Overview

I was born and raised in Berkeley County. I was raised on the family farm (in the family since 1828) along with my three brothers and one sister. I was taught personal and financial responsibility early on by my father and mother... and the value of hard work. I went to local schools, graduating from Hedgesville High in 1987. I graduated Cum Laude from Shepherd College in 1992 with a BS in Economics and an MBA from West Virginia University in 1994. I spent early childhood as a farm boy with aspirations of reopening the Milking Parlor on the family farm; going so far as to completely cleaning and scrubbing it (the first milking parlor in Berkeley County). Needless to say, I did not get the parlor open. I did raise 100 laying hens and sold eggs to local people for several years... Including 20 dozen a week to Pattersons Drug store for their breakfast counter. I used the profits from this enterprise to buy and raise several cattle for several years. During my youth until the age of twenty-one I was a member of 4-H, attending Tri-County 4-H camp for many years. I was honored to receive the Health H a few times, my Charting Pin, and finally Spirit of Camp my final year while Chief of the Delaware tribe when we won the ""Spirit Stick"". The 4-H experience was one of the most rewarding and positive influences in my life. I continued to attend camp as a volunteer counselor for many years. While attending Hedgesville High I, for the first time, got involved in organized sports. I played three sports in high school: Football, Wrestling, and Track. I started as a little 105 pound runt and finished as a 140 pound runt. While along the way becoming a decent athlete under the coaching of Coach Aliveto, Dellinger, Parker, Whittington, Merica, ""Gib"" Miller, Fuegi, Laing, Dinicola and Comer. My experience culminated with state level recognition in all three sports. I then attended Shepherd College and was a member of two WVIAC Conference Championship teams and one playoff football team. My Senior year I was a member of an undefeated conference team and received All-Conference Team recognition as a Wide Receiver. This was all accomplished at a top weight of 158 pounds on a 5'7"" frame. While at Shepherd, I worked for my Dad's family Agricultural Aviation business... most people call it ""Cropdusting"". We provided a valuable service to the Tri-State area farming community, as well as North Carolina. We also provided service to homeowners to fight the invasive ""man-made"" Gypsy Moth attacking the forest and surrounding area. I spent the off-season working for a school and group home setting specializing in Autistic and othe special needs children. After graduating from Shepherd and WVU, I taught in Berkeley County for two years. The first at Hedgesville and the second at Musselman High. (I also spent several years later as a temporary substitute post 2001) I returned to Shepherd to teach upper level Marketing courses for a few years. I then worked at Mack Trucks for one year as a Materials management supervisor with 20-25 employees under my supervision. I decided I wanted to fly full-time... and began to pursue an airline pilot career. From 2000-2008, I worked up the ranks for two major airlines. I have flown many different airline aircraft and smaller general aviation aircraft. The latest aircraft being the Airbus 319/320 made famous by the ""miracle on the Hudson"", piloted by Sulley Sullenberger. I was married in 2000 to Stella and we have four beautiful children."