What is your favorite aspect of your job?

The opportunities. As a society, we’re recognizing that we’re not going to be top dog infinity as we see the emergence of countries like China and India emerging as economic forces. They’re beginning to influence not just world economics, they’re influencing the way we think and do things. So doing business in the future is going to be a little different than it has been in the past. We have to take into account that these players in the marketplace have different views of the world.

What was your role at the Kirby Center?

We were primarily trying to develop entrepreneurship programs and initiatives both on campus and in the region, and so we develop the minor, we developed the major, we reached out to other departments on campus to draw expertise. (http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/2260.asp)

When was your first job?

It was in sixth grade, I had a couple of people I mowed lawns for, and that was nice because allowances didn’t quite make it. But my first, quote, real job, was when I was in the Air Force; I was an administrative officer for a unit down in Tucson, Ariz., and that was very interesting.

What is something most people would be surprised to know about you?

That I’ve jumped out of perfectly good airplanes. I had a good time. But it’s addictive, it really is. You could spend 100 percent of your time focusing on those free falls.

What was the last movie you saw?

“Beginners,” and before that “Midnight in Paris.” I enjoyed “Midnight in Paris” very much. “Beginners,” the way the movie is put together it moves around a little bit, and it took about half the movie for me to get into that. But I thought the acting was exceptional, the topic, the theme was both emotional intellectually challenging, so I enjoyed it.

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

Probably a Morgan Horse. Morgans are very versatile animals that can be showy but also are work horses.

What is your favorite pastime?

We have a farm, and we don’t raise anything on the farm anymore, but I very much enjoy getting out on the farm cutting wood, getting on the tractor and driving in circles.

What is one item on your bucket list?

I have not visited South America. I’m really intrigued with Brazil and Argentina. And I’d like to go to Patagonia, but my wife tells me it’s too cold.

Is there a story behind the bow tie?

My wife’s father wore bow ties, in fact I don’t think I ever saw him in a straight tie, and he’s about 5-5, and he decided he was going to teach me how to tie a bow tie, except he had to get on a chair. And I just thought it was cool, so I started wearing bow ties time to time. It’s just something a little bit different, it’s not intended to show off, I just think they look classy.