Heading West From Visit to Buffalo, NY Feb. 1976

“Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.” AE

After reading this, you might think, I’ve not been around long enough to experience all I have told about myself, but I have. I have certificates, photos and friends to validate everything I have written here. At age 17 in 1975, three days after my final high school exam, I left Buffalo, NY where I was born. I ventured 2000 miles west to NW Wyoming. New York never felt like “home”. It was my start on a path of my lifelong adventure. I’m first generation American. Born of Polish parents who both went through forced labor during WWII. Despite the demons that haunted them from wartime experiences and memories, they instilled in me a strong work ethic, integrity, honesty and values. They were ingrained in me from an early age. For that, I am eternally grateful. I arrived in Cody, WY. June of 1975, and as the song goes, it was like “Coming home to a place he’d never been before.”

At 16, I started riding Bulls and Saddle Bronc’s in Western New York and Ontario, Canada. Rodeo just got into my blood. Once I came west, it didn’t take long for the Rocky Mountains to adopt me. Though I rodeo’d all around the United States, I always called Cody, WY home base. I grew and learned a great deal there. Cody, in the mid 70’s having a population of around 5000 and being a tourist town, had a variety of seasonal work and it still does. At a young age, I became adept and many things and acquired a variety of skills. I immersed myself in everything I did and excelled at everything I put my mind to.

Posing For Jim Bama 1976

Seymore, TX Jackpot Bullriding 1976

Breckenridge, TX Rodeo 1976

For the next eight years, I worked ranches, guided hunting and fishing trips, worked in every aspect of construction, (I started with an uncle at age 13 in New York). I worked in both commercial and residential building. I expanded my knowledge of the building trades when I apprenticed with a plumber and electrician for a combined period of three years.

Penrod 115 Last Rig I Worked 1981

Four Mile Certificate given for Deep Hole Exploration 1981

Touching Off A Shot. I’m under the Bulldozer 1980

For a period of time, I had a Class C Blasters License when working in an open pit gypsum mine for a combined year and a half on the outskirts of Cody. When other work was scarce, I worked oil and uranium rigs. In commercial construction, I operated  heavy equipment. Big boy toys. Cranes, backhoes and bull dozers. Between 1978-79, I attended Sul Ross State University on a Rodeo Scholarship as a pre-vet major in equine sciences with an emphasis in horse shoeing. Wyoming just tugged at my heart strings and West Texas became a fond memory. In September of 1981, I worked my last oil rig and started a construction business after we completed a wildcat well.

In the summer of 1982, I passed a five hour exam based on the Uniform Building Codes book. I received my General Contractors License on  in the fall of 1982 and hung out my shingle for business. I transitioned out of construction and returned to complete my studies at Montana State University_Bozeman in the fall of 1989. I stayed in the construction industry while putting myself through school until 1991. I sub-contracted my services to a cabinet shop and worked out a agreement to teach an individual interested in getting into construction how to build homes from the ground up, the way I learned. I had the privilege to work with very skilled craftsman in all disciplines of construction in my lifetime. I learned construction the “Old School” way, by apprenticing in every trade for a period of time. Between 1985-89, I rebuild my parents home after it burned and took care of my father until he passed. Spring of 1985 was the year my father found he had a terminal illness and their home burned that fall. Keeping my family obligations and clients happy on both ends of the country for four years, took its toll on me. In the summer of 1989 I had applied and was accepted to MSU-Bozeman, MT. I graduated Phi Kappa Phi, with a B.A. in Media Theater Arts-Photography in 1993. After graduating, I had enough clients for a part time photography business.

Hagen Remodel, Cody, WY 1985

Krevo Custom Home Powell, WY 1986

Custom Built-In Computer Desk. Buffalo, NY 1987

Custom Built Stairs and Railing. Buffalo, NY 1987

Photography was a big part of my life ever since 1971 when I received my first camera (which I still have). I’d reinvented myself many times and gained valuable experience with each venture I pursued.

Photoshop Expertise

Eyeware Company Contract, North Carolina 2008.

Magazine Modeling Contract 2010

Human Kinetics Publishing Contract 1993 Cover Shot + 105 Land based and 74 Underwater Images.

Creating Latex Molds of Rock Faces. 1995-96

Casting Lewis & Clark Artifacts

From 1993-2003, I also built a wide variety of museum exhibits at the Museum of The Rockies in Bozeman.

I met my wife in Bozeman in 1992. Twenty four years and still going strong! Both of our sons, Daniel and Michael were born there. We left Bozeman in March 2003 and headed to the north Oregon Coast where I started a photography studio. After five years, a great deal of yearly rain, nine employees, and average of fifteen thousand people through the studio a year, we sold the studio in November of 2007 and made a decision to move back to the Rockies. I introduced my wife to Fort Collins, a place I’d been visiting since the early 80’s and she fell in love with it. In 2013, I decided to acquire my real estate licence and use my background in construction and  photography to assist people in selling and purchasing properties. In the timeless words of Joe Walsh, “Life’s been good so far!” I’ve lived life and have had very few regrets.

I’ve been around the Real Estate world in several capacities since 1978. Today I use my knowledge and background in several disciplines to benefit those who work with me as their Real Estate Broker. I work with my clients exclusively either as a Sellers Agent or a Buyers Agent. Only as a Transaction Broker, when it benefits both parties involved.

• I was a small business owner of three different businesses,  Horseshoeing 3 years, Construction, 20+ years and Photography for 15 years.

• Started in construction at age fourteen. I worked and/or apprenticed in every single trade in the construction business from operating heavy equipment to building furniture. I have photos to back up all my statements.
• A general contractor on residential and light commercial projects for 9 years
• Fifteen years as a full time professional photographer. I built, operated and sold a profitable, successful studio before I relocated my family back to Fort Collins in 2007.
• Happily married for 27 years with two sons ages 24 and 19.

I am an Associate Broker at HomeSmart Realty Partners of Colorado. I strive in making the process of selling or buying a home a great experience. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, give me a call at 970.631.3360. I’ll be happy to sit down with you, see if we are a good fit for each other. If not, I’ll point you in the right direction to help you reach your goal.