The Regional Facilities Manager for Coffee and Bagel Brands on his star-gazing days at Walt Disney Imagineering, why hot air balloon rides are good pandemic relief and how concerts will once again restore peace to our souls.
What’s the most cherished item in your office?
I have a framed American flag. There is also a bookmark that has the Pledge of Allegiance on it. It came from an old Bible from the late 1800s.
What’s your favorite time to get things done?
I like to start my day early. Before COVID-19, I’d start my day at 4 a.m. Now they start at 5 a.m. It always seems like you can get more done in the morning. I think there are less people up to interrupt your day.
What’s the soundtrack that plays in the background of your office?
I listen to a very wide variety of music. Most of the time I will have Lonestar 95.5 playing on my Alexa. Lonestar 95.5 is a Classic Rock station.
The bands you cannot take off your playlist?
The Cure, Led Zeppelin and Die Antwoord

What does a typical workday look like?
Up early to try and get a workout in. That helps me clear my mind. One of my goals each day is to give our operation team time back so they can focus on the customer. If I can take on their facilities issues, they can focus on the customer. A lot of computer screen time and calls with the operations group and vendors.
What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened on a job site?
During my time at Walt Disney Imagineering, there were many things I was able to experience. One of our projects was taking an old bowling alley and making it into office space. We kept four lanes in that building. There would be a lot of stars who would show up to bowl. I was able to work with groups in parks like MGM Studio Tours, Animal Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Euro Disneyland. There were many other one-of-a-kind projects, including some top secret ones that I can never discuss.

What are you binge watching right now?
I don’t binge watch TV, but if I did, it would probably be Amazon’s Jack Ryan or Goliath.
What’s the coolest thing you have done since the pandemic hit?
Hot air balloon ride on the 4th of July
What has this whole pandemic experience taught you?
Nobody is perfect and nobody deserves to be perfect. Nobody has it easy; everyone has issues. You never know what people are going through so pause before you start judging, criticizing or mocking others. Everybody is fighting their own unique war.
If you knew what was going to happen, what would you have done differently?
Treat people better when I was younger.
Favorite comfort food.
Mexican food.
Best advice you ever received?
Shoot for the stars, and if you get the moon, be happy (thank you Larry Harpster)

Biggest influence in your life?
My Mother, who raised 6 kids on her own.
What trait do you most admire?
There are two: hard work and honesty.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think
What’s the first thing you are going to do when you are able to get back to some sense of normalcy?
Go to a concert (music is good for the soul).