About Me

Thanks for visiting my website. Some of you know me but for those that got here by accident let me tell you a little about what makes me tick. But b4 that, let me update u on my horrific 2010 year.

Ours is a story that happens to other families not to us. Someone complains of breathing problems, they think it's asthma, then pnueamonia, but its cancer and by then it's too late. My wife Elana was 40 years old and didn't have a chance to fight. She passed away 2 weeks after finally being diagnosed and they were still unable to identify the root but it spread to her lungs and liver. Her lungs and heart were filling with liquid at a rapid pace...too quick for her body to handle, and on April 26, 2010 we lost her.

I lost my best friend, and the world lost a great spirit. Elana did so much for the Winnipeg Community which was evident by 900+ people that attended her funeral.

Then a mere 7 months later my Dad at the age of 90 years old succombed to 3 forms of Cancer!

My family and I are still trying to absorb the lessons from this. I know that when I get caught up in lifes frivolous tribulations I think of my wife, my Dad and I take a step back.

1. My Work

I won’t bore you with my childhood or teenage years so let’s fast forward to my graduationfrom the University of Winnipeg where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Sociology. While most of my friends took a year to travel after graduation, I immediately joined the work force. My career started as a Senior Correspondent at Investors Syndicate, when the company was located in that ratty old building on Broadway. However as a recent grad I loved the location and realized very quickly how and why the street had its name! My second role with Investors was setting up a National “Hot Line” for the regional managers and it was then that I knew I wanted to move into a sales role.

After 6 years with Investors I was talked into joining my Dad’s business, M&M Warehouse and Distribution. I figured if he used my name for one of the initials the least I could do was join the company. Very quickly I realized that I needed an audience so I created my own company called MHP Brokers. This was a sales agency that catered to the foodservice industry in Winnipeg. One of the most successful products that I brought into Manitoba was the "Original New York Seltzer” (ONYS). Yes it was me in the bottle costume at all of the Winnipeg Jets hockey games!

As ONYS was beginning to lose its fizz, Blackwoods Beverages (the local bottler of Pepsi/7-Up) came knocking at my door. Blackwoods was eventually sold to Pepsi of Canada. It was the training that I received at Blackwoods Beverages that enabled me to become successful in the sales and marketing industries. And it was Pepsi that taught me that the person who touched the client was the most important person in the organization. They called this the “RIGHT SIDE UP” philosophy, where you turn the company upside down to make it right side up! My last role with Pepsi was as the National Trade Development Manager which involved creating programs and selling them to the national retail grocery chains. After 7 years I again heard a knock on my door.

This time it was the Canada Post Corporation and again I stayed 7 years, with my last role as Director of Sales and Marketing for Alberta North.

After another 7 year stint with Big Freight Systems I decided to leave the corporate world and hang up my Vice President of Sales and Marketing role. A very close friend of mine suggested that I try the automotive industry. I laughed this off as I did not own a plaid blazer or white patent leather shoes!

But then I was introduced to the Birchwood Automotive Group and the stereotype that was in my head immediately disappeared. The last 6 years have been a blast and the most fun I’ve had in my entire career. I love selling cars but it is the interaction with people that keeps me going. Also, being the top producer at Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC for the last five years doesn’t hurt!

Year 1 - Top Producer Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC
Year 1 - #3 Top Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group

Year 2 - Top Producer Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC
Year 2 - #3 Top Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group

Year 3 - Top Producer Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC
Year 3 - #3 Top Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group

Year 4 - Top Producer Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC                                                                                             Year 4 - #3 Top Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group

Year 5 - Top Producer Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC                                                                                          Year 5 - #1 Top Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group  

Year 6 - #2 Producer Birchwood Chevrolet Buick GMC                                                                                     Year 6 - #4 Producer in the Birchwood Auto Group
  

2. My Kids

Now I want to focus on 3 very important people that have made my life worth living, my first-born Joshua (20), my middle child Zachary (18), and my little girl Samantha (14).

Josh is brilliant academically and a responsible, good-looking guy. He loves to work out and hang out with friends playing drums for a rock band that practises at our house. Ugh! He has finished 2 year of Sciences on the U of M deans list. Josh will be traveling to Israel this fall for 1 year of studies at the Hebrew University. Then back to U of M for Medical School.

Zach is happiest when he’s in front of the X-Box 360 but he’s started to wean himself off somewhat by watching educational programs on TV like “Weaponology”. Zach is entering University of Winnipeg this fall. In the Rehtoric Creative Writing departmaent. His career aspirations are in the Gaming Industry.

Sami is a ham and loves to be the centre of attention. She’s your typical “High School Musical” fan going on thirty.

She always needs to be busy, whether it’s with her hands, her eyes, or her mouth……which

doesn’t stop moving from morning to night.But now she has her new puppy RINGO to tend to, fractured elbow and all!

3. My Late Wife

In January, 2006 I met Elana and in September, 2007 we married in a big, beautiful fairy-tale wedding. Elana is the perfect Ying to my Yang. I am forgetful, abstract; well basically I’m 50 going on 25! Elana has brought stability to my life.  She is kind, forgiving, and a planner. She has taught me to walk the talk as she sees things in black and white. If you say you are going to do something, then you do it.  “Shooting from the hip” is NOT in her vocabulary. This is where her forgiving trait comes in handy!  Elana is my biggest supporter in all facets of my life. As I am, Elana is a workaholic in her management role at MTS, so she understands the long hours that are required servicing my many clients and cultivating new clients.

Three wonderful, challenging and entertaining kids and a great career to keep me busy when I’m not with my kids.