Occupation: I am an account manager working in Hudson Valley, N.Y., for Hilti, an international company that develops and markets specialized tools and fastening systems for the commercial building industry. It’s kind of a small niche.

Family: My wife, Kim, and I have been married almost 22 years. We have two kids, Ryan, a senior at Newtown High School, and Kirsten, a sophomore.

Pets: We have a dog named Toby. He’s a shepard hound mix we got from DAWS in Danbury. He’s a sweet, gentle dog, a really good pooch.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We have been in town since 1995.

What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy attending my kids’ athletic events. Both play soccer and both are on the track team, and Ryan was on the dive team this year. I enjoy skiing, hiking, and all of the outdoors, in general. But the thing I most enjoy is fishing. Freshwater or salt water, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been fishing since I was a kid and it has stayed with me.

Do you have a favorite fishing hole? I fish Taunton Lake a lot and the Housatonic River, just catch and release. I went deep sea fishing in Hawaii a few years ago and that was pretty exciting. We caught a big mahi-mahi tuna fish, and that was a lot of fun.

Do you have a favorite vacation destination? We have family and friends in California, so we try to go there at least once a year. We really enjoy the sandy beaches of California with the mountains that rise up behind them. It makes a pretty backdrop. And we love the coast of Maine around Wells Beach and Ogunquit.

Have you noticed any changes in Newtown since you moved here? I actually like all of the new small businesses that have cropped up. The little places in the center of Sandy Hook are real nice and all of the shops and restaurants on Route 25 give more variety and interest to living here.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The best thing is the great people here. They have a very giving and caring attitude. If you’re ever in need, people are there to help in many ways. The town has a lot of good people who care about their friends and neighbors.

If you could do one thing you have never done, what would that be? I would love to pilot a fighter jet, or any fast jet. That would be the ultimate thrill, going Mach 2 or something.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Keep growing and find many small ways to keep giving.

What is the most important lesson you have learned? The secret is not what you can get out of life, but what you can give to life. We all come into the world and leave this world with nothing. It’s what you do during your life that makes a difference.