I am a Washington Native that was born in Snoqualmie, WA. I lived between Mercer Island and Federal Way in my younger years, because my Father built houses anywhere that the land was cheap! My interest was horses when I was very young and then I became a roller skater at age 8 and competed nationally until I got my driver’s license and my attention turned to cars.
At 16, I built a 1956 Chevy Belair 2 door hard top into a show car and traveled up and down the coast to exhibit her in car shows. My love of cars continued after I graduated from Decatur High School and attended WSU on a scholastic scholarship. During the years I spent at WSU, I managed Rico’s Smokehouse Bar and owned a restaurant called the Desire Café. Life was severely interrupted by the Mt. St Helen’s Blast and I lost my restaurant and it destroyed my ’56 Chevy.
I left Pullman with my BS in Psychology and utilized my Alcohol & Drug Counseling certification working at the Substance Abuse Bureau in Lewiston, Idaho. They are still using a variation of the Alcohol Information Program that I implemented in 1979.
After the volcano, I left counseling to manage a bar in Coram, Montana (same job, no paperwork!) and fell in Love with Montana. Selling cars there was a challenge, not only because of the weather but also because of the economy.
I learned a lot about jewelry and guns, dead animal heads and trading just about anything in on a vehicle.
I started my seminar about how to buy a car when I realized just how unprepared the public was to make such an important decision. In 1985, I left car dealerships to become regional sales manager for National Car Rental; it was during this time that I started my relationships with Credit Unions that remain intact today.
It is my goal to provide an alternative buying experience for obtaining a vehicle that will offer to my customers; a better than average vehicle at a better than average price, an enjoyable experience that they want to tell others about and build relationships of trust that lasts through many purchases and promote referrals to family members and friends.
I currently live by Long Lake in Lacey with my four cats and spend my winters skiing, the summers riding my Harley Davidson and time with my mother who lives near by on the family farm in Puyallup.
My community involvement includes:
Past Vice- President of Capitol Leads Network; Thurston County’s premiere networking group.
Past Membership Chair and State Director of Olympia Master Builders, the 65th largest builders association in the Nation.
Past Ambassador for the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce. Member of the Olympia Ski Club at White Pass.
