February 8, 2023

Board of Regents

Birthplace: Terre Haute, Indiana

Where did you go to college, and what was your major?
Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Business, University of Notre Dame with an MBA

Where do you currently work? Tell us about your current role.
I am the Chief Investment Officer at Rush University Medical Center. I lead a team that manages the hospital’s long-term investment pools of capital. Not-for-profit institutions have a saying: “no margin, no mission.” The more funds we can generate from investments, the more resources the hospital has to meet its mission—delivering outstanding patient care.

What are your passions or hobbies outside of work?
Over the years, basketball has been replaced with golf and gym workouts have been replaced with playing poker—activities that require less endurance. When we travel, I do enjoy hiking to parts unknown and experiencing what nature has to offer.

When you were in high school, what were your favorite activities outside the classroom?
Any sport, but primarily playing basketball. My first job in high school was an attendant at a full-service gas station. The owner sold me a fast muscle car so avoiding tickets from the police to and from school was a favorite pastime.

What is your favorite place to travel to? What do you like to do there?
I enjoy travelling to places with outdoor activities (water or mountains) or with a rich history and culture. We are so fortunate to have some amazing national parks here in the U.S. and places like Yellowstone and Zion have so much to see and explore. I am still making my way through the different European countries, but Italy stands out for its incredible history, iconic churches, and fantastic food.

Who is the person who made the greatest impact on your life growing up? How did they help shape you?
My parents—my values, interests, work ethic, and most importantly, faith, were all molded by how I was raised.

How did you get connected to Mercy Home?
Fellow board member, Danny Nicholas, introduced me to Mercy Home. I wasn’t familiar with the Home, so he gave me a copy of Fr. Scott’s book, Years of Mercy. The stories really moved me, and I wanted to find a way to help. I started as a volunteer tutor and got to know some of the people and witness firsthand its mission. Those experiences confirmed for me that Mercy Home was special.

Why is the mission of Mercy Home important to you?
Too many of this city’s youth have been dealt a bad hand through no fault of their own. Being part of Mercy Home provides me the opportunity to do something about it. The love, support, and in many cases, food and shelter they provide some of our city’s most disadvantaged kids is a blessing.

What do you consider to be your proudest accomplishment?
My wife and daughter. I have a very supportive wife and our daughter reflects the best in both of us—and then some.

What would you like your legacy at Mercy Home to be?
I prefer to focus on the present and doing what I can now to help. Mercy Home has been taking care of children for over a century. Whatever I can do now to ensure it can continue that mission for another hundred years is what is important to me.