Spouse: Stacey

Children: Emily and Joseph

Birthplace: Silvis, IL

Education: Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Music, Language arts, and Social Science from Western Illinois University

Hobbies:  Music, cooking, and woodworking

Favorite Sports Teams:  Go Illini!! Cubs, Bears, and Bulls. And whoever is playing the Cardinals.

Favorite Food:  PIZZA!!!!! Now I am getting hungry.

Favorite Restaurants:  We typically go out for Mexican when we go out, but I have no favorites.

Fondest Childhood Memory:  As I am getting older I am more aware of the times I spent with my brother. We would spend the summer in the ravine building forts and race tracks without a care in the world. Those are my fondest memories.

Something most people don't know about me:  I enjoy building things. Whether it is with wood or music or food, I am extremely satisfied when the finished product is presented and it is something I can be proud of. I am almost always challenged to make it better the next time. I believe that when something is not so successful then it is an opportunity to learn how to make it better for the next attempt. In other words, failure is a good thing. It is a teaching thing.

What I like to do on my day off:  I like to play guitar, golf, and hang out with my family. Sometimes I will get into a computer game called Command and Conquer, but it takes many hours to make it through one game and I usually don't have that kind of time.