Born in the USA

My parents each fled dictatorship in Cuba but did not meet until they both were living in New York City. They met, fell in love and were married. Of their four children: Maritza, Moises, Margaret and Michelle, I was the second oldest.

The family moved a number of times in the first years of my life, but by the time I was six, my father got a job at the Sands Hotel, joined the Culinary Union and found a home for our family.

 

 

At Home in College Park

We settled into a home in the original College Park subdivision. It was from that home that I walked to Tom Williams Elementary School. Later I went through Von Tobel Junior High and then on to Rancho High School. For over thirty years, I have lived in the same neighborhood. My mother and father live just blocks away, and my wife Susan's parents live just as close.

 

 

Scouting and Music

In school I developed a love for scouting and joined the Boy Scouts of America. I earned my Eagle Scout Award when I was 13. That love of scouting has stayed with me. I've helped out, served as a Varsity Scout coach for scout activities, and I chaired the Urban Emphasis Training to help scouting reach out to youngsters in our older, more urban areas. I was honored to receive the Tomahawk District Award of Merit for my service.

 

My other love was music. I sang in the Rancho High School Choir and played piano, guitar, bass guitar and percussion. I've sung with the Bluthe Chorale, and my friends and I formed bands, playing everything from rock to bluegrass. I still sing in church choir, and our children join Susan and I around the piano.

 

 

Starting a Family

After high school, I attended BYU where I met Susan, which was the best thing that happened to me during college. We've been married for nearly twenty five years and have five children: Diana, Dustin, Daniel, Denae and Dallin. With our oldest daughter marraige we have a new son our son-in-law Kylle Gayle. Our newest addition is Milo our dog.

 

All five of our children attend public school or have graduated from public schools, and we volunteer hours of our time at school. The Clark County School District placed us in the Parent Hall of Fame for our efforts. I served as PTA President at C.C. Ronnow from 1996-1998 and from 2000-2001. Currently I serve as the President of the Nevada PTA.

Working for Better Education

Because I believe education is so important, I accepted an appointment from Governor Bob Miller to the Nevada Commission on Educational Technology, which I chaired. Governor Kenny Guinn has since re-appointed me to the committee. Since 1994 I have been a director, treasurer or board member of the Nevada PTA and was awarded a Nevada PTA Life Membership in 2001.

My belief in the importance of education led me to support our public libraries. Councilman Bob Nolan originally appointed me to the Clark County Library Board of Trustees, and Councilman Gary Reese re-appointed me. I served on this Board for eight years, four years in leadership positions, including one year as Chairman of the Board. During that time, I was appointed Regional Vice President of the American Library Trustees and Advocates Association.

Because of my heritage, I am also fluent in Spanish. I volunteer time in my church and in the community to serve as a translator.

I also volunteered as an assistant soccer coach, basketball coach and served on a fundraising campaign for the American Heart Association. I was appointed by Councilman Reese to serve on the Community Development Block Grant Committee to help many of the worthwhile non-profit organizations that work in our neighborhoods. I have served on that committee for six years.

On the Job

I began working with computers, programming and software when I worked for Valley Bank of Nevada. In 1989 I switched to Datanamics where I was a software support analyst for five years. I've worked as a computer technician for the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada since 1994. In that job, I keep their complex network of computers running, but I have nothing to do with the policy or rate-setting functions of the PUC.

Finally, I also found time to return to college and in April of 2004 I completed my bachelors degree in music.