CEO 鈥� Ponderosa Homes
Former Offensive Lineman for the CU Buffs
Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I came to CU in 1964 on a football scholarship from National City, San Diego County, California. I enrolled in the Engineering School to become a Civil Engineer. During my sophomore year, I was injured and red shirted. This gave me an extra year of eligibility to play football. Head Coach Eddy Crowder asked me to stay and play for a fifth year. In those days, you could not graduate and still play. So, I needed to pursue additional educational opportunities. The Engineering School and Business School had a joint degree program. I decided to pursue a BS in Engineering and a BS in Business in five years. This was the perfect program for me.听 听
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What is the one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
There are several things I will never forget about Leeds. First, for two years I attended classes in the Engineering School. I don鈥檛 recall ever having a class with a female student. Leeds had a lot of female students, which made going to class much more fun. Second, when I went over there, they asked me to pick an emphasis. What were my choices: accounting, management, finance, etc.?听 I asked what finance was and was told it was the study of money. I liked money. So that was my direction. Third, the most important thing I learned was that I was a much better business student than听engineering student. Although I got two degrees, I have used and enjoyed my business degree much more. 听
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How did being a part of the Buffs Football team influence your college experience?听 How did it influence where you are now?
The high school I attended did not have many students that went to college. If they continued their education, most went to junior college. I thought this was my direction. When I was recruited to play for CU, it changed my life. I was a first-generation college student and the first in my extended family to receive a college degree. Coach Crowder and CU have had the most influence over the direction and successes in my life. 听
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What was your favorite game or memory from your time on the field?
In 1967 we had a very good team. We only lost two games. One we should have won. We were invited to play in the Bluebonnet Bowl in Huston Texas to play Miami. In those days there were only seven or eight bowl games, so it was a big deal to play in a bowl game. Miami was a very good team. They were the preseason pick to win the National Championship. They also lost games they should have won. We won the game. This was by far the biggest highlight. 听
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What lesson/learnings did you take from being a varsity college athlete into life today?
You can succeed. Work hard. Don鈥檛 give up and be persistent no matter what. You are closer to success than you think. Learn from others鈥� mistakes. Be a good listener. Ask questions. Don鈥檛 be afraid to succeed. Recognize others for their ideas and contributions. Be a good team player; it takes a team to accomplish anything. 听
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Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you at Leeds.
Dr Palmer. He was a young professor when I was a student. He spent many decades at CU. He is a very cool guy. He made learning finance fun and exciting. He led great discussions in his classes. He gave me a lot of confidence to speak up and express opinions. I loved the guy. 听
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Where has life taken you since graduated Leeds?
I graduated in August 1969. Started my first post-CU job in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, in September. Started a nighttime MBA program in the winter of 1970 at the University of Santa Clara. Received my MBA in 1973. Stated working for Kaiser Aetna in December of 1973 in a residential joint venture division as a financial analyst. Worked for them until 1977 in various roles. I was the third employee in this new division. I worked for two guys, Bill Foote and Doug Bradley. I learned more on this job than any since. These two men were my professional mentors. 听
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In 1980, I became a Division President for Ponderosa Homes in San Ramon, CA. Through various job and title changes, I became the senior VP in charge of California operations. In 1985, I led a management buyout of the northern California assets from the owner Aetna Life and Casualty and took the company private. Over the next 35 years through buyouts and reorganizations, I have remained as the principal owner and operator of the company.
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What advice would you give to students and young professionals?
Get a great education. Find something you like to do听and are good at doing. Go with your heart. If you find something you like, do well and have passion for, you will have a great career and a happy life. 听
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What do you miss most about Boulder?
I miss the energy and activity of living in a university town. Boulder is听one of the best places in the world.
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Is there anything else you would like to share?
Enjoy every day of your college time in Boulder. You will make memories for a lifetime. You will make friends for a lifetime. This will be the time that directs your future. Give something back to help others follow in your footsteps. 听
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