1.How or when did you develop a love for numbers?

I think it’s something that some people have naturally. As a kid, I was always able to add numbers up in my head really well. Surprisingly, I wasn’t really good at math. But it was a class at Archbishop Wood High School with the legendary accounting teacher Frank Boyle that made me realize that I liked accounting and I was actually good at it.

2. Tell me a little about your career before coming to La Salle?

After working for a few CPA firms, a small accounting firm in Center City, and then at KPMG, I went back to a small firm in Bucks County where I got into teaching by accident. My cousin was teaching accounting full-time at Delaware County Community College. As she was going on maternity leave, she asked if I wanted to fill in teaching for a business math course. I continued teaching part-time there and at Delaware Valley College until I got in full-time at Wilmington College where I taught accounting for seven years.

3. What brought you back to La Salle to teach?

My brothers and I had such great experiences at La Salle as I went here, I wrestled here, I was in a fraternity, and we had a great group of friends. I figured if I was going to teach, I wanted to teach at La  Salle where I went to school. Over the years, I stayed in touch with Brother Gerry Fitzgerald, Paul Brazina, and MarySheila McDonald and I am very thankful to them, as well as Jeannie Welsh for hiring me.

4. Who has been the biggest influence/mentor in your life?

Honestly, there’s not one person. Throughout my life I’ve had great mentors who give great advice— my parents, my brothers, and my wife have always been great supporters of me, as well as many friends, coaches, and teachers. Professionally, there have always been people wherever I worked and here at La  Salle: Jeannie Welsh, Kristin Wentzel, Susan Borkowski, Al Massimini, Bruce Leauby, Brother Gerry Fitzgerald, Paul Brazina, and MarySheila McDonald have all been so good to me and helped me become a better teacher.

5. When you think back on your time as a student at La Salle, what stands out the most to you?

The friends that I made and the impact of the Christian Brothers and the professors I had over the years. Being an accounting major, the professors were excellent. I remember as a senior watching Al Massimini and thinking “wow, he’s having fun and he has a great job!” The education I received was practical and focused on real life application. Many of the Brothers gave up their lives to help young people and really made a positive impact on the campus life at La Salle. As I reflect back on my days at La Salle and think of all the students that I knew when I was here, I know that you’d be really hard-pressed to find a La  Salle graduate who isn’t doing well for themselves. It’s pretty impressive.

6. If your students could leave your classroom only retaining one lesson, what would you want it to be?

Help others. There will be people who will need help or advice and that will be your opportunity to help them. I try to take a lot of accounting topics and relate them to personal finance and tell them that as accounting majors they understand the numbers better than anyone else. Take that knowledge and useit to help someone else. It will be the best work that you ever do.

7. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

Moana and Wonder Woman with my 6th grade daughter and the rest of the family.

8. What websites do you frequent the most?

The La Salle website. Also, City of Basketball Love as that site covers high school basketball, La  Salle basketball, and the Big 5.

9. If you couldn’t have gone into accounting, what else would you have wanted to do?

When I was coming out of high school, I wanted to be a high school teacher and a wrestling coach. But it was tough to get a job teaching and I really liked accounting so I went that route. Things came full circle and I eventually got to where I wanted to be. I am very fortunate that I got the opportunity to get into teaching and I ended up getting back to La Salle.

10. Do you enjoy sports? If so, what’s your favorite team?

I am a big sports fan and my family is originally from Upstate New York. We grew up watching the Giants, so I am a Giants fan. I usually take some abuse for that around here. However, I rooted for the Eagles in the Super Bowl. It is really great for Philadelphia.