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I grew up in Bountiful, Utah, but it was my time in Hawaii from 1970 to 1974 that really shaped me. I discovered a love for other cultures, American-made cars, conversation, racing, travel, and the beach. Hawaii gave me something even more valuable independence. I also realized that my deep knowledge of cars wasn’t just a passion, it was a marketable skill.
I went on to build and manage a successful automotive business that combined retail parts with a cylinder head machine shop. At a time when most people were intimidated by computers, I taught myself how to use them to gain a competitive edge. I learned how to market, distribute, and price strategically to grow profits. I also created a custom accounting software program that could track over 50,000 auto parts—managing inventory, purchase orders, accounts receivable, and payables all in one system. In 1984, I sold that software to a Fortune 500 company that implemented it across their national auto parts operations.
With the proceeds, I bought a yacht and spent time enjoying early retirement on Lake Powell and Lake Mead. But two years was enough—I’ve never been one to sit still when opportunity calls.
In 1987, I purchased dry cleaning machinery at a bank auction and launched a production plant in North Salt Lake, Utah, starting with two locations. I dove into the operations, learned every part of the business, and eventually scaled the company to specialize in disaster recovery textile cleaning, achieving a 95% net profit margin before selling the business in 1995.
That same year, I relocated to St. George and opened a 5,000-square-foot dry cleaning facility. Over the next seven years, the company expanded significantly through large-scale contracts with disaster restoration firms. We built a second multimillion-dollar production plant in Washington City to meet wholesale demand. When lightning struck and burned down the original building, I turned the setback into another win by selling the land to a Mercedes dealership.
I’m proud to say that the company I built—Malibu Cleaners—became one of the most profitable dry-cleaning operations in the region, expanding from St. George to Mesquite, Nevada. I sold the company in 2021 and officially retired to Costa Rica.
But retirement didn’t mean the adventure was over, it was just getting started. That same year, I got a call that changed everything. A woman I’d never met reached out after discovering through DNA testing that I was her biological father. She was in her forties. I was stunned.
I told her if she wanted to meet, she’d have to come to Costa Rica. In December 2022, I took a trip to the States and confirmed it was all true. Not long after, she flew down for a visit—and we’ve been making up for lost time ever since. A year later, her mother (someone I hadn’t seen in decades) came to visit too. Let’s just say it was a reunion for the books.
In fact, my daughter turned our story into a fictional novel called Between Here & Paradise. It captures the emotion and healing of that unexpected chapter in both of our lives. These days, we’re often found walking the beach, swinging in hammocks, or exploring new places like Guatemala. We’re having the time of our lives.
I’m 77 now, but it feels like life is just beginning. If you want to read the story for yourself, visit her website at betweenhereandparadise.com.
Life’s too short not to live your dream. I hope you’re living yours too.
