Comments:
I have enjoyed an exciting life in the hair industry. During the 36 years I've been in the business, I spent 7 in downtown Chicago, working in an exclusive salon in the River North neighborhood. I became an educator for a continuing education organization doing "platform" work around the Chicago area. My exposure in that aspect of the industry presented some great opportunities. I was invited to enter a nationwide competition in which over 600 stylists were competing to be a part of a team to work with Cheeseborough-Ponds. The project was a national ad campaign to introduce new product lines. I was fortunate enough to become one of the 6 chosen to be in the winning team. That lead to trips to New York to participate in the product releases. We worked with Wilhemina models from around the world, creating "looks" for photo shoots and videos. I was then chosen as spokesperson for the team, returning to New York alone, to speak at a press release to 15-20 major national fashion publications. It really was one of the highlights of my career. Alas, it wasn't the true goal I sought. that came when I met my wife, a 1980 Hobart graduate, Deanna Ehrhardt. She swept me off my feet. She was there with me in Chicago for 5 years, during whcih time we had our first child, Claire. We eventually decided that we would return to Indiana, in particular, Valparaiso. I proceeded to build my business, and she became a stay at home mom, wonderfully talented artist, and the mainstay of our home scene...and the caretaker of our 3 beautiful children. She is now an art teacher at the Victory Christian Academy, where our children all attend, and is by far the "favorite" teacher of many of the students! We enjoy gardening, homemaking, music (all 3 kids are musically talented), making art, one of a kind jewelry, and living life to the fullest.
