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Education:
Autodidactic Learning
Below is a list of subjects
that I have invested a lot of personal time and energy in learning.
Although some of them have been touched by formal training, the vast
majority of the education in these fields has been self-taught.
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Travel
The
challenge of completing the 50-State 5K challenge inspired me to embrace
traveling. I now dedicate most available days off to travel.
You can see an interactive custom Google map of my travels
HERE.
You can see my
travel bucket list
HERE.
My CouchSurfing profile and reviews are
HERE.
My Airbnb profile and reviews are
HERE. |
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Leadership
My
career and personal interests have always driven me toward leadership education.
I am always striving to learn and improve my own leadership skills while
teaching important leadership lessons to students.
I authored a book titled, "Running Across America: 50 States of Leadership. See
more here: www.Running-Across-America.com
My Conferences page
lists the conferences I have presented at and my
Teaching
Experience page lists the leadership courses I have taught.
Additionally I teach a leadership certificate program at HACC, Central
Pennsylvania's Community College and I am one of the founders of
LeaderShout. |
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Running
One day, in February 2013, I was talking to a
friend about being able to run a mile. I was physically fit and frequently
biked, hiked and kayaked. I was confident I could run a mile. It turned out that
I couldn't. That first attempt was very humbling. By April I entered my first 5K
(3.1 road race) and by the end of June I made it a personal goal to run a 5K in
all 50 states + D.C. in one year in honor of a Colleague with Muscular
Dystrophy. Read about it HERE.
Achievements of Note
US Map of the 5Ks run thus far cab viewed
HERE.
09/28/13 - Placed 1st overall in the
Latonia 5K in Covington, KY
10/18/13 - Placed 2nd overall in the Zombie Chase 5K
in Pittsburg, KS
10/19/13 - Placed 2nd overall in the Free to Breathe
Omaha
4th Annual Lung Cancer 5K
09/22/13 - Placed 2nd Overall and 1st in my age
Group in
the
Trapp Cabin 5K in Stowe, VT
10/05/13
- Placed 1st in my age group in
the Bare As You Dare 5K
in Alvord, TX
10/06/13
- Placed 1st in my age group in
the Spirit of Survival:
Superhero 5K in Lawton, OK
09/2813
- Placed 2nd in my age group in
the The Glow Trot 5k
in Maryville, TN
11/10/13 - Placed 2nd in my age group in
the
Stamp Out Muscular
Dystrophy 5K in Mobile, AL
10/20/13 - Placed 3rd in my age group in
the
Laramie Blizzard
Blast 5K in Laramie, WY
10/26/13 - Placed 3rd in my age group in
the Sheyenne Valley
Shuffle 5K in Valley City, ND
11/10/13 - Placed 2nd in my age group in the
Stamp Out Muscular
Dystrophy 5K in Mobile, AL
12/22/13 - Placed 1st in my age group in the
5K Jingle Run in
Phoenix, AZ
01/25/14 - Placed 1st in my age group in the
Long Beach Carnival
Classic 5K in Long Beach, MS
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Automobiles
A strong
passion for cars led me to learn an
enormous amount about turbocharging, engines, performance modifying, and a
variety of racing venues. The performance plan on my Toyota MR2 more than
quadrupled the useable factory horsepower of the car.
Achievements of Note
2006 PHA SCCA SM2 Champion
Pennsylvania
Hillclimb Association, Sports Car Club of America,
Street-Modified 2
2006 NEPA SCCA SM2 Champion
Northeastern PA,
Sports Car Club of America, Street-Modified 2
Autocross
Set 5 different Hillclimb Class Records
Duryea, Pagoda, Giant's Despair, Weatherly and Rose
Valley
Designed a
turbo set up that produced over 635 rear-wheel
horsepower
The factory set up produced 135 rear-wheel
horsepower
Quickest and Fastest MR2 in the world on the
original, unopened stock
block (the engine had over 200,000 miles at the
time!)
More information can be found at
www.JekylHydeRacing.com
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Chess
I
studied the game of chess throughout high school and played in many United
States Chess Federation (USCF) tournaments. Having devoured more than 50 books
on the subject and played thousands of games, I have attained a respectable
level of proficiency in the game.
Achievements of Note
21st Nationally: National High School Championship
(reserved section)
Atlanta, GA, 1991
3rd, Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships
(reserved section)
Bloomsburg, PA, 1991
2nd, Berks County High School Championships
Reading High School, Reading, PA, 1991
2nd, Berks County Scholastic Championships
Reading, PA, 1990
3rd, Berks County Scholastic Championships
Reading, PA, 1989
Chess Club President, Reading High School, 1989-1991
Chess Club Advisor, Penn State Berks, 2007-2009
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Presentations
If it is worth
doing, it is worth learning to do well. My career in
student affairs has demanded that I make
presentations. Over the years I have embraced this
and have tried to become the best presenter that I
can be.
Achievements of Note
Presented at many professional conferences and
schools.
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Photography
Although I earned a degree in
photography, I spent years studying the subject
prior to enrolling in formal coursework and I am
still learning all the time. The camera is a
fascinating tool for image creation.
Achievements of Note
1994–Present
Published in a large variety of publications
1996 Best of College Photography
1995 Best of College Photography
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Graphic Design
My
interest in photography lead to an even stronger interest in graphic design. I
took one course in college in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Everything else
has been self-taught. Over the years I have become proficient in Photoshop,
Illustrator, InDesign, QuarkExpress, PageMaker, and PowerPoint.
Achievements of Note
1998–Present
Published a large variety of publications
2009 APCA Graphic Design Award for Printed
Advertising
2008
NACA Mid-Atlantic Outstanding Faculty/Staff
Designed Non-Poster
Publicity Award
2002
International Automotive Media Awards (IAMA)
Silver Medal — Graphic Design
2001
International Automotive Media Awards (IAMA)
Gold Medal — Graphic Design
Gold Medal — Graphic Design
Silver Medal — Graphic Design
2000
International Automotive Media Awards (IAMA)
Gold Medal — Graphic Design
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Art
I have
always enjoyed studying and producing art. The world of art is a crucial part of
being human. No other creature on the planet produce works of art. I've
experimented with drawing, sculpture, painting, print making, life drawing,
photography, graphic design and more.
Achievements of Note
Painting accepted in the 16th Annual Berks Art
Alliance
Regional Juried Exhibit, 1992
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New York City
I have been mesmerized by "The City" since my
mother took me there for the first time in 10th grade. It's easy to get lost in
the city exploring everything from the Cloisters to Broadway, Ethnic restaurants
on 9th Avenue to shopping at the South Street Seaport, the plethora of museums
to the interesting street fairs, and much more. I have every intention of being
a life-long learner of New York City.
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Investing
In 2002 I invested
in individual stocks for the first time.
Unfortunately I got into the market right before it
crashed. I learned some really bitter lessons,
cashed out my losses and scampered away. In 2008 I
finally had the courage to try again and was sadly
met with an even bigger drop in the stock market. In
fact, it was the largest drop in the market since
I've been alive. Luckily I learned a lot from my
first experience and I have been managing rather
well in the market over the last few years.
Achievements of Note
I haven't lost all of my money in the market!
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Pocket
Billiards
I have always found the game of
8-ball fascinating. Initially, like racing cars, it
was purely entertaining, but eventually as one
improves oneself in these areas it leads to an
understanding (and appreciation) for the physics
involved. Once you get to that level, the experience
is entirely changed. I only wish that my actual
skills were more in line with my knowledge!
Achievements of Note
Billiards Club Advisor, Penn State Berks, 2007-2009
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Astronomy
Sometimes in life you have experiences that are
real game changers. For me, one of those experiences was viewing the
deep space photographs from the Hubble telescope. It is nearly impossible to
wrap the brain around what can be viewed in those images and I find that really
inspiring. Those images have inspired me to start seriously studying astronomy
on my own. The universe is extremely compelling and I think it is imperative for
humans to continue to explore it.
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Hiking
Hiking
is a wonderful reminder of how much nature is still out there waiting to be
explored and enjoyed. Over the last few years I delved into hiking as a means of
exploration, exercise, and expression. I am not at a level that makes me feel
overly proficient, but I have every intention of continuing my learning in this
activity.
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Weight Lifting
I have
no interest, and I never have, in becoming some huge muscle man. However, that
doesn't change the fact that the best pain in the world is the pain felt the day
after a hard workout. That really is the pain of progress. Several times in my
life I have committed to intensive workout schedules. It is an awesome way to
strengthen the body, get the blood moving and the positive juices flowing.
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Philosophy
I wish I would have taken Philosophy 100 in my
undergrad program, but it never happened. Fortunately, I was introduced to Ayn
Rand in my junior year of college and that opened up a whole new world of
learning for me. After reading all of her books, I ventured onto many others.
Within the last few months I have just started reading philosophy books again.
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