Assistant Facilities Manager - Griff's IceHouse
Number of seasons with the Griffins (through 2011-12):
16
What you love most about working for the Griffins:
The customers. The little kids that are filled with excitement and curiosity, the looks are on their faces when they enter the rink.
Favorite Griffins memory:
When we hosted Training camp in the early years.
Favorite all-time Griffins players:
Matt Ruchty, Darcy Simon, and Ed Patterson.
Best thing about your job:
Flexibility. We can try different things in all aspects and can adapt and evolve with the changing market.
Hometown:
Grand Rapids/Belmont, MI
States (and provinces or countries) you’ve lived in:
I have been in MI all my life.
Spouse’s name/year you were married:
Kim and I were married in 2003.
Children:
I have a daughter named Sydney who’s 6 and a son named Sam who is 4.
College degree/year/school:
Degree in Business Administration from Cornerstone University, 2005.
Sports idol(s) as a youth:
Greg Norman
Personal/professional hero(es):
While not necessarily a hero, but Max Siepling (Howie’s Hockey Tape) a local business owner that sells hockey tape worldwide. Came up with a plan to market a product(a hockey household item) he has used since he was a little hockey player and turned a simple roll of tape put his name on it and travels the globe to promote his idea.
As a child, you dreamed of becoming:
A judge
First job/your age:
I worked at Everlasting Embroidery when I was 15
Current dream job:
Best-Selling Author
If you could trade places for a day with another occupation/person, what/who would it be?: Jack Nicklaus. I’d design a couple of golf holes, hit some balls in the field/at the site to see what the hole should be like then jump into my plane and be home for dinner with the family
Proudest professional accomplishment:
I was able to get Pat Smiggens, Brad, “AJ” Andrewszjeski, Lourie Boike, and Scott Gorsline to participate on a hockey team in one of our adult leagues.
Most memorable on-the-job mistake/embarrassing moment:
Sliced my thigh open with a razor blade cutting floor tile in one of the restrooms.
Favorite charities/charitable causes:
PORT and the Griffins Youth Foundation.
Most exciting/unique thing you’ve done or place you’ve visited:
Played golf at Kapalua in Maui. They host the Mercedes Benz Championship there. I have teed it up where the likes of Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, and Phil Mickelson have played.
Sports played growing up:
I did not participate in any until I was a senior in high school.
Hidden (or not so hidden) talents:
I am pretty good at organizing vacations or golf trips.
An interesting fact about you:
I have an innate sense of direction. Only achieved this skill since I got married however.
Favorite foods:
Sushi, Mexican, and Italian.
Favorite music artists:
Too many to name. I enjoy all kinds of music.
Favorite sports movie:
Talladega Nights
Favorite website:
imdb.com
Favorite book or author:
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.
Favorite subject in elementary school:
Geography
Favorite spectator sports:
Hockey, Golf, Horse Racing (the Triple Crown Series)
Favorite pro/college sports teams (excluding Griffins):
University of Texas Football, Michigan State Hockey, any team any of my friends play or coach for, i.e. Penguins, Capitals, Red Wings.
Favorite recreational activities/hobbies:
Watching the Triple Crown with my family. We make kind of a big deal out of it. I love to read and can usually read a book pretty quickly. I love to travel around with my family.