1990s to Present

The 1990s started in celebration with my marriage to Mary. The decade also started with a great deal of positive energy and direction. As well, the 90s included some major personal challenges that re-shaped me in major ways.

Since I remarried, building a relationship with my boys has taken some hard work, and mostly patience on all our parts. We had our share of struggles. I am pleased to say that things are much better now. For that, I am very grateful.

Initially, Mary and I lived in an cheerful apartment on Fairmount Boulevard in Shaker Heights. In 1991, we bought the Miramar house, near John Carroll University in University Heights. It was a wonderful house. Mary created magnificant flower gardens around the house.

For Christmas 1991, I gave Mary two new kittens from the same litter (Murphy and Holly), who were with us until Holly died in 2004 and Murphy died in 2005. Each added so much joy to our lives.

In 1992, I reconnected with Derk Janssen, my UA roommate. Derk and I had not seen each other since 1972. We stepped back into a wonderful friendship that is every bit a good as the one we had in our Tucson days.

In 1993, I began to sense some profound changes were taking place inside me. I had a "longing" that I wasn't able to satisfy through my career or other endeavors. This longing was to "know who I am in a spiritual sense," which goes back to my spiritual calling during my childhood. Click here and you can read about this journey.

Mary's career and mine continued to grow in positive and rewarding directions. Mary received promotions at the Clinic and I took on new responsibilities at Cleveland State. In 1994, I started the Environmental Finance Center, which led to my lifelong dream to work with American Indian tribes. For 3 years, I managed a federal grant that allowed the center to provide assistance to Indian tribes in the Midwest region.

Many other positive things happened in my career. These included doing consulting work in Hungary in 1993, serving as the economic development advisor to George Voinovich in his first campaign to become Ohio Governor, writing and publishing over 40 articles, book chapters, and monographs on economic development and environmental issues, and developing and managing several major research and consulting projects with regional, state, and national clients.

Mary's parents (Ken and Ginny Rothaermel) moved back to Cleveland from Florida in 1995 because of Ken's worsening emphysema. It was wonderful having them near us. We shared a lot together.

My grandson Evan (Jeff's son) was born in 1995. With everybody's help, Evan has grown to be a wonderful boy with lots of interests and abilities. Click here to read more about Evan. Evan is now 11 years old. Jeff instantly became a wonderful father.

Jeff graduated high school in 1995. He decided to delay the start of college, and instead decided to start his own landscaping and design company. Jeff had a real feel for this business. Nature brought out his creativity, leading him to take up painting.

In 1996, Mary and I decided that we wanted "more Nature in our lives." As a result, we moved to the Deepwood house in Mayfield Village, where we still reside. It is our dream home from the standpoint of look and feel. Its spaciousness and openness are especially nice. Our backyard is a deep Woodlands forest that has a special healing feel about it. The moment we entered the house we knew this was the house for us.

Jason graduated from high school in 1998. He started college at Northern Michigan University, then later transferred to the University of Toledo where he could be with Sarah, his girlfriend from high school. While in Toledo, Jason took a job with Federal Express, where he has worked over the past 5 years.

My father-in-law Ken died in 1999 after a long battle with emphysema. He is very much missed by us. Ken was a fireman for the City of East Cleveland for many years, before he retired due to a work related disability.
Mary's Mom, Ginny, continues to live nearby and we look forward to seeing her each week. She just celebrated her 82nd birthday in December 2005.
In early 2000, I made the decision to leave Cleveland State (CSU) and build my consulting business on a fulltime basis. I felt my work at CSU had been completed.
Biggest Splash: In November 2000, Mary and I hosted 125 of our closest family members and friends at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Cleveland, Ohio) to celebrate our 50th birthdays together. It is a night we will remember and cherish our entire lives.
In 2005, Jason transferred to the University of Akron, where he is completing studies in Computer Science. Jason is doing well in his studies. Meanwhile, Jason's career at Federal Express continues to grow.
Jeff received his state and national certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 2004. He has been using these skills at the Parkman Township Fire Department over the past couple years.
In 2004, Jeff entered college at Hiram University, where he is studying Biology and Pre-Dentistry. He is doing well in his studies.
In February 2004, I reconnected with Dan Shimp, my childhood friend from Martins Ferry. It had been over 40 years since we had been in contact with each other. We have stepped back into a wonderful friendship since that reunion.
My business office is in my home. It looks out upon my wife Mary's beautiful flower garden. DTIA's front office is cozy and light. DTIA's back office and library is much larger, taking up half (900 square feet) of our basement.
Our three new kittens (Daisy, Lily, and Karma) are fully vested associates in the firm. Their job is to ensure a relaxed environment for DTIA's economic development strategy and research work.
In 2005, Mary was promoted to the position of Administrator of the Division of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She oversees the Division's 19 departments and nearly 2,300 employees.
In 2005, I published Stilling the Waters, my first book of poetry. Learn more about it here.
My consulting business continues to flourish with new projects in the Toronto area, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Indiana in 2005-2006.
My new book, Creating Leadership Advantage for Economic Development, is scheduled to be out in late April 2006. More on that later.