Number of years of Service at Pahl’s: 9 years
Briefly describe your job duties at Pahl’s: I am a Tree and Shrub Specialist. I work closely with our customers during sales and other services. I answer many questions and identify many pest, disease, and weed problems.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? I enjoy helping customers. I like talking to people and helping them solve their problems with their trees and shrubs.
Tell us about your family… Trish, my wife, and I went to the same highschool. We will have been married 36 years this September. Our daughter and her husband live in Denver. They both work for RTD (Regional Transportation District) of Denver. Our son is an attorney in Minneapolis and lives downtown.
What story does your family always tell about you? I had a twin sister who was born a few minutes before me. My parents had boy twin names and girl names picked out. However, they did not have just one boy name and one girl name. My mom had to decide on new names for us. So, for a day my sister Jan was baby A and I was baby B. When my family teases me they call me “Baby B.”
What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/ month of the year? Why? I like the fall in Minnesota, however, July is my favorite month. It is my birthday month. As a kid that was always special.
What is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity? (E.g. hobbies, talents, crafts etc.) I like to read history, particularly Civil War history. I love camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters. I like bicycling. I do not ski, but I have snowshoes. I like BigTen Basketball.
What is the farthest you have been away from home? Tell us the most unique experience from that trip? As a child we went to New York City. The thing that impressed me the most was the top of the Empire State Building. To stand there looking down and feeling the building sway was an experience I will never forget. It was very eerie!
What are three things on your “Bucket List”?
- I would like to visit Australia and the Outback, particularly Ayers Rock.
- I would like to visit the Gettysburg National Battlefield soon.
- My wife and I both want to visit the Louvre Art Museum in France.
What do you miss most about being a kid? As a kid growing up in Indiana, I would spend almost every day in the summertime outside all day. A lot of htat time, I would ride my bicycle all around the county roads.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I do not swim very well, but I would like to learn how to sail a boat. I have been sailing once and I love the sense of speed without sound. You can only feel the wind and hear the waves splashing.
What was the first thing you bought with your own money? The first really big thing I bought with my own money was a car. It was a 1970 Chevy Impala coupe. I wish I still had it!
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick to be your mentor? Why? At Pahl’s it would be either Dee England or Brian Pahl. Dee has such a kind and gentle nature. Brian can explain exactly what he wants you to do very understandingly. I do not know mucha bout the vegetable crops and I am sure he could teach it.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? I would pay off our home mortgage and our children’s student loans. After that, I would do some home renovations and then maybe buy a kayak, just for fun!
Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? Nobody
What is your all time favorite movie? The Princess Bride. It is my children’s favorite too.
What song do you play the most often? I am a late 60s and early 70s rocker. Anything by The Who for fun, and Crosby, Stills Nash and Young to relax. Maybe logging and Messina…??????????
What is the hardest thing you have ever done? I was the manager of TruGreen Landcare Company branch in Madison WI. I had to fire people. Even firing someone who needs to be fired is hard. I never liked that.
Well deserved Jay! I learn from you every time we chat!!
Great job Jay. I am glad to work with you!
Way to go cousin! we always knew you are so great- it’s time other people know too. Nice job Baby B. Your landscape picks for us have always been right on.
Jay
Well Done as they say in Australia, I hope you get there sometime soon. Thanks for all your hard work at Pahl’s, you have been a very valued employee….
Jane