What is your role on the Verdant TCS team?
Founder, Owner, CEO, & President.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Well, I am a Michigander, born and raised. I grew up in Canton, MI attending a small parochial school. My love of technology and electronics began with helping my dad fix hifi equipment. I used those skills to build my first computer, and as they say, that’s all she wrote. I was hooked. After I graduated, I went to Central Michigan University for my Bachelors of Computer Science and followed that with a Graduate degree in Banking and Finance at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I have been involved in executive leadership for 24+ years, so you name it, I’ve done it. My background and experience working in IT and in Banking and Finance gives me a unique look into how multi-layered security is used in our financial institutions and how it can and needs to be applied to businesses of all sizes. This is the mission of Verdant TCS.
Outside of work, I love spending time listening to records, drinking my favorite local beer from New Holland Brewing, skiing in the winter, and lounging by our pool in the summer with my wife, Jackie, our daughter, Rachel, and our two french bull dogs, Maggie Butterbeans and Birdie Butterscotch.
Three words would you use to describe yourself:
Visionary, passionate, innovative.
What does your typical day look like?
My typical day starts when my two dogs tell me they need to go out! I make some coffee, answer emails, and address the day’s tasks. I spend most of my day working on innovative solutions for our clients, brainstorming with my team, and strategizing business growth. My day never really ends, but I get my energy and excitement from my team and my clients.It’s my driving force, and it is hard to walk away from in the evening.
What do you like most about Verdant TCS?
The experience and high level of talent we have at Verdant TCS. I love that our team prides themselves on flexibility, efficiency, and professionalism. Because of this, my team is very creative and agile with their solutions in response to different business climates and the variety of challenges those climates present.
Before working at Verdant TCS, what was the most interesting job you ever had?
After I graduated from Central Michigan, I was hired at Crowe Chizek in Grand Rapids as a Senior Consultant. I loved working on different projects and they gave me the opportunity to understand how various businesses work: from Fortune 500 manufacturers to pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions. I also got to travel much of the country and to a 20-something it was heaven.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why?
Northern Scotland for the incredible scenery and coastal views. The small town feel of people congregating around local pubs, eating great farm-to-table food before it was a thing. The sense of history, culture, and community was outstanding.
What is the most recent app you have downloaded, but are yet to use?
Workable, an HR talent management system. Downloaded to help the company acquire new talent.
Your favorite piece of throwback technology:
Old video game systems. Commodore 64, hands down. Not only could you play games, but you could also program on it.
I’ve recently revisited my love for two-channel audio and rekindled my passion for record collecting, thanks to Paragon SNS.
If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Al Pastor tacos from Taqueria San Jose paired with a prickly pear margarita from Donkey! Hands down.