Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in small towns in Central Texas – McGregor, Bartlett and Belton but ultimately graduated from high school in Idabel, Oklahoma.  My father progressed from a blue-collar worker with Lone Star Gas to a district manager due to a series of promotions which caused the frequent moves. I attended East Texas A&M, formerly East Texas State University, where I received both a BBA and MBA. I continued to pursue education after college and received the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation. I met my wife, Phyllis, in college during my senior year and we married in 1972.  We have two children and four grandchildren. Our daughter is a CPA and our son recently retired as a Lt Col in the U.S. Air Force. He was a Weapons Officer on the B-1 Bomber.

What do you do and what do you love about it?
I have been retired since October 2014. I started in property management as the maintenance man at a small 25-unit apartment complex while working toward my MBA. I was effectively with the same company for 37 years through a series of purchases and acquisitions of the company and completed my career as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Bradford Companies, a local mid-size full service commercial real estate company. As a side note, I was responsible for the management of approximately 3 million square feet of office and industrial space in the Richardson submarket over the course of my career.

I also owned VMC Landscape Services which was a large commercial landscape company. We provided landscape maintenance services for multiple properties and ownerships in the commercial real estate industry in addition to maintaining about 15 municipalities in the North Texas area.

My love of both the commercial real estate and landscape business was the ability to interact and provide services to both local owners as well some to the largest pension fund and banking companies in the country.

What inspired you to join Rotary? Is there a service project that you have
been involved in that stands out?
My father was a Rotarian which set the example of servant leadership for me. From Key Club in high school to Alpha Phi Omega in college to trade organizations during my working career, all were either totally focused on servant leadership or had similar component. My favorite Rotary service project has been the Methodist Richardson Hospital Courtyard project.

What is your favorite restaurant in Richardson?
I actually have 2 favorites.  La Sombra Cantina (formerly Pineda’s) and Café Max.