Home: Valparaiso, IN. Age: 59. Birthplace: Valparaiso, IN. Profession: Psychotherapist, food entrepreneur. Organization: Building Hope Therapeutic Counseling; Butter & Grace, LLC; Dr. Dawg; Lilly’s Lively Lemon Shake-Ups. Significant other: Diane, my wife of 35 years. Alma mater: Indiana University (BS); Purdue University (MA, PhD); Indiana Wesleyan University (MS).
Current project: Establishing my therapy private practice. Latest accomplishment: I earned a second master’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University. Latest contribution to others: I have cooked and provided dinners for the men in the shelter, Daybreak. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Left a 32-year career in public education to launch a food business and earning a second master’s degree to become a psychotherapist. Hobbies: Cooking, recipe development, woodworking, furniture restoration. Upcoming travel or adventure: A family vacation for nine people to Mackinac Island this summer. Last book read: The Exchange, by John Grisham.
Moral compass: The Bible. How do you define a perfect friendship? A person who I could call at 2 am for help. What is your greatest joy? Serving others to help make their lives more joyful. What is your guilty pleasure? Dark chocolate. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? As odd as it may sound, funeral directors. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Small Point Bed & Breakfast on Mackinac Island. What is at the top of your bucket list? Opening a food-focused therapy center. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? Tranquility.
What was your first paying job? Newspaper delivery boy. What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Rummy. What book have you repeatedly read? It’s a Wonderful Life. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My next-door neighbor, Mrs. Gibbs. What company or organization do you most admire? In Touch Ministries (Dr. Charles Stanley). What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Launching a food business with my wife.
What is your big idea?
A food therapy center; a place where people with mental health needs can gather to prepare food.
What change would you like to see in the world? It would be wonderful for people to be more empathetic and less judgmental. What message do you want to send out into the world? Start talking to each other again. Put down your phone, look someone in the eye and have a conversation. What mega-trend most concerns you? The decline of civility among people and the rush to judgement fueled by misinformation.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Well, I Didn’t See That Coming! What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Tom Hanks. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My mom. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A chef. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family over for a dinner that I prepared for them. What advice would you give your younger self? Stay humble. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The last day with my mom.
Personal mission: Making every person’s day a little bit brighter or better. Personal motto: Of each other, we should be kind while there is still time. Favorite quote: “Be kind, for everyone is facing a great battle that we know nothing about” (Ian Maclaren).
