do it all and more

Worked at this start-up operation for the summer while enrolled in 15 credit summer semester. At one time myself and the owner/operator of the Coeur D'alene franchise had worked at another operation in southeastern Utah, at that operation we did not get along, he was a manager at that operation I was a seasoned instructor. In the early spring he called and asked if I would be able and willing to come help him as he was having difficulty finding appropriate instructors for the operation. I relocated to northern Idaho and helped him have a successful season. It was nice to see growth on behalf of both of ourselves. We were both able to see past old grievances and work effectively as a team. The size of the operation meant taking the additional role of parachute rigging as well as instruction, but this was an easy task as the equipment was new and in good shape, so it was mainly packing parachutes. The schedule accommodated my school schedule and I was able to achieve a semester GPA of 3.54 while fully serving duties required by this employer.

After loosing a room mate and co-worker at a skydiving operation in southeastern Utah, I visited this operation south of salt lake. This operation was in need of an additional instructor, and the southeastern Utah drop-zone was not feeling like a good fit. The manager at the southeastern Utah drop-zone was hiding my camera equipment from me between work jumps and part of a group that was harassing me at my part time employment at a restaurant in town. I chose to go to work at the operation, skydive the Wasatch, as the opportunity made financial and emotional sense. The pay scale was better and the management was happy to have me. I returned to the southeastern Utah drop-zone after the management was changed, but left to return to the Nephi drop-zone after a pilot with known behavioral issues was rehired. I worked here till the last day of August, the hard part of the season but was fired by the owner because he felt my attitude had depreciated through this season, which was an accurate assessment. I was commuting an additional 8 hrs a week to work at this location and my girlfriend had broken things at my house and left me. I did however successfully provide demo jump services and student jump services for the drop-zone which had not been part of the operation before. I am happy the owner fired me because it did light a fire under me to try to achieve and do more. I am currently working toward my Commercial Pilot certificate because of the disappointment of being fired from a job for the first time as a 35 year old man.

Started working at this operation in 2013 as a parachute packer. Also started a continued student program while working as parachute rigger/packer training ~60 skydivers to their A-license through IAD progression. Assisted in tertiary tasks such as aircraft tear-downs for inspection and many other odd jobs around the drop-zone. Earned Tandem instructor rating in 2016 and started working as Tandem instructor at this difficult high desert drop-zone. During the time employed at this operation was nominated as Safety and Training Advisor, an additional duty and responsibility with no additional pay. This was my dream job in my dream location but in 2020 the operation hired a known drunk and poorly behaved pilot. I confronted the owner of the operation about the pilots conduct and informed the owner that if the pilot was going to be employed at this operation and not modify his behavior than my prerogative of safety meant that I would choose to no longer seek employment at this operation. I left my dream job in my favored location and worked at a more physically and time demanding position in the Wasatch mountains of Utah.

Worked for this operation in the winter to help fill in and keep operations going. This is a challenging work environment for a Tandem Skydiving Instructor. The staff is always changing and the conditions and landing area are an expert level challenge for a Skydiving instructor. That said I have always been welcomed back as instructors willing to work in this environment are difficult to find, and I have always maintained a professional demeanor while employed at this location. I understand how difficult it is for this operation to continue and try to maintain contact with the owner and encourage his continued effort to maintain a skydiving operation.

I worked for this restaurant in 2019 to expedite paying off some credit card debt while employed as a skydiving instructor at Skydive Moab. This job was an ego check, working a job I was les than thrilled about several nights a week at a meager pay scale was difficult, especially with the lack of appreciation shown by some customers, but the team environment of the operation at the time I worked there was much appreciated. It was a check to my ego to work as a bus-boy in my early mid 30's but the discipline to do so helped me stay above the red sea of ink that is debt. Before leaving I had earned the credentials to serve food and alcohol, but I never worked as server or bartender. I left this employment to seek a better opportunity in my skydiving career after my house mate had perished.

From time to time the owner of Pinnacle helicopters would hire me to help him with odd jobs, from demoliting concrete to driving a truck to provide fuel for his helicopter in different areas of southeastern utah to western colorado. I always enjoy working different experiences. This was a neat one that took me to some interesting places.

Worked a season at this skydiving operation early in my Tandem instructor experience. The aircraft was a modern turbine, but the parachute equipment was end of service life or past. The owner was a surly Marine who I quite enjoyed working with. I did two partial seasons at this operation. I like the owner and would consider working at the operation if allowed to work towards improving certain aspects of the operation.

I worked at this operation the summer of 2013, I was responsible for fueling aircraft and sumping and inspecting the fuel tanks. This was one of 3 part time jobs I worked this first summer living in Moab Utah. I was also able to participate in cleaning aircraft and assisting in tear-downs for aircraft inspections.

Started out working as a temp in a wrapping department at this company and was one of twelve individuals hired on to a full-time position. It was a job working in a chocolate factory, tasty but not challenging or very satisfying to only be a lower level employee in a factory position. In 2012 the company decided to close the factory I worked in and expand another facility, they offered a severance plan and I took it and made a change in careers. I took my own path to Moab Utah saying that I would find my own way to succeed, and I did.

I left for boot camp on the Marine Corps birthday 2003, I became a Marine and an anti-tank guided missileman. At the end of infantry training I was informed my assignment was no longer to a stateside marine unit, but instead as a replacement to a unit already in Iraq. I was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, who were in Fallujah Iraq in the al anbar province. I arrived in iraq june 3rd, and by june 25 had been shot in the face. I am fortunate to be alive, I am proud to have served with the Marines I call family. I have a purple heart, I am using the GI bill I earned while serving my country to pursue a BS in aviation science at UVU and become a commercial pilot. I learned a can't stop won't stop mentality in the Marine Corps which helps me achieve some incredible things. If I was not a Marine I don't think I would have had the intestinal fortitude to have complete 22 base jumps in a single day. My Marine Corps brother, Tristan Wimmer, and I have been working to raise money to try and help fight veteran suicide. I have lost 4 from my platoon in as many years, two of which were directly responsible for rescuing me when I got shot. I love my Corps and my country. I am happy to be alive and know how close I was to not being here, I am thankful to be writing this sentence.