite fun and challenging. My favorite one-day ride event is little thing called the "Triple Bypass." Now here’s an event you pay money to ride your bike from just outside Denver all the way to Vail - about 110 miles, and up and over three passes, including the Continental Divide. I’ve been accused of loss of brain functionality induced by severe oxygen deprivation more than once when I’ve signed up for that ride. Weeklong cycling tours have also taken me through Colorado and New Mexico in the last four years.
In the Future I'd like to: (actually 5-10 years from now) Be retired, living in Steamboat Springs, CO managing my investments and/or a small business from my log home, overlooking the Yampa River Valley. In my copious spare time, I would hike, camp, mountain bike, maybe even lead some small 1 or 2 night tours for visiting flatlanders and ski 60-80 days a season.: Get married again, move to the mountains, have a business of my own, and travel to places I haven’t seen yet: South America, Africa, Nepal, Australia, and New Zealand. I’d also like to ride the Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico on a mountain bike and heli-ski in Canada.
Favourite teacher: Victor Lee Because: He made even the most mundane song in Stage Band a virtuoso performance because of his conducting style.
The stupidest thing I ever did: This wasn’t at HKIS, but it was probably the time I accidentally got mint-flavored chewing tobacco (Skoal to you snuff afficionados) in my eyes when the wind kicked up at some keg party out in a field in Michigan. I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say it was painful for quite a few beers that night. That first-time experience was enough to cure me of ever wanting to "dip."
Something I'll never forget: Some of the really ugly clothes we used to wear on "Serendipity Day" in 9th grade. We were the ‘70’s, right? Also, Andy Jimmerson, Robbie Dorfmann, and Robert Mache spontaneously erupting into Chicago’s "25 or 6 to 4" at least two or three times a period during Stage Band practice.
My best memory: I've racked my brain for any memory I would call even marginally "good", let alone "best", and I'm at a loss. Since I spent most of my high school years back in Michigan, my best memories are probably about hanging out at our family's cottage after school or the summer job and water skiing until dark, then cooking up some hamburgers on the grill and enjoying the summer evenings.
Other stuff I remember: Stanley Market; going downtown to meet my dad at the American Club for burgers and "Monday Night Football"; outdoor basketball games at the local primary schools; body surfing at Big Wave Bay; hanging out at the pool at Shek-O Country Club; running to South Bay during P.E. (and back up the steps!); and journeying from Repulse Bay to the Ocean Terminal with John Camarata to race slot cars at the toy store there.
Most embarrassing moment: Being spanked by Mr. Brackmann during 6th grade P.E. for trying to trip somebody as we were hopping on one leg. I probably deserved it.
Something I've learned: No matter what, the mountains always win.
Something I'm proud of: Returning to Purdue after flunking out during my sophomore year. What can I say? Calculus and physics just weren’t as exciting as economics and investment management, I guess.
I'm also proud of the fact that I didn't take the easy route of declaring bankruptcy when my finances were in shambles in 1987 - 1988 and have rebuilt my life since then.
Regrets: Not paying better attention in my piano lessons and staying with it.
Rumors I've heard: Amy (Grove) Stevens wants to run for State Representative in Colorado. I hope she does!
