I was born in Durham, NC in 1963. I went to
Parkwood Elementary School, then to
Lowes Grove Junior High. In 1977 I moved to Brighton, IL where I attended and graduated from
Southwestern High School in 1981. I also attended J. B. Johnson Career Development Center in Alton, IL. I then entered the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician. After leaving the Navy in 1983, I went to work at Mitsubishi Semiconductor America Inc. in Durham, NC. I left there to go to work at
Owens Illinois Glass Mold Shop in Alton, IL in 1987. After Owens Illinois closed that shop in 1993, I went to work at
Gardner Denver Machinery Inc. in Quincy, IL. I left Gardner Denver in 1998 to pursue other interests. I am currently employed by
Trumpf Inc. as a Field Service Engineer in the Laser Service Group.