I am an upstate native, endangered species, father of 3, actively involved in my church and multiple community organizations and boards. After 20+ years in healthcare I made a big career leap to financial planning. I love the outdoors, hiking, sports, fishing, golf, gardening, and travel with my family. I enjoy and am committed to our community and our neighbors.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Wife and I both went to Hillcrest High school and college at Winthrop University. 3 children 21, 18, 14 -2 boys/1girl- Clemson Senior engineering student, high school senior and freshman
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Relationships, trust, and helping people be their most successful are most important to me. For many years I felt that in my roles within a major healthcare system, at some point that changed and it became about the numbers. That combined with probably a little bit of mid-life crisis and desire for something new led to my new career. My business now is all about trust and relationships and helping clients be successful.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I always enjoy trying new places but our go-to and favorite for as long as I can remember is Arizona Steakhouse in Simpsonville.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
All of my life, with the exception of college. 47 years and counting.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I don’t know that I could narrow to one person. I have so many friends and clients who have had such remarkable journies through their life and career.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
My wife and I love to travel but have done little internationally. I feel like there is so much in the United States I still need to see. I would love to see Alaska in the summer, so now would be a great time to visit! We visited the Grand Canyon and several national parks in December of 2021 and are currently planning a trip next summer to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton national parks.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The Golden Rule – Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Do things the right way and everything you can to build up others around you.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Alpine climbing/mountaineering. I used to say that I wanted to climb Everest but now could probably settle for some nice Colorado peaks during the winter months.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Coachouse restaurant – I remember when it opened and had many high school classmates work there over the years. Still one of my favorites. Fox Run Country Club and Carolina Springs Golf club – grew up working at both and spending 12 hour days playing golf with friends as a kid.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Although I would love to have lunch with any of our living US presidents, military veteran leaders, and business founders/CEO’s. Being a huge golf fan, I would love to meet with Jack Nicklaus. Arguably, the best golfer ever who was always super committed to his family – kids, grandkids and his communities. Super successful business person beyond his golfing days and is known as a incredible mentor and philanthropist – leaving a legacy far beyond the golf course.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Loving and enjoying the outdoors as much as I do – it would have to be our proximity to such a variety of landscapes. An amazing variety of parks to our north in the mountains yet only 3 hours from the beaches of Charleston and the grand strand.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I will be in a very differnent stage of life with my kids grown and out of school. I hope to continue growing my business in financial planning and continue working as long as I enjoy it.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Despite being very laid-back in nature, I am ultra-competitve
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Tough call: Acadia National Park in Maine, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Peru in the Amazon jungle
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Jesus Christ, my wife, Heather, a great network of mentors and centers of influence
Q: Describe what “neighbor” means to you?
Regardless of living near me, it means a sense of community, looking out for and taking care of each other.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, Community, neighbors
