I enlisted in the Marines in 1987 and graduated from Parris Island S.C. serving a total of 10 years. My path included, Ground Radio Repairman school, 29 Palms, CA., 1st Low altitude air Defense Bn, Comm Plt., Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan and 1st Recon Bn, Hdqtrs Comm, Camp Pendleton, CA. which is who I was deployed with to the Persian Gulf for the 1st Gulf war.
I separated in 1992 and re-upped in 1997 (broken time) finishing out my service at Combat Service Support Group-1, Maintenance Bn., 29 Palms, CA. as a Sgt.
After the Marine Corps I worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Northern California. I worked my way through to supervisor level and nearly worked in every unit in the department. I eventually moved back to my home of record in Delaware. I married my 1st love in 2008 and I worked alongside my wife in the real estate field building up our business into a full-service real estate brokerage, ELM Properties in Wilmington, DE.
With support at home I started my own contracting company and utilized all the skills the Corps provided me to help build our business into a leading property management and sales company. My wife and I both sit on the board of the Mutual Advancement Coalition, a real estate development company that will serve our community with training, networking, and job opportunities for the underserved and underrepresented, which includes minorities and veterans.
I haven’t forgotten my more physical life in the Corps, my wife and I began cycling together to have fun and get a little exercise in 2008. We have grown from a few family members cycling around New Castle county to Grumpy Gramps Cycling Club. The cycling club has created our own signature ride, the DE Head 2 Toe Relay. It is a 142-mile team relay event from the top of the state to the bottom. This is our third year hosting it and we couldn’t do it without the determination of my wife Evette and all our teammates and volunteers. Charity and giving have been always be a large part of our cycling life since the beginning. We have not missed a year riding in an MS ride. From the MS Bike to the bay in Delaware to the MS City to Shore in New Jersey. All MS rides support multiple sclerosis research with the funds raised from the yearly event in multiple states. The DE Head 2 Toe proceeds go to support Bike Delaware our non-profit partner and they promote cycling and cycling related issues.
I have been blessed in my life with 4 sons, and 2 grandsons, all great kids to a man. I have a wealth of friends’ military and civilian. My wife is supportive and a great teammate. Were it not for the Corps, I might have missed out on this portion of my life. I will be forever greatful for what I went through and learned in the Marines. The Corps has allowed me to appreciate the good things. Semper Fidelis has become the bedrock of my life and as I’ve said… I have been blessed.