How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
My wife, Angelina, and I came with our daughter, Aurora, (now 8 years old) for the Christmas Eve service in 2019. During COVID we attended online. It was interesting to be part of the church yet not be on campus. We were glad to be able to attend physically once the pandemic was over.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in the Protestant church. At least that’s what I was told. As I got older and explored my faith—which included attending different denominational churches—I realized that my childhood church experience was much more Baptist than Protestant.

What about Saint Philip’s speaks to you?
Different things. I love the history and tradition—and that’s ironic because for most of my life I was the “anti-tradition guy.” But after being with Angelina for 14 years, some of her appreciation for history and tradition have rubbed off on me. I think learning from her and maturing help me recognize the past’s value.

Saint Philip’s is home for us also because of the other families. There is a wonderful tapestry of people here with interesting perspectives on all sorts of things, not just church.

There’s something magical about this particular place. We attended different churches before visiting Saint Philip’s and only here did it feel just right.

And I have to mention the choir opportunity for Aurora. That’s a huge draw—as was being able to participate in the UK Residency and Pilgrimage this past summer.

What makes you feel like you belong to this community?
The opportunities to be involved and engaged. I’m the type of person who wants to share whatever skills I have.

I’m very aware that we’re standing on the shoulders of everyone who came before us. It really does take a village. So I want to be part of paying things forward.

How are you involved at Saint Philip’s?
I’m on the Preservation & Endowment Board, and I also serve as a Senior Youth formation leader. I was invited to volunteer as a youth leader after traveling on the pilgrimage with Mtr Taylor. She saw how I interacted with the youth and asked if I would be interested in doing that.

What might people be surprised to learn about you?
Most people are surprised to learn that a white boy from West Virginia speaks conversational Mandarin and lived a lot of his youth in China. I had an eclectic childhood.

Please say more about that!
My father was a mechanical and electrical engineer and worked for multi-national companies. He would be hired for a particular job (that usually lasted a few years) and we would relocate to where the job was.

In between jobs we would always return to West Virginia. That was home base.

In West Virginia, I lived the farm life. I dehorned cattle, birthed calves, and baled hay. I was a member of Future Farmers of America and raised cattle for fair.

But when we relocated to China it was an entirely different world. I went to school with kids from all over the world; my high school class had 56 kids who represented 40-some nationalities.

How did exposure to that wider world affect you?
The kids in my international school had parents who were diplomats and CEOs. They were go-getters and high achievers. Those examples made me more ambitious; I felt less restricted and my horizon became broader.

Your father played an important role in your life. What’s one thing he taught you that helps you now?
My father saw my stubbornness and taught me that I could either lean into it and use it as a strength—or I could be stubborn for stubborn’s sake and let it derail me.

I’m grateful that he underscored the importance of grit. I’m not smarter than a lot people but I’ve been successful in part because I’m confident I can outwork or outlast just about anyone.

What do you do professionally?
My first degree was in finance. For five or six years I worked for a company that was a contractor’s licensing school. But I soon realized that I would benefit from more education. Even though the law or an MBA were natural extensions of my finance degree, I was drawn to the life sciences.

The body amazes me; it’s a world in and of itself. So I landed in pharmacy. That was rather ironic because my goal is to get people of medicine. (I think that stems in part from my exposure to eastern medicine.)

What I do now melds my business background with my pharmacy degree. I work in Worker’s Compensation and help develop programs to optimize the health care arena—especially around medications. In essence, I’m tackling the opioid epidemic.

What’s something you’re proud of?
At this point in my life, what I’m most proud of is the family that Angelina and I have made—and continue to create. It’s not perfect but in my mind and heart, it’s perfect for us.

We wanted to have a bigger family but we had a few miscarriages. We’re very grateful that our first pregnancy brought the treasure that is Aurora.

What’s one of your core values?
Honesty. That stems from my dad.

I was a teenager, came home late, and lied about where I’d been. It was the most disappointed with me that I remember him ever being—and I’ve never forgotten that.

I tell our daughter regularly that she might share something with me that I find upsetting but that I love her no matter what. I want her to always talk to us openly and honestly.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
It’s ok to make mistakes if I learn from the experience. (Hopefully any mistake won’t completely change the trajectory of my life.)

People and situations don’t always work out the way I might want so I have to figure out how to roll with what happens. I try to give myself grace and extend that to others, as well.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
For this conversation I’ll say my family. I grew up with loving, affectionate parents who allowed me to learn things on my own terms. They provided a safety net and support but didn’t insist on telling me how to go about things.

I’m also grateful to have a brother who’s one of my best friends. And he lives in Tucson! It’s such a small world that his wife’s mother is an Episcopal priest who knows Fr Robert.

What’s one of your super powers?
I have a high degree of empathy which helps me meet people where they are.

Do you have a hobby?
I do! I’ve always loved rocks but have fallen in love with amber recently. I’m fascinated by the inclusions within the resins and the little microcosms of what existed at the time the insect or the mushroom petrified. There are scientists who study the past through the lens of amber. The thing I enjoy about amber is that each piece is unique.

When Aurora and I go on walks we almost always return home with a rock in each of our pockets. She has a rock garden from all our excursions.

What’s something you dream of doing one day?
I would love to go on an archeological dig. As a kid, Indiana Jones was my hero. Aurora shares my interest, and I would love to take her to Egypt or Israel for a biblical dig. That would be fascinating!

Would you tell readers about the special outings you have with your daughter?
Aurora and I go out on daddy-daughter dates. And I do this so she learns how she should be treated.

She loves to dress up for our dates. I open the car door for her and pull out her chair at the restaurant. It’s a special time for us to be together, and I hope it’s creating memories for her.