About Me…

Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe….but what do dreams know of boundaries?
-Amelia Earhart
-Amelia Earhart
During the day, I work for a very large and famous technology company. I won’t say who they are, but we are global (you might say “International”) and we have made a lot ofBusiness Machines. I work in a group called Entity Analytics, and we make software that helps governments, public safety organizations, and even some private businesses identify bad people who are trying to hide themselves. It’s a great job because of my team, the knowledge that what I do helps make a real difference in our world, and the opportunity to meet and work with certain 3-letter agencies about which I used to only dream. Speaking of dreams….
I'm a pilot. I currently hold a Private Pilot certificate (single engine - land) with an instrument rating. Learning to fly has been one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits of my life. The white-knuckle moments, the adventure, the moments of excitement and/or terror, and the expense are all significant and second only to marriage. Speaking of marriage…..
I’ve been married since 2002 (hi Des). We have a dog (Dobby) and a Dyson vacuum to go with him (thank goodness). Des is a Marriage and Family Therapist, and also a fantastic vocalist. It is great to be able to share my passion for music with her. Speaking of music….
I am also a musician. Piano and keyboards are my forte, but I've been known to pick up an acoustic guitar, sit behind the drums, or jam on a trumpet. I can also play one incredibly popular piano-bar song on the harmonica. I've been very lucky in my musical career to have played on the Las Vegas Strip with the Second City Improv Comedy show, participated in a number of my favorite musicals, entertained crazy crowds at dueling-piano bars/parties, and played in countless gigs with various bands. Speaking of other things I enjoy [I know I haven't mentioned that yet, but I needed a transition]….
Being on the water is something I truly enjoy. I grew-up spending most of my summers on a sailboat, and anytime I can get on the water is time well spent. I'm not picky: sailboat, jet-ski, or cruise-ship -- pretty much any seaworthy vessel will guarantee me a good day. Beyond that, I am a photographer/videographer/editor (see my vimeo link for videos and my gallery for photos).
The nickname "Soc" came from my work with the Liberty High School theater. Aside from being a musician for their shows, I present different theater workshops (based on my experiences with the Second City, various retreat experiences, and my own theater experience). One of the most used resources in these workshops is Dan Millman's Way of the Peaceful Warrior. One of the characters in this work is "Soc" (short for Socrates) - who leads the main character on his journey of discovery. Since I was acting in the same capacity as the fictional Soc, the name was applied to me and sort-of stuck. It's also a good pilot call-sign. :)