Having grown up in this relatively small town, I left High School to join the United States Army. While not finishing High School could have turned out to be one of the worst decisions I ever made, joining the Army certainly ranks among the best. The Army gave me not only an opportunity to serve my country, but gave me a sense of duty and purpose, focused my drive, developed leadership skills, encouraged initiative, self reliance and confidence. The Army also encouraged me to pursue my Certificate of High School Equivalency, that I received from Natchitoches, Louisiana in the same year I would have normally graduated.I served as a Combat Engineer in Fort Polk, LA and then in Wildflecken, West Germany.After the Army I moved to Hampton, VA and worked first in Security before going to work for Giant Open Air Foods, rising to Manager of a Tinee Giant Convenience Store. In the early Fall of 1985 I returned to Warrensburg and found a job at Central Missouri State University, and was also approached by a U.S. Army Reserve School to serve as an Active Duty Reserve Instructor to teach area National Guardsmen essential Combat Engineer skills. My employment at the University began as a Carpenter, then as an Electrician. I advanced from an apprentice to journey level and then became the Electrical Foreman for the In-House Renovation and Construction Shop. That role was eventually expanded to cover the planning and oversight of Plumbing and HVAC as well. Our director then selected me as the Maintenance Planner for the University's Facilities, Planning and Operations Department, helping to direct maintenance efforts of our many, and quite varied assets.The last half decade of my employment at what had come to be known as the University of Central Missouri I was as one of the Capital Development Project Managers, helping in the planning, coordination, procurement, oversight and inspection of many of the University's renovation and construction projects.
Listed skills include Leadership, Higher Education, Microsoft Office, Public Speaking, and 25 others.
