Prior to entering real estate, I was in computer programming and worked for IBM Australia, Qantas Airlines, DeHavilland Aircraft and Canadian Tire. Some of the programming projects included how much fuel to load into planes, how to track wiring in planes being constructed and the programming and running of a computerized inventory system.

In 1984, I started in real estate. Interest rates were around 14% and the Orangeville semis were selling for $55,000. Early in 1985, interest rates dropped down to 12 % and the real estate market started to move. This lead to the great price increases that we saw in the late 80's as those same semis sold as high as $165,000. During this time, real estate sales went crazy and in 1988 and 1989 I averaged almost a sale per week.

In 1990, I opened my own office and took on a broker's role. (Talk about terrible timing - the recession was just coming down the road.) During the next 7 years, the price of those semis would drop down to about $125,000. The real awakening was the fact that sales decrease as prices fall. There were a lot of people who may have wanted to sell or move but they did not have any equity in their homes.

By 1997, prices started to turn around and prices have since climbed to about $135,000. Activity has picked up with the price increases (and the incredible interest rates).

In 1999, I decided to sell my business (to RE/MAX Select Realty) and go back into selling full time. Not having to run the office has freed up an incredible amount of time and energy and I am now able to do a lot more things that I wanted to do (including developing my own website).

I am past President of the local Lions club and am involved in a lot of Lion activities. One of the projects is the maintaining of the former railway lines for recreational use. This is of particular interest to me as I am a keen mountain bike rider as I use the tracks for shorter rides.

My main method of exercise is bike riding. I have been fortunate enough to do some incredible biking in the last couple of years. In 1997, I was at Laguna Beach in California (south of L.A.) and biked in the canyons in the area. In 1998, we drove to Arizona and on the return trip I had some great biking in Utah and Colorado. Locally, I do my biking in the Hockley Valley area, Mono Centre and north of Primrose. I feel lucky to live near such good bike trails.

Professionally, I have been serving the local real estate industry for 15 years. Over that period of time I had sold about every type of property in the Orangeville, Shelburne, Dundalk areas. Some times I will branch further afield and I've sold properties from Markdale to Mississauga and Bolton. Beyond that, I have done referral business from Ottawa to Thunder Bay.

I always try to give my vendors and purchasers the best service possible. Being in a smaller town, I'm probably going to bump into you in the grocery or hardware store or at the soccer field and I prefer that you tell me that I did a good job.