I grew up on a small farm just outside of Denton, Nebraska. Graduated from Crete High School and went directly to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. I ran out of money, so I joined the Nebraska National Guard, and took a semester off of school to attend basic training and Advanced Individual Training. I still have a terrible dislike for the state of Missouri due to my time spent at Fort Leonard Wood. The major benefit of the Army was that they paid for 75% of my tuition and student loans back, so I finished up my degree in Business Administration-Finance in 1985.
While attending high school and most of college I worked at Ted DeHass and Sons in Denton. It was a great experience as I received a better education there than at UNL in customer relations and how to run a business. I got married in 1986 and have two great children as proof. Went through a divorce after 18 plus years of marriage, so I know the pains and strains of that situation.
I started my real estate career at Woods Brothers Realty in 1988. I was so naive I remember telling the managing broker that I was ready for a house to sell. When I was informed that you have to get the listings yourself - I realized this was not going to be as easy as I thought. I hit the ground running though and did quite well. Interest rates were just under 10% at this time and people were happy with that rate after the 17-18% rates a few years earlier. Rates today are bouncing just above and just below 4%.
I was recruited over to Home Real Estate to head up an area of top real estate agents with a personal assistant. These were wonderful years as we had a great group of agents and the market was hopping. I won newcomer of the year and then followed that up with Agent of the Year.
Now twenty-three plus years in to the business I am a seasoned veteran. I am working with children of previous clients which in my opinion is the highest compliment that one can get in this business.
My son, Jonathan, married a young lady named Kourtney, and have blessed my life with a beautiful granddaughter named Claire. She is 17 months old as I type this page up and is a true joy to have around. This Christmas promises to be even more special since she will be old enough to actually open presents. We'll probably have a couple for her under our tree. I am also proud of Jon in the fact that he followed in my footsteps and enlisted with the Nebraska Army National Guard.
My daughter, Christie, just started college at SCC-Lincoln. She is going to attend there two years and then do the academic transfer program to UNL so she can get Husker football tickets for her father. I am very proud of her as she is working hard in school and also holds down a steady job. She has a lot of drive in her that I hope I had a part in instilling.
I am also blessed to have both of my parents still with me. We have them over on an almost weekly basis for a grill out. Grilling is another one of my passions as a foot of snow on my deck will not prevent me from firing it up.
I live life much in the way that has been described by others. I don't want to be carried to the grave - I want to come sliding in to the hole with a glass of wine in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other saying, "man, what a ride".
