Holyoke, Massachusetts

Where did you grow up?

Springfield, MA  Buffalo, NY and Longmeadow, MA

Can you give me the basics of your career background? Education, years in the industry, years with Collins, etc.

I went to school for Illustration and got a job making on-air graphics for a cable news station out of Atlanta after college. I worked there for 20 years starting as a on-air designer and before I left I was a graphics supervisor of the Morning Show on the station.

I managed 5 people on my team. I made show animations for specific stories and made daily graphics. I also helped revamp the look of several shows over my 20 years there.

The best comparison I can give you to working in a live TV setting is that during breaking news it is like a battle ship where everything is going a mile a minute with constant updates and chaos. I was there on 9/11, Boston Bombing, Iraq Invasion and countless other stories.

The shift work was becoming tougher as I aged. I was 45 and working 3am to 11am due to the show I was on.

I was already helping Collins out part time for about 3 years before I moved to full time.

What's your favorite part about working in the pvf industry?

I remember as a Jr. or Sr.  in high school my friends Dave Long & Armand Hill and I put together skid kits for a Northeast Utilities  (now Eversource) orders. We had a blast and a lot of laughs. I also worked for 2 summers during college at Lenox American Saw picking orders and the team there was fantastic and funny.(I realize that wasn't PVF but cutting tools) It was also interesting to see the manufacturing process right there in the next warehouse.

I find it interesting to see how many other industries are effected and connected to PVF and Air Compression. Many people never even think of it, but PVF is so integral to society.

I like that Toni and I have been able to add a more dynamic marketing element to Collins especially in the digital landscape. Its great to be able to work with my family and all the great people that work at Collins.

What kind of passions do you pursue outside of work?

I enjoy traveling, photography and all types of music and genre of movies. Oh and 1980's Anime. 

What was your most favorite/least favorite trip and why?

A trip I remember and loved waswhen Sara and I brought our kids Leah & Ian who at the time were like 6 and 4 to San Francisco.