I was born in San Diego to a military family.  My father started in the Navy and after eleven years he enlisted in the Air Force so our family could travel and be stationed together.  My parents were from a small town in Kansas and taught me those small-town values.  We moved from base to base finally returning to San Diego in time for me to start high school.  Growing up I wasn’t mechanically inclined and focused my time on business classes, playing basketball and going to the beach.   Right out of high school I started in the insurance industry and found my passion for the operations side of the business assisting in opening several offices up and down the state.

After several years in the insurance industry my father introduced me to an HVAC contractor that would change my life forever.  I began working for Ken Hope and Certified Air Conditioning where I met Terry Erickson and Barbara Kerr.  The three of us worked hard to grow the business and would soon become partners.  This was the beginning of my love for the contracting business, especially the opportunities I found in this new mechanical world.  I owe so much of who I am today to these mentors that taught me about business and how to have fun doing what you love to do.

After learning of the Couts brand, the people, the history and the vast opportunities I jumped at the chance to be a part of something special.  Accepting the role of Vice President of Operations was not a decision made lightly.  I’m honored to be here and honestly fired up about what the future holds.

Working in “operations” of a company has a certain boring ring to it.  I choose to think of what I do differently.  I’m here to share my experience and passion for the industry, growing this business to allow hard working people the opportunity for a great life.  It doesn’t get much better than seeing members of our team buy their first house or send their kids to college and having fun doing it!

The key for me is family.  I’m motivated everyday by my amazing wife Randi, our two children and our six grandchildren.  Our days are filled with horses, other barnyard animals, soccer, boating and fishing at the river and not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the many blessings in my life.  I’ve always connected hard work with the good fortunes in my life and it’s my desire and duty to pass these opportunities on to the next generations here at Couts just like they were passed on to me.  I look forward to coming to work everyday with the goal of making someone else’s life better.