I attended UMD for about two and half years. However, I didn't finish for two reasons: UMD changed my major from two years to four years and I ran out of money. With both of these curve balls, I decided to just become a working stiff.

I went out on tour with the Beach Boys for a summer. Next, did some other “blue collar” stuff. Then I worked for Corporate America for about 6.5 years, wearing a suit and tie (thank God for Casual Fridays). In Corporate America, I was a “Merchant of Death”. I worked for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company as a sales representative. Yes, the now infamous “Joe Camel”, I left that job.

Then, about 7 years ago, I started working for a company in Superior called Crane Song LTD. We design, manufacture, and distribute professional audio gear. Meaning, we make recording studio gear. Forty percent of this company's business is international. Some the biggest recording studios, mastering suites, concert tours, and artist use Crane Song products. Bunches of Canadian artists “love” our stuff. Here’s where I do some name-dropping: Shania Twain, Neil Young, Sarah McLachlan. Shania Twain’s husband loves our stuff; EVERY Shania Twain recording has had some of our gear used on it. Neil Young has some of our units in his own studio and will not tour without our stuff. Peter Gabriel also has our gear in his "Real World" studio . We have some Americans that use our gear (again with the name-dropping) – Dave Matthews, Evanescence and some other stuff. Check out our web page to see more: http://www.cranesong.com/users.html. About 3 years ago I bought into Crane Song. I now own fifty percent of the company, which has its ups and downs.

I've also been the production coordinator of the Bayfront Blues Festival since it started 15 years ago. One year, our 10 year reunion took place at the same time. I also do some production work for some other concerts and festivals.

I have a beautiful twelve year-old daughter that was born during the Halloween snowstorm of 1991. I am happily divorced from my daughter's mother.

I have an apartment in Duluth and Molly, my girlfriend (short of 5 years) and I have a 7.8-acre hobby farm in Mora, Minnesota on a lake. We have two horses, and two lap dogs – Saint Bernards. We also do foster care.