I’m an engineer, long time avid motorcyclist and ex-professional racer who made a lifelong career in motorcycling. Grew up on a farm in a small town north of Pittsburgh, PA. Worked all sorts of jobs before getting my engineering degree from Pitt and moving to Wisconsin to work for H-D.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife Tish is also originally from the Pittsburgh area. I moved to Milwaukee in 1979 then to Mukwonago in 1983, and Tish came to join me here in 2002. Our blended immediate family includes 6 children and 2 grandchildren. Four children still live in the Milwaukee area (though none in Mukwonago) and two are in California.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am currently retired from a long career in engineering and business management/ownership. My businesses included Buell motorcycles, EBR motorcycles, and FUELL e-bicycles and e-motorcycles. I loved creating really innovative motorcycles that had global recognition and had greater export sales than domestic (we in the USA need that!), but I also loved building a business environment where people were encouraged to reach new skill levels, to be free thinkers and to increase their confidence.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Antigua Real, Espresso Love and Shanahan’s
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Moved here in 1983 to start my own business and have stayed since then. My businesses have been either in Mukwonago or East Troy, and FUELL engineering offices are still here.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Can’t pick out any specific person. There are many!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I’ve been blessed to have been many places around the world, but I truly like it best here in the USA. I might say Scandinavian countries though, as I have not been, and my grandmother came from there.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Probably Fifth Element for movies. Yes, it’s pretty shallow, but it is so funny with great lines and some amazing supporting actor performances. For TV it’d be All Creatures Great and Small currently
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Pick a career you love; go every day with the feeling that it really is important; treat everyone you meet or with whom you work, with equality, appreciation and kindness.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Go to Mars, or at least be around to see people living there!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
That is hard because I am so much into music, but perhaps Dwight Yoakam or Tom Petty. Or most any fringe outlaw/alternative country with rock flavor.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Music Cafe. It represents local small businesses whose owners love their business, who keep going through tough times, and who provide much more than just things for sale.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Elon Musk. He is the brightest creative intellectual light today. Heck, lunch at my house
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
So many close by places to hike and bike!
Q: What have you done to make Mukwonago a better place?
Brought my wife here! She’s amazing…Haha! But seriously I definitely tried very hard to create good paying, rewarding jobs in the area to attract the best and brightest in my business world to move here.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In my dreams, at the CMA performing or watching my songs be performed. In actuality, probably hiking and biking all around the country with my family and friends.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Well, there’s probably nothing my friends and family don’t know about me, because I’m very open, but most people don’t know I write and record a lot of music, and have been signed to a label in the past. Will have a new album out soon, about which I am very excited.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Probably Ireland
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
September. Thanksgiving. Christmas.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
For a thing…an EBR1190RS
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My children. They are so diverse in careers and personalities, yet love each other and are genuinely good people. That has always given inspiration and hope to me.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Honeysuckle, and (here’s one few will get) two-stroke castor oil.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A safe and relaxing place which was built with lots of effort to be kind and caring.
