Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
DADDY OF “8” CHILDREN

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
EVERYDAY I WAKE UP I ABSOLUTLY LOVE BEING IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS. IVE BEEN A CHEF FOR 15 YEARS, AND THE FUTURE LOOKS AMAZINGLY BRIGHT.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
POPPYCOCKS – SOUPS, COCKTAILS AND DESSERTS ARE REMARKABLE – CENTER STREET CAFE – RED GINGERS – SUSHI IS IN THE TOP THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? What brought you to Grand Traverse County?
I MOVE TO THE GRAND TRAVERSE AREA JUNE 8, 1998. WE HAD PURCHASED A COMPANY THAT PRODUCED SPECIALITY FOODS. CARP RIVER TRADING COMPANY

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
MCKEEL HAGARTY – THE SENSE OF HUMILITY, INTEGRITY AND SUCCESS

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I STARTED TRAVELING THE WORLD TWO YEARS AGO AND ABSOLUTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH NORWAY. IF I COULD BOARD A PLANE RIGHT NOW I WOULD GOTO (SLOVENIA, LITHUIANA, UKRAINE). I AM FASCINATED WITH THE CULTURE OF EASTERN EUROPE. THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL SENSE OF CULTURE STILL THERE.

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
GONE IN 60 SECONDS – BLAZING SADDLES – TOMBSTONE – “THE LAST KINGDOM”

Q: What advice would you give to people who want to visit our community?
COME WITH A CLEAN SET OF EYES AND ENJOY THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
TO TRAVEL TO SVALBARD NORWAY – ITS THE NORTHERN MOST CIVILAZATION IN THE WORLD AT 84′ NORTH

Q: What current or former local business makes you feel the most nostalgic about our community?
AMERICAN SPOON FOODS – TRIED AND TRUE THEY HAVE HELD TO WHAT THEY REPRESENT. AND THE PRODUCT IS AWESOME

Q: If you could choose anyone today with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you all meet for this lunch?*
GABBY BERNSTEIN AND MIGUEL RUIZ- BECUASE THESE TWO PEOPLE HAVE IMPACTED MY LIFE SO MUCH – I WOULD TAKE THEM TO BLACK STAR FARMS CAFE –

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
IM ASTOUNDED THAT THE WEATHER CAN RANGE FROM (-40f TO 100’f)

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
SINCE I LIVE MY LIFE IN THE PRESENT. I ONLY PROJECT SIX MONTHS AT A TIME, AND FOR WHAT I SEEE “ITS GREAT”

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
FOR BEING OUTSPOKEN – IM ACTUALLY INTROVERTED

Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
THE DRIVE FROM TROMSO TO HAMMERFEST NORWAY

Q: Favorite month? Favorite holiday? and the best single day on the calendar?
JULY – MY CHILDRENS BIRTHDAYS – MAY 1

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I INSPIRE MYSELF TO A BETTER VERSION OF MYSELF EVERYDAY.

Q: What is your favorite season in Northern Michigan? And what is your favorite activity to do in those seasons?
WINTER – EVEN THOUGH I DONT DO IT ENOUGH – SNOWSHOING – JUST BEING GROUNDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NATURE

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
ISNT A HOUSE – ITS WHATS IN YOUR HEART – A HOUSE IS JUST A STRUCTURE