My wife Rhonda and I met in 1978 in the cafeteria at Fallen Timbers Middle School in Whitehouse, Ohio. We dated on and off through junior high, high school and college, eventually marrying on October 18, 1986. This year, we will celebrate 37 years of marriage! We have three sons, three daughters in law and 6 grandchildren. Alex and Melissa, Andrew and Rani and Adam and Ali are newlyweds. The ages of our grandchildren run from 22 years old all the way to 1 year old! I began this career with Durocher’s/La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries as a part time delivery driver in 1986, climbing the corporate ladder to the position I now have as Sales and Marketing Director. I enjoy trying to grow my YouTube channel and Facebook page at seematteat.com where I do silly food reviews with “camerawoman” Rhonda.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I love how our company encourages community involvement. We’ve supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio, the St Jude Dreamhome giveaway, Toledo Seagate Foodbank and a number of local causes.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Being in retail for 37 years, I can’t pick just one.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Rhonda would love to travel to Scotland, but I’m concerned how I would look in a kilt. I like to go to England and see where my Dad and our British family lived.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Have a balanced family/work life. Work hard and play harder… Rhonda and I LOVE spending time with our kids and grandkids. But we also have regular date nights. We always made time for each other, and we both feel this is important to stay connected as a couple.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Go back to Cuba. We were there once on a cruise, but it was a short visit. I’d like to spend more time there.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Bruno Mars. I think he’s one of the coolest entertainer out there. After a Wimpy burger and a piece of vanilla peanut butter pie at Schmucker’s, I’d ask him if he could teach me a couple of dance moves. Don’t believe me, just watch!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
When we moved into this neighborhood, we were the youngest residents. There were many retirees, widows and widowers and with three active boys, we were the loud family. Now that our boys are adults and have moved out, we watch our younger neighbors raise their families just as we did.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Summertime! Concerts, family cookouts, pool time and sunshine.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife Rhonda… she’s a strong Christian woman that puts GOD first, then family and friends. There’s NOTHING she wouldn’t do to help someone in need.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Simpsonation, family and friends
