Icebreaker Biography for Vegas
I think an optional biography might be a good way to give some personal background/experience, interests, VMC history, etc. ahead of time. This might stimulate conversations that otherwise might not come up.
Here goes mine:
I was born in Jacksonville, IL in August of '65. I have a twin brother(new home sales in Denver) and a 2 year older brother(Delta pilot in Cinci).My parents grew up on farms near Pontiac and Fairbury, IL 2 hours S. of Chicago(still have 240 acres of prime farm ground there). My Dad sold bi-products for Masonite (the company that made all of that dark fiber board paneling). He started his own feed and fertilizer brokerage in 1972 and we moved to Conifer, CO in 1974. 35 acres on a north facing slope in the foothills, froze my tail off all winter. I went to school in Durban South Africa for 6 months in 7th grade. I graduated from Evergreen H.S. class of '83. I worked/lived on a charter boat in Kodiak, AK in the summers. I then did my first 2 years of college at Western State in Gunnison, CO. I started commercial salmon and halibut fishing in Kodiak and continued through the college years, the money was great and I never owed for school loans. I transferred to Colorado State and graduated with a B.S. in Agricultural Business. I married an Iowa farm girl named Glenda Jo, (the good witch from the Wizard of Oz). I ended up taking a job with a small zinc sulfate manufacturing company in Denver. My Dad had done some consulting for the company and got me the interview. It had such great potential we bought in to the business and built it up over 10 years and sold it to TETRA Technologies (TTI-NYSE) on 1-19-1999. TETRA sold the business again in 2003 and I cut a good deal with the new owners. I have a daughter of 14.5 and a son turning 16 in 2 months. I wouldn't sell either of them for a billion dollars, but I wouldn't give 2 cents for a new baby at this stage. I love my kids a lot! I am now managing 5 other regional salesmen and I have some key accounts of my own. I like to sportfish and go to Vermillion Bay, Ontario, Kodiak, and Cabo San Lucas, every year. Some trips are with clients and the company picks up the tab (not a bad gig if you can get it!). I also have a car hobby specific to MOPARs Dodge and Plymouths. The "440" in my handle is from the 440cu in motor. I do some mild drag racing on Friday nights in the summer. I got hooked up with Bobwins right before he started the Raging Bull board with Hweb. I first met Bobwins on the AHOM board, it was pure luck because he only made one or 2 posts there telling people about mdpa now MDF. I sold the AHOM and got mdpa, it was just shy of a 10 bagger when I sold it. The rest is well documented on ihub. I feel greatful to have the VMC "family" as it has changed my financial condition forever. Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I sure am looking forward to seeing everyone in person and having a nice time in Vegas.
Kipp
AI
