Being born and raised in Tullahoma has been a great blessing! Being a smaller town has many advantages, such as knowing and interacting with young and older people at school, church, and in community groups. The Tullahoma City Schools provided an excellent education. My time making music with the Tullahoma High School Band and Jazz Band was a time of hard work, good friendships, and great memories. My journey to becoming an Eagle Scout started in 1st grade and continued into 12th grade under many great Scout leaders of Troop 402. Becoming an Eagle Scout brought opportunities for outdoor high adventures at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico and Glacier National Park in Montana. Being Crew Leader on those trips and executing my Eagle Project for 5 Loaves 4 Kids taught me the skills of making a good plan, leading younger scouts, and serving others while training them in hiking, camping, and loving the outdoors.
Through both Boy Scouts and being in the dental lab at my dad’s office, I learned that I liked working with my hands and creating useful things. Now I create smiles!! I hung out after school in the office while my mom was working up front, filing charts and cutting the grass. I even attended the Tennessee Dental Association meetings as a child and saw dentists who pursued excellence through continuing education.
In the 12 years after I left Tullahoma at the end of high school, I pursued my career path with 9 years of school! So I spent 4 years in Arkansas, 4 years in Memphis, and 1 year in San Antonio. I wanted to learn more of the specialized techniques usually referred out to dental specialists so a residency provided the opportunity to do complex cases. I was able to put that experience to work in Alamosa, CO where dental specialists are rare. Soon, I was referred the difficult oral surgery and molar root canals that the other dentists did not want to do. This saved our patients from having to travel 2 1/2 hours over a mountain pass to go to the nearest large town. Due to our remote location that was known for its poverty level, the third and fourth-year dental students from Denver would come for 3-week rotations to gain new experiences. As their clinical instructor, I enjoyed seeing them develop confidence in their work and experience how to communicate well with patients. Having tutored other students when I was in high school, college, and dental school, I enjoyed this teaching opportunity where I could help others experience the art of dental practice. Dentistry is an ever-changing art, mixing science, technology, physiology, business, and communication into a positive patient experience so I remain dedicated to learning the latest techniques in dentistry. I watched my father pursue this level of excellence and know this is an important part of providing high-quality dental care, just like my father did.
When I am away from the office, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and our two children. My hobbies include photography, hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, reading, and learning anything that piques my interest. But most of all, I love simply being with friends and loved ones. One fun fact about myself: I am 6 foot 5 inches tall!