President and CEO
National Championship Air Races (52 years in NV)
“If you can take the emotion out of a decision you can make the right decision.”
Type of Business: Special Events | Hails from: Columbus, Georgia | 1 year with company in Nevada | Based in: Reno
How did you first get into your profession?
My career in the soft drink industry started with a visit to a bottling company on a high school field trip and I ended up managing bottling facilities for Coke literally all over the world. After 12 years of retirement (you can only play so much golf!) I thought I could help the Air Races get on a better financial footing with my operations experience so I decided to apply for the CEO job. The rest is history.
What is your pet peeve?
People being late.
What do you want your legacy to be?
[I would want to be known as] fair, thoughtful, honest and a friend for life.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be?
Ironically, a jet pilot.
What business advice would you give someone just starting in your industry?
Study hard, listen more than you speak, understand why changes have been made before implementing more, enjoy your profession and realize that it has to be about more than the money.
What is a little known fact about yourself?
I am very shy, very emotional.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
Superman.
If you could take back one sentence you’ve ever spoken, what would it be?
Any one that began with: “I am sorry.”
What do you wish you would have learned at the beginning of your career?
To have been able to trust people more, and to have more humility.
What is the best moment of your career?
In my new career as CEO of the Air Races: we made a profit in 2015 after initially projecting a huge deficit and saved the Air Races. In my Coca-Cola life: I was made President and Managing Director of Indonesia.
What is your motto?
If you can take the emotion out of a decision you can make the right decision.
What is your favorite thing about living in Nevada?
The seasons, especially April through October, and the beauty of Lake Tahoe.