Life, for me, hasn't been easy. I have had many obstacles to overcome along the way. Simply put - I was one of these kids. I have experienced many of the same problems that our resident teens face. However, I never had the opportunity to attend such an amazing therapeutic boarding school. I struggled for many years before tackling my demons. Fortunately, I was able to recognize my faults, and with the help of others I sought and received the guidance I needed in order to succeed.

That is precisely the reason I am here -- to give the residents everything I've got -- the wisdom I have gained by learning from my mistakes, my strong work ethic, my love for the outdoors and animals, my love for sports, my love of photography, my love of Maine, and family values. I am passionate about my time spent at Ironwood, and I know that when I pull up that dirt road every day I am not just coming to work, I am answering a calling -- to give back what has been given to me.

The end of Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken has always meant a great deal to me:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

My mother taught me that, and it has stuck with me ever since. Now I look back on all my struggles early in life, and realize that they were actually a blessing. I didn't understand that then, but as time has moved on I know that those difficult times are what shaped me as a man, as a husband, and as a father.