What is your background?: I was born in Mexico, Missouri and served in the United States Marine Corps. My initial academic journey began at Pima Community College, where I earned an Associate’s degree in General Studies with an emphasis on culinary arts and a certificate in Hotel Food & Beverage Management in 1996. I continued my education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earning both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Hotel Administration (2006 and 2008). I completed my Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University in 2014, focusing on food safety procedures at public food cook-off competitions.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: After 30+ years in the hospitality industry and academia, I decided to make a career pivot toward technology. I chose Kirkwood Community College because of its strong technical programs and dual degree options. Living in Cedar Rapids made Kirkwood a practical choice, and the college’s reputation for quality technical education aligned perfectly with my goals for a mid-career transition. The flexibility of their programs allowed me to build on my existing skills while developing entirely new ones in the software development field.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: I’m currently pursuing dual degrees in Computer Software Development and Web Application Development, along with certifications in Java Programming and .NET Programming. What interests me most about these programs is how they blend creativity with logical problem-solving. My background in hospitality management and food safety research involved a lot of systems thinking and process improvement, which translates well to software development. I’m particularly excited about applying these skills to real-world projects like my current development of PatriotThanks.com.
PatriotThanks.com is a web application and mobile app I’m developing to help active-duty military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses locate local businesses that offer discounts and special incentives. The platform also benefits participating businesses by increasing their visibility among these communities while demonstrating their support. This project allows me to combine my technical education with my passion for supporting fellow veterans.
Are you involved in anything else on campus? If so, what and why?: As a Marine Corps veteran, I’m actively involved in Kirkwood’s Veterans Association. The club provides a valuable support network for veterans transitioning to student life and offers a space where we can connect regardless of branch (yes, even the Air Force is welcome!). There’s always good humor shared between service branches – and yes, free crayons for us Marines! The Veteran’s Association has been instrumental in helping me connect with other student veterans while navigating this career change.
What do you do for fun?: When I’m not studying or working on PatriotThanks.com, I enjoy cooking (as evidenced by my cookbook series “Doc Bear’s Comfort Food Survival Guide”), outdoor activities, and exploring technology. I’m also a certified BBQ judge through the Kansas City BBQ Society! Reading technical blogs and participating in coding challenges have become new hobbies as I’ve immersed myself in the tech world. I still maintain connections with the hospitality industry through my food safety training business, Doc Bear Enterprises.
Beyond these pursuits, I’m also known in my community for occasionally donning the red suit to play Santa for special needs children during the holiday season. This volunteer work has become one of my most rewarding activities, allowing me to bring joy to children who need extra support while giving back to the community that has supported me throughout my various career transitions.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: In five years, I see myself working as a full-stack developer with PatriotThanks.com fully launched and serving communities nationwide. I aim to create a sustainable platform that makes a meaningful difference for both service members and the businesses that support them. Beyond that specific project, I’m interested in developing other applications that bridge my hospitality/food safety expertise with technology solutions. The combination of my extensive industry knowledge and new technical skills puts me in a unique position to create specialized solutions across sectors. I also hope to continue teaching in some capacity, perhaps as an adjunct instructor for programming courses or conduct specialized workshops that combine my expertise in various fields.