2022 has been quite an interesting year. It is marked with several great memories, times and accomplishments:

• After 7 months of classes, I took, passed and earned my EMT. Now I am a fully recognized EMT and firefighter for the Glen Burnie Fire Company, which is a part of Anne Arundel County Fire Department. I am continuing with my certifications to be able to be the technician on the ambulance and drive it, drive and operate the Engine & Rescue, and eventually lead the crews. This is “My Fire Service 3^rd Edition”, as I started volunteering in ’89, became an Air Force firefighter in ’91, and got back into it in ‘20. I love serving my community!
• Baltimore-Appalachia Workcamp – The return of one of my favorite volunteer activities – The Baltimore Appalachia Workcamp. This was my third year, but should have been my fifth (due to Covid). It is a volunteer activity that I partake in with several members of my diocese. Many years, we have almost 100 volunteers repairing and rebuilding homes of the less fortunate of Preston County, West Virginia alone (one of the most impoverished counties in the nation). We also have another crew that works in Baltimore). This year we had about 50 volunteers in Appalachia and helped around eight families with everything; from replacing their roofs to building complete additions for families in need.
• My eldest daughter graduated with her Associates Degree in Mechatronics Engineering. Now do you want to talk about a cool degree?! I actually thought about going back to school for this when I learned about it. It’s Industrial Robotics. How cool!? She is still living at home and was hired before graduation for a role working for an Italian company that makes equipment for mixing and dispensing chemo drugs and other similar type products. She gets to travel a ton for work and has already worked at some of the best hospitals cancer treatment facilities in the US:
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • Many others
    • Sorry, just a little gushing over my eldest kid 😉
• My middle daughter started right out of high school as a transport EMT and is loving it! Her next goal is paramedic. She moved out last year and got married this summer to the most wonderful woman whom she has been friends with for nearly a decade. We are so proud of them as they begin on their journey of life together.
• My youngest daughter is a junior in high school and just finished up her second class at the community college. She plans to go to Frostburg State University after graduation and study in the environmental field.
• My son is a blessing and we continue to pray for his health as it is a continual challenge.
• My wife continues to be our angel and savior that keeps us all together and goals in focus, as she continues to home school our youngest daughter.

Covid has been about change for me and has lead me to SLP who invited into their incredible family. I am honored to be here and look forward to many, many years together. I have worked as their customer for 11 years or so and now am glad to be called family. I look forward to the many exciting projects that we are working on and hope to interact with many of our customers over the coming months and years. I cannot say enough good things about SLP and the incredible people who work here.

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2023!  I hope that our paths will cross and good things will happen.

Be Well!