Occupation: I am a real estate agent along with my wife, Richelle, here in town since 2001. We're affiliated with Coldwell Banker on South Main Street.

Family: Richelle and I have one daughter, Kimberley, and a grandson, William. Kimberley and William live close by in Oxford.

Pets: We have a Maine Coon cat named Gracie. For 12 wonderful years, we had a Wheaten terrier affectionately known as "Riley The Real Estate Dog." Sadly, we just lost Riley and our home feels empty without him. We have decided that we are going to eventually get a new Wheaten terrier. We have contacted the Wheaten Rescue.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved to Newtown in 2000 from Long Island. We used to visit friends who lived here and fell in love with the beauty of the area. We decided to escape the rat race and enjoy a better quality of life. It was a great decision for us.

What do you like to do in your free time? I really enjoy relaxing with family and friends over a great meal. I also enjoy motorcycling in the better weather and going to the Elephant's Trunk, flea markets, antique stores, tag sales, etc. I am always on the hunt for interesting things.

Do you have a favorite book? I tend to read books about real estate, business, and home improvements. Also, I love books about cars and collectibles.

We tend to limit our travel to long weekends within a reasonable driving distance from home. We have always enjoyed trips to Mystic, Conn., as we like being near the water and enjoying the touristy shops and restaurants. We are planning a family vacation for this summer with my daughter, grandson, and my mother-in-law. I am really looking forward to spending quality family time together.What is your favorite travel destination?

What is the best part about Newtown? It's definitely the people. Newtown has a wonderfully spirited community that you just don't find in other towns. We have so many people who genuinely care for each other and are able to rally in support of all kinds of worthy causes. Currently, we are involved with the Newtown Board of Realtors Donation Day at the Pound. It amazes me the number of donations this event receives, and I believe it reflects the good nature of the people who live here in town.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? Richelle has been the greatest influence in my life. She is smart, funny, caring, and a great partner. She keeps me grounded and supports me in whatever I do.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My paternal grandfather, Edmond Ward, who passed away before I was born. I have always heard great stories about him and what he accomplished during his lifetime. One of his favorite sayings was "The harder you work, the luckier you get." He was a first generation American, born of Irish immigrant parents, and he had an eighth grade education. He ended up running one of the largest companies in the United States called American District Telegraph, which was at a time when people were using telegrams as a quick way to communicate.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I listen to a very wide range of music. I recently purchased a collection of Beatles CDs and while listening to them, I realized that they've been my absolute favorite since I was a young kid. My mother took my sister and me to Idlewild Airport [JFK] to greet the Beatles on their arrival to the United States.

Do you have a favorite TV show? American Pickers and Storage Wars are tied for my favorite TV shows. You never know what treasures they're going to find.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? Over the years, I have heard the expression "Happy wife - happy life" many times from various people and have always laughed because I find a lot of truth in it.