I am the Comptroller at the College. My day is spent accounting and reporting on the financial aspects of the College and other issues impacting that environment, such as internal controls, etc. More specifically, the Comptroller’s Office handles the collection of payroll, student accounts, tax issues and accounting and reporting for grants, gifts, the endowment and all other financial transactions. We also handle numerous surveys and audits, including the annual audit of the financial statements and report issuance.

Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?

I grew up in Needham, Mass., just west of Boston. Aside from doing whatever I could to drive my parents crazy, my free time was spent at a park close to home playing basketball, baseball and street hockey almost every day the weather allowed. I still await a call from the Celtics, but that is looking more doubtful each year. In the winter we played hockey on the ponds and threw snowballs at anything in sight. I lived in a neighborhood with numerous kids so there was always something to do. Along with a brother and sister, I also had five cousins living directly next door and my grandparents next to them, so family was always around as well. I like telling my kids about my childhood without having video games, a computer, a microwave oven, a DVD player, cordless phones or electricity at home. Don’t tell them about the electricity, I have them believing me.

What is your family like?

I am married with two sons, ages 9 and 4. My wife is a middle school teacher and is a hero for basically taking care of me. As she tells me, she is the “sunshine of my existence.” My sons are very active and these guys keep me rather busy with their sports and other antics. We enjoy golfing together as a family and playing other sports in the backyard. My oldest son enjoys beating me at basketball, chess and any video game while the younger guy seems rather happy lately terminating me with his Star Wars light-saber. But I am learning the ways of the Force, and he will ultimately face a stronger foe!

What is your favorite place in the world?

It would have to be Boston, Mass. I have some great memories from childhood and high school and love getting back there. It is such a “walkable” city with so much to offer for entertainment ... plus it is home to my beloved Red Sox. I would need to give a close second to Cape Cod since it makes my wife smile just being there. There is something to be said about hearing the waves crashing, seagulls and kids laughing; it’s good for the mind.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Not really any of a material nature. What you see is basically what you get, which goes well with this era of transparency. I can do some basic juggling and oh, I think I can name almost any popular artist/song title and most of the lyrics for songs that I hear from the 80’s. It is a useless talent, but great music in my opinion. I spent too much time with a Walkman on my head back then. Does knowing the fifty states in alphabetical order count for anything? Now I’m reaching!

Any favorite hobbies or activities?

While I enjoy playing a number of sports, my favorite activity at this point in life is watching my two sons’ sporting events ... and beating them at wiffle ball. I do play in a basketball league and we are currently within a five game losing streak. Sounds bad, but we are only losing by 30 points or so each game. Actually, I’m just trying not to get hurt at this point.

What period of your life do you wish you could relive?

Well, if the underlying question is to relive to make a change, I would relive the first few years of my life out of college and be a bit more carefree. I would leave out studying for the CPA exam! If the question relates to reliving in the exact manner I would go for the four years of high school and four years of college. These were just great times with friends I still keep in touch with rather regularly and the period where I met my wife. But I would have to sprinkle in the births of my sons somehow as well.

What positions did you hold before Amherst?

I worked in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Coopers & Lybrand back then) in the audit department. I conducted audits in the higher education, retail and manufacturing industries. More recently, I was Director of Treasury and Financial Reporting at a major sporting goods manufacturer.

What is one of your favorite memories at Amherst?

I cannot recall the exact date, but it was when I started feeling comfortable in my new environment.