| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My most memorable childhood experience was a vacation I took with my dad and sister to Idaho. This trip was when I was middle school-aged and was filled with amazing outdoor experiences like white-water rafting, horseback riding, camping and fishing. It was great to become closer to my family and also experience the beauty of the wilderness we stayed in. I really enjoyed the feeling of connectedness with my family as we were away from modern comforts and luxuries. I would do another trip like that in a heartbeat. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I closely identify with my dad because we have very similar personalities. As a business owner, he is filled with an entrepreneurial spirit that I believe he has passed on to me and I admire his tenacity. He also has a very strong sense of humor that I identify with strongly and I love to joke with him. I didn’t always have this close feeling with him growing up but as the years have passed we have formed a strong bond. I admire him and aspire to work as hard as he has to achieve a great life for myself and my family. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire hard-working, honest people who speak their mind and aren’t afraid to take risks after careful considerations have been made. All too often it seems people would rather just accept their current situation even if they are unhappy, instead of working hard to change it. Embracing change and seeking out new opportunity is something I highly respect. This is true both professionally and personally. I think it is incredibly important to constantly be improving yourself and although it is important to be satisfied, the desire and strive to improve in all facets of life is invaluable in a person. I try to embody all of the above traits in my day to day life. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | It’s tough to pick out the funniest thing to ever happen to me. There are too many funny things but none that stick out above and beyond the others. As a new dad, every day with my son I am experiencing funnier and funnier situations as I watch him grow and laugh. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I would love to travel all over the world, but the strongest destination in my mind is Alaska. I am attracted to the notion of it being a vast, expansive frontier with scenic wonder as far as the eye can see. I have always enjoyed backpacking and hiking and Alaska seems like a great place to do it. Somewhat of a last, untouched countryside in this otherwise developed world. I would also like to spend time in Western Europe due to the incredible cultural richness it offers. Although I am not a history buff, it is hard to ignore just how much history there is to see and learn about in these countries. I have never been anywhere overseas and I think Europe would be a great start. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I would like to pass on to my children a strong sense of integrity. Always having a strong sense of right and wrong and never attempting to take shortcuts in life. I think with integrity it is possible to excel in life and achieve anything. I’d also like my children to work hard and act in a financially and socially responsible manner. Finally, I’d like to pass on my love of laughter. As cliché as it is, laughter is often the best medicine. I believe some of the best moments in life are those that involve unstoppable laughter. |
