Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in the Midwest, in Ohio and outside Chicago. My dad was a Psychiatrist and department chair of a hospital and large clinic. I was raised with a deep Midwest work ethic, and worked my way through school in all kinds of jobs. I was a phlebotomist for a couple of summers, and a court reporting instructor at a technical college. When I was 20, I had a summer job as a union laborer for a division of U.S. Steel. I had a serious injury at the cement plant that required many months of recovery and surgery…I have a great deal of empathy for those injured on the job.
Did you know early on that you wanted to be an attorney?
No, not at all. I thought I was going to become a Hospital Administrator. After college, I worked as a Territory Sales Rep around Chicago for Burroughs Corporation, selling medical business forms to hospitals and large medical clinics. With that goal in mind, I completed my MBA. Little did I know that having the MBA would help me run a solo law practice decades later.
What led you to focus on Employment Law?
I had worked in a number of areas of the law – Government Administrative Law, Workers’ Comp, Wills, Trusts and Estates. All of those helped me build a deep understanding of the legal system, but for me Employment Law was where my love of Law and Psychology came together in equal parts.
What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made?
Without a doubt, moving to New York 15 years ago. I love living and working in Westchester.
What energizes you most in your work?
Talking with clients or prospective clients. I am driven by understanding someone’s story, their situation, the facts of their case. I can ask someone dozens of questions to pinpoint how we can best strategize an optimal outcome.
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
Probably waking up early, going for a long walk or run, then lunch with my wife at a favorite spot like Village Social in Mt. Kisco. I might read for a while before binge-watching a true-crime or psychological thriller. I really enjoy anything that delves into human behavior.
Favorite season?
Definitely winter.
Favorite childhood memory?
My brother and I would flood the backyard during the cold Ohio winters to play ice hockey – all our friends would come by, including Scott Hamilton when he was just learning to skate.
Favorite food?
It’s a tie between fish tacos and a good burger.
Favorite place you’ve ever traveled?
Rome – you can’t beat the beauty, history, art, food, the style.
First job?
Frozen foods stocker at Jewel Food Store.
First car?
1970 Chevy Caprice Classic 2-Door in Green Mist Metallic.
Dream car?
1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8, 2+2 hardtop.
Fiction or non-fiction?
Non-fiction, mostly memoirs, biography, sociology or psychology.
Early riser or night owl?
Early riser.
Which three lawyers from history would you like to invite for dinner?
Franz Kafka, Thomas Jefferson and, in honor of my Westchester home, Washington Irving.