After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Things are different now. I have a 12 year old son who looks up to me. I feel a strong need to be that good example that he will carry for the rest of his life too. Detroit's auto industry has experienced a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. That doesn't matter, bills have to be paid, homework must be done, and dinner must get cooked. I walked away from a comfortable engineering job to be more present for a son who needed me more. At the same time, I committed to improving myself by earning an engineering graduate degree to hopefully qualify for better and more flexible work in the future. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years.

After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Detroit's auto industry has experienced a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years.

After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Detroit's auto industry has experienced a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years.

After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Moving from working for large companies to helping smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources gives me a chance to build a brighter future for the wider industry. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years.

I'm already a Michigan state certified mechanic, but I want to do more. I have been working on cars professionally for almost 30 years. Much of that was after I got my first degree from GMI (Now Kettering University), a BSME with a focus in automotive. That degree served me well as I started my own shop, worked on thousands of cars, and eventually joined an OEM as a development engineer. Lessons learned in the classroom translated to experience on the job. Often, my experience that I got from getting my hands dirty in the shop also gave me an edge in the engineering world. My experience pushing the envelope of high performance let me see cases that other OEM engineers could only imagine. Individually, I had "tuned" thousands of unique combinations for customers looking to go faster. Speed was easy, keeping them reliable was the trick. I took many of these hard earned lessons along the way and included them in my first book (Engine Management: Advanced Tuning, CarTech Books, 2007) in an effort to give back to the industry. "If only someone had told me this sooner" was my motivation. Time has shown that book to have become a great reference for those looking to get into the "tuning" end of automotive work and I'm pleased to have helped so many along the way. Years later, I was the group manager, but overwhelmed. Simply put, I was getting burned out by the daily grind of meetings. I missed the hands on work and customers who really appreciated the honesty. I decided to focus on my own business where I use my knowledge to help smaller companies that don't have someone with my expertise on staff full time. Many of these clients are SEMA member companies, small businesses themselves. Along the way, I joined the SEMA ETTN select committee that helps deliver education, student outreach, and networking between engineers of these member companies. Sometimes this means speaking for free at industry events or organizing student career fairs where we connect engineering students with opportunities in the fun side of the automotive industry. In an effort to improve what I bring to them, I am seeking my graduate degrees from the prestigious Clemson University Automotive Engineering department. It's no small task, and certainly not cheap. As a single father and small business owner, every penny will help me afford the dream and improve my game as I continue to help the automotive industry.

Good days are easy. Rough days show your character when others may not have any idea what you are facing. We take our health for granted, and often assume that everyone around us is healthy as well. This is usually the case, but not always. A chronic disease sneaks up on you. Little by little, it erodes your feeling of normality. Work is hard when you wake up feeling rough. Sometimes it's that 2 o'clock wall you hit. Or maybe you get home having spent all your available energy at school or work and you have nothing left for yourself or family. But there are always bills to pay, chores that must be done, and a child who needs your love. I didn't wake up one day and suddenly realize my condition. I just thought it was normal until there were so many signs that I had to ask my doctor. The diagnosis was almost a relief because it also came with a treatment plan that let me return to something close to my previous life patterns. It wasn't just the medication that helped. It was the plan. The plan included exercise and movement that not only helped me physically, but mentally as well. Releasing the endorphins after a good workout left me with a sense of accomplishment that I had at least done something good for myself that say. Over time, these add up and it gets a little easier. Confidence was built that I could indeed return to something more normal and focus on life rather than a condition. I spent less time trying to hide my discomfort around others and I was left with a better ability to help them as well. As rough as it was to endure personally, it also makes one think about what someone else might be going through. "Are they faking their good health too?" "What if they are struggling inside and just need a break?" They might be fighting something physical or mental. It doesn't matter, it's still tough. I get it now. I have noticed smiles that hide a grimace when someone is doing their best to push through a hard day. It's these times that I try to find a way to make their day one percent easier as a stranger, or one hundred percent easier if it's a close friend or family member. Even a polite smile sometimes helped me when I was struggling. It's not my turn to return that favor. It costs me nothing, and could make their day. Making yourself better any way you can sets you up for future success. As a single parent with limited means, skipping work or class just because I don't feel good isn't an option. I can't let my son down like that. I will show him that a sickness doesn't define us and we can still summon the energy to not only complete our own work, but help others along the way too. Getting this degree is just another (big) step in that direction. Any help from others along the way leaves me with more energy to pay it forward too.

I graduated engineering school at GMI in 1999 in one of the happiest moments of my Father's life. His smile in my graduation photos was genuine and I wouldn't understand it until years later when I was a father myself. I lost him a few short years later to a septic infection related to his dialysis. He would never get to see me grow in my career or hold his grandson. After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I found myself seeking once again to raise my game. Detroit's auto industry had a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years. My aim is to watch him grow to become his own success story.

After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Detroit's auto industry has had a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. All the experience with the latest technology, control systems, and leadership sometimes doesn't outweigh cost cutting goals at a large company. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years. Along the way, every dollar helps get me one step closer.

After a quarter century in the workforce after getting my first degree, I find myself seeking once again to raise my game. Detroit's auto industry has had a rough time over the last 10 years with cost cutting measures making new opportunities progressively more scarce. Simply looking for a new job as an "experienced" worker isn't always easy. All the experience with the latest technology, control systems, and leadership sometimes doesn't outweigh cost cutting goals at a large company. While I've had the opportunity to work on some great programs with great people, I have come to realize that there are no guarantees in life. In 2021, I struck out on my own to run my company full time after decades of working for big companies. The transition certainly wasn't easy, or anywhere near as profitable as a stable 8-5 job. It meant longer hours holding myself accountable for all aspects of the business as well as technical decisions. I was finally able to offer my experience to other smaller companies who might not have their own engineering resources specific to my narrow field of experience in emissions, performance, and fuel economy development. The key thing self-employment allowed was time with my growing son, who clearly needed more help both in school and personally. I took a huge pay cut to make sure I could be there for him when he needed me the most. On top of that, a change to a new private school was needed to get him the right help for his own needs. I rearranged my professional schedule to be able to help him with reading, math, or a science project. Drop off times provided challenges too, so meetings were quietly scheduled around his needs. As a parent, we make sacrifices and put on a good face for our children in hopes of a brighter future for them. As my business slowly grew, I realized that one of the keys to my future success would be to raise my own game with regard to what I offer my industry. Being just another engineer wouldn't cut it if I really wanted to make a difference. After volunteering to speak at an industry event, a colleague who is a professor at Clemson University suggested that I would be a good fit for their new Automotive Engineering PhD program. The light bulb went on over my head as I realized that this was how I could make a greater impact. A challenging, but doable, graduate program could open new doors for me. Building upon my prior experience and adding another World Class educational experience should help me deliver even better support to my industry in the future. I plan to research more affordable methods of testing and development that will help smaller companies deliver vehicle just as clean and reliable as the major automakers. On top of all that, I get to show my son a good example of why continuing to learn is so important as we do our homework together at the same table in the coming years.