1.) Where were you born? Joplin, MO

2.) What is one thing that brings you happiness? Working out! I love physical fitness, testing my abilities and pushing my own mental and physical limits. I also enjoy gardening and working in my yard.

3.) How does this job give your life purpose? I find purpose in caring for others. The funeral process if foreign to most, but not me. I like being able to walk families through the arrangement process, learn about the deceased, and make this time as calm, meaningful, and as easy as it can be for grieving families. Grief can be very overwhelming, chaotic, and painful. Families benefit from having a calm professional to listen to their requests, anticipate some of their needs, and ensure all details and requests are carried out perfectly. To get a "Thank You" from a grieving family is the highest honor a funeral director can receive. In those moments, I know I did something that mattered for someone else.

4.) Tell us about your pets. My better half is a hairless cat named Pauley Ray. She's 12 years old and has turned me into a cat lady. I also have two hairless guinea pigs named Jim and Mr. Larry.

5.) What is your favorite restaurant in Shawnee? Theopolis and the Thai Restaurant. I'm also a big fan of The Lunch Box!

6.) Where would you go if you could visit anywhere in the world? Tokyo

7.) What are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of work? Bowling, working out, working in my yard, gardening, working on house projects and doing nothing with my cat.

8.) What is your dream car? The one I have. It gets me from point A to point B and that's all I need.

9.) Tell us about the photo you chose for this spotlight? This photo was taken in June 2022 after my first ultra-marathon. It was a 50K (31 miles) in War Eagle Mills in NW Arkansas. It took me just over 8 hours to complete, and it will forever be one of the best days of my life.