- Jun 22, 2025
My Dad. Popcorn, Road Trips, and Wisdom.
As I reflect on this recent Father’s Day, my dad is the one I talk to most about how my business is going. He’s retired now, but he still calls on the way to the golf course to check in. His advice always cuts through the noise. It doesn’t matter that I’m doing something completely different from what he ever did. He understands what it takes to build something from scratch. And to finish.
Early Roots: Grit and Pride
My dad grew up in rural Oklahoma in the 1950s. He still speaks “Okie,” as he likes to call it, and he’s always been proud of his background. He served in the Army, went to Vietnam, and came home with a quiet strength that shows up in everything he does. His humor is quick, sarcastic, and very funny. He razzes people, keeps the room moving, and somehow engages every stranger in a real conversation. Taxi drivers, airplane seat neighbors, new employees—he turns small talk into something better.
Ask how he’s doing and he’ll say, “Peachy.” Or “Adequate,” because there’s always room to improve.
Family and Foundations
Growing up, my mom was the nurturer. My dad brought the structure. He was firm, funny, and always in motion. We weren’t allowed to sit around. We were outside walking, biking, and moving. He made us do monster walks through the woods, pointing out every tree by name. As a former logger, he knew them all. That rhythm of movement and storytelling became part of who we were.
Our summers were the best. We packed into the van and drove across the country to visit family in Arizona, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. Long drives filled with snacks, maps, cassette tapes, and stories. I didn’t realize it then, but those long hours together shaped so much of who we are. He always made sure we stayed connected to our roots.
He also loved taking the whole family to the drive-in movies. He was—and still is—obsessed with popcorn. We would fill two brown paper grocery bags full and head to the show. Those summer nights felt like magic.
One thing I’ll never forget. When I went through my divorce and everything in my life cracked open, he looked at me and said, “When a family has problems, we circle the wagons. That’s just what family does.” No judgment. No questions. Just steady love and action.
Grief and Grace
In 1992, our family lost my brother, Eric. He was just eighteen. My dad’s only son. It changed everything. My dad doesn’t talk about it much, but he carries it every day. You can feel it. He doesn’t retreat from the pain. He holds it without letting it harden him. That quiet strength shaped me more than any words could.
Work Ethic and Second Chances
My dad has been a lifelong entrepreneur. For many years, he ran a successful logging company. But when I was a teenager, he had to declare bankruptcy due to shifting foresting regulations. I remember the day he gathered his staff and told them the business was closing.
But it wasn’t the end. He started over. He saw that computers and technology would be the future and taught himself everything from scratch. He drove an hour to Portland to teach night classes and do consulting. Sometimes he slept in our camper van so he could make job interviews the next morning. Eventually, we moved to Portland.
Finally, he launched a software company that grew into a multi-million dollar business. I worked alongside him for 25 years, along with my sisters and other family members. They were some of the best years of my life. I learned more than I could have imagined. I was proud to be the President’s daughter.
Still Here, Still Showing Up
My dad and I talk often. He’s my advisor now. We talk business, life, and everything in between. Even though my business is nothing like the software company we built together, his insights still help. He gets it. He cheers me on. He keeps me focused on removing obstacles, staying on track, and crossing the finish line.
He and my mom still travel from Oregon to California a couple of times a year. He pushes them both to stay active, to keep moving, to keep living fully.
For Father’s Day
My dad doesn’t ask for the spotlight. But he’s earned it. He showed me what it looks like to start over and succeed. To raise a family. To lead with strength and humility. To stay focused, keep going, and never give up.
Happy Father’s Day to my dad. You are loved, appreciated, and one of the biggest reasons I keep going.
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