I went to grade school at St. John’s, near Creighton University, and later went to Creighton Prep before attending the university.

To pay for college, I worked as a garage door installer at the family business, Omaha Door & Window Co. I later received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and worked at two state hospitals.

My father, Leo, asked me to return home to work with the family. I started in January 1979, after taking two and a half months off to tour Europe. In January 2020, I will have been at the company for 41 years.

Currently I am the co-president of Omaha Door & Window Co, along with my evil twin, Steve. He hunts big game, so therefore is the evil twin for killing things. My advocation is wine tasting, so I am the good twin.

Being a second-generation business owner has been challenging yet satisfying. The company was started in 1959. Currently, our biggest challenge is getting good, qualified help, but this is the case throughout the country.

I am an empty nester along with my wife, Mary. Together we raised two fine kids. Our son works at Omaha Door & Window as a third-generation family member. Our daughter is a personal trainer in Ohio.

It is important to keep your life balanced: God first, then family, work, your passion, and moderation or temperance. Stay active and engaged, and above all, have fun.

I think it is important to keep busy, especially with something that you love.

My passion/hobby is food and wine. Wine is an inexhaustible subject. The more you know, the more you want to know. Every bottle of wine is an adventure. You never know exactly how it will taste because food changes it.

Mary and I have been to numerous wine growing areas: California (Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Amador County), France (Alsace and Champagne), and Portugal (Port, Madeira). Bordeaux is next on the list.

Food is also an important part of the equation. My attitude is, if God gave us such fantastic ingredients, then we should prepare them in imaginative ways to keep things interesting.

This article was printed in the 60Plus section of the January/February 2020 issue of Omaha Magazine.