Occupation: I’m a veterinarian technician and office manager at Easton Veterinary.

Family: My wife is Linnea, and we have a daughter, Stephanie, who is 14 years old.

Pets: I have two cats, Mr Jynx and Lily. Mr Jynx is a black, longhaired cat, and Lily is a gray short hair. And we have four fish.

How long have you lived here? I’ve lived in Sandy Hook since April of 1997.

What do you like to do in your free time? I go hiking and geo-caching, and try to go camping a lot. I like kayaking. I’m captain of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company. I do like to read, and I like watching NASCAR.

What are you reading currently? I’m reading Terry Pratchett books. He has a fantasy series called Discworld. I like Stephen King, and most recently I finished the Gunslinger series.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I like Costa Rica. It has clear, warm water, and fresh fruit. My brother won a trip for four, and took us. This past January, we went to Disney World, and I wouldn’t mind going back there.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I like the close-knit fire departments and how they interact. It’s one reason I moved up here from Stratford. I like the volunteer companies and smaller community.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My father always took us to the fire department in Branford. He was a firefighter, and so was my uncle, so I followed suit. Workwise, I think one of the doctors I used to work with, Dr Mullen at Guilford Veterinary, was a big influence. He was easy to talk to and taught me a lot.

Did you have a favorite toy, growing up? It’s got to be Match Box cars, because I still collect them. I probably have a few hundred.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? When I have time to get away from civilization for a while, out in the woods.