Schools attended:

  • B.S. Environmental Management, Interdisciplinary (Summa Cum Laude), Westminster College
  • M.B.A. University of Utah

Hobbies:

  • Hiking, my vegetable garden, and frequent jaunts into Yellowstone.

What is something people don’t know about you?

  • I was a long-haul truck driver for a couple of years after high school, just taking a break from life and seeing the country.

Favorite or dream vacation?

  • I seldom repeat adventures, but one I could go back to every year is San Ignacio lagoon. It is so remote that just getting there is part of the adventure.  But the experience of physical interactions with hundreds of mama and baby California gray whales is magical.

Milestone moment in career?

  • There are so many pivotal moments, but the one that stands out the most is serving on a key Environmental Protection Agency Federal Advisory Committee. That year-long experience changed the trajectory of my career.

What is a typical weekend?

  • The balance of my life is grounded in the pattern of my weekends: home, cabin, home, adventure. Every month I make a point of dedicating two weekends for house/family/hiking, one weekend of chill time at the family cabin, and leaving one weekend open for new experiences.

Favorite TV show? 

  • I honestly do not recall the last time I turned one on. It’s been years.

Favorite song?

  • My iTunes and Pandora list is rather eclectic. But I would pause whatever I am doing at any time just to absorb the sound and feel of “Ashes” by OceanLab.

What projects are you working on right now?

  • An extensive and expensive revamp of my backyard that all started because of a free hot tub.

First job?

  • I worked in the record department (as in vinyl albums) of my father’s furniture store when I was 13. He said he did not want me getting too rich too fast, so he paid me a dollar an hour.

Who is your hero?

  • My Grandma Ruth. I think of her often, and quote her almost daily.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

  • Retired and leading lots of adventures for old folks.

What are you reading right now?

  • I have two books going right now, depending on my mood. The Better Angles of Our Nature, which gives my hope but also frightens me. For lighter moments, I’ve been enjoying Human Errors, a hilarious insight into some of our odd evolutionary imperfections.