What have you been up to since you graduated:
After attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg,Virginia(Music education) and Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City, Iowa (Band Instrument Repair Brasswind specialist), I met my wife Shelley in Sioux City and we were married on October 27th, 1979.After repairing at several brass overhaul shops around the United States, I landed right back in Kenosha with the G.Leblanc Corp.(Martin Band instrument Division) as a production supervisor.Over a 20 year period I acquired more responsibilities and became the corporate brasswind specialist as well as Production Manager for the Martin facility.As brasswind specialist I have had the opportunity to design and build instruments and work with artists such as Miles Davis,Al Hirt, Maynard Ferguson,Arturo Sandoval,Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and other talented musicians.Additionally I have represented the company at numerous trade shows in the United States and overseas as well.
After nearly 25 years with G.Leblanc,Conn Selmer (a competitor)bought us and proceeded to close and consolidate the Martin division which I was in charge of. I was assigned to lay off and relocate employees as well as transfer equipment and assets to Elkhart Indiana and Eastlake ,Ohio. After doing so and selling the building on Sheridan road, I was transferred to the Vincent Bach Co. in Elkhart,Indiana. There I was assigned the position of product development engineer.This was a proud moment for me as Vincent Bach makes the most popular artist trumpet and produces the most artist trumpets in the world.After nearly 2 years at Vincent Bach the workforce went on strike and I moved out to the shop floor to work with the office staff and train them to produce product until the strike was over.6 months later the end of the strike was nowhere in sight.At that point I moved to Janesville,WI and joined the Getzen Band Instrument Company in Elkhorn. Shortly after arriving there I became the Plant manager in charge of facilities and production. That is where I am at present.