Born on a Saturday (September 20, 1952) at St. Joseph's hospital in North Bay, Ontario. Raised there and in Toronto (Canada's largest city) until moving to the small town of Rodney, Ontario (population 1100) at age 15. Finished high school there and put off college in favor of playing in a band.
Travelled back and forth across Canada in showbands with Bill Caldwell's Canadian Talent Productions of London, and later with the Hogan Entertainment Agency of Toronto. Played guitar (and occasionally keyboards or bass), sang, provided patter between songs, and orchestrated both instrumental and vocal arrangements.
Created 20-minute medley of songs from The Beatles, another with songs of The Beach Boys, another with songs by The Four Seasons, and finaly a medley of TV show themes. These were show pieces that demanded attention because one could not easily dance to them.
Left full-time performing in 1980 to settle down with a love interest and took a job with Electrohome Electronics in Kitchener, working on the Canadian government's Telidon project. While doing that, played in part-time bands and produced musical arrangements for the Johnnie Johnston show.
Later, finally returned to school for bachelor's and master's degrees. Spent a few years designing and operating lighting for more than three dozen plays in Toronto theatres. Happened upon a job teaching adults at a DeVry Institute and loved it.
Returned to school to earn a doctorate and come to America to teach at universities. Got married (again) and had a lovely daughter at age 57. Retired in 2016 and settled into volunteer work and helicopter parenting as a recovering academic.
Degrees |
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| 2023 M.Ed. | Master of Education | University of Minnesota |
| 2001 Ph.D. | Organizational Behavior | York University |
| 1988 MBA | (Harvard Case Method) | Western University |
| 1985 B.A. | Philosophy & Economics | Wilfrid Laurier University |
Others |
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| Graduate Studies | M.A. Psychology (ABD) | Long Island University |
| Special Studies | Philosophy of Religion | University of Toronto |
Employment |
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| Term Assistant Professor | University of Minnesota | |
| Fixed Term Assistant Professor | Penn State University | |
| Assistant Professor | Long Island University | |
| Assistant Teaching Master | DeVry Institute | |
| Electronic Technician | Electrohome, Ltd. | |
| Musician & Arranger | Parnell and others | |
Part-time |
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| Weekend bands | Southern Ontario | |
| Lighting Designer | Toronto theatres | |
| Knowbody's Children | High school band | |
Volunteer |
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| Commissioner | Duluth Charter Commission | |
| Various positions | Lake Superior Freethinkers | |
| Area Coordinator | American Mensa | |
| Various positions | Clan Little Society |