I was bit by the iron bug as a teenager and was hooked after my first workout... Childhood bodybuilding inspirations - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sergio Oliva, Casey Viator, Mike Mentzer, Francesco 'Franco' Columbu, Dorian Yates; Power lifting inspirations - Rickey Dale Crain, Edward "Ed" Ignatius Coan, Chris 'The Machine' Confessore, and 'Dr. Squat' Dr. Fred Hatfield... Additionally, no list would be complete without mentioning two amazing lifters: strongmen & olympic weightlifters Douglas Ivan Hepburn and Paul Anderson.

I entered my first Bench Press Competition in the US Air Force in 2001 while deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia - Placed 2nd;

Shortly after I achieved a raw 400 lb paused bench and the rest is history for me... Thus, my love for powerlifting began...

The challenge of continually striving to improve physical attributes, strength and power...