What is your favorite thing about working at ClearTrust?

My favorite thing about working at ClearTrust is the people. We are building a cohesive group of people at ClearTrust that I’m happy to call my family away from home. I have been at ClearTrust since we first started. It is also fun to watch the company grow into something we can all be proud of, and I am happy to be at a company where I can make a difference.

Who inspires you to be better?

My wife always challenges me to see things in different perspectives. She helps me see how others may perceive my actions, and helps me look inward to change my outlook on problems. I believe her outlook helps me to be better.

What is one of your favorite smells?

When I was young one of my jobs was to cut our lawn. I always had a feeling of accomplishment when the job was done, and I could now move on to spending the Saturday with friends. Still to this day I love the smell of fresh cut grass. I also love the smell of suntan lotion. There is nothing to relax you like laying on the Florida beach with the warm sun beating down on you and the sounds of seagulls and waves in the background. The smell of suntan lotion always reminds me of the beach.

What is something you will NEVER do again?

While in the military I was coaxed into joining the airborne division. We had to jump (parachute) from planes and helicopters, often with lots of equipment weighing us down and from low altitudes. I still have some since of adventure, but as I am getting older I have no further desire to do any type of parachuting.

What is your primary motivation to go to work every morning?

I can remember when we first started ClearTrust. We had a team of people, and if we were lucky we also had a single transfer to be processed. Today we come to work, and there is always plenty to do. Our staff all has our specific roles, and when I am on my way to work I am always mentally going over what tasks are in front of me, and the challenge to try and clear my queue.

How do you relax after a hard day of work?

I love to relax with a nice drink. My favorite is a rum and coke with lots of ice. Typically when I get home I will search for the children and wife to say hello, and inquire about their day. It is nice to hear what is going on with the family after work, but after a hard day at the office it is even better with nice cold drink.

What is special about the place you grew up?

I was born in Switzerland. This is a very special place with some of the most picturesque mountains, lakes, castles and towns. The culture is also very traditional with appreciation of craftsmanship, the environment, and the communities lived in. Today we find ourselves living in a culture where disposable products are the norm, we spend more of our time indoors on electronics than outside, and people don’t typically interact with their neighbors, and I can definitely say that it makes me reminisce for the small community of Unterkullm, Switzerland where I grew up.

What fictional place would you most like to go?

It may sound silly, but I would love to live in the world of Harry Potter. I find it so neat to see all of the magical inventions that the movies came up with. The closest I came to living this adventure was Universal Studios, and I can tell you the butterbeer was quite tasty, too.

What’s the best way a person can spend their time?

The best way a person can spend their time is with their family or the people they love. The people close to you are very important, and the quality time spent with them matters the most!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My grandmother was the heir to one of the founders of the Zehnder company, and she lived a very comfortable life. She never had to work, had her own vacation house in the Swiss Alps, and enjoyed fine things. She was also a very giving person, who always spent time volunteering in the community and reading to elderly at the local nursing home. What I remember about her the most is what she said to me just days before dying of cancer. My grandmother told me that she was a very fortunate woman. She went on to tell me about how many wonderful people she was able to enjoy her life with, and how much they meant to her. That moment made me realize, and it has always stuck with me, that material possessions do not define you, and should not be what is important in life. What matters most is the people, and what relationships a person will experience throughout their life.