Biography:
My grandparents made the courageous migration west to San Diego from McMinville, Tennessee in the 1880’s. Grandfather was a “brain” surgeon as they were called in those days, versus the distinguished title of neurosurgeon today. He served during WWI in France as a medical captain. My father received doctorate degrees in both physics and civil engineering. Studied at MIT and University of Rome. As a civilian engineer for the Italian government he was in Ethiopia overseeing the building of roads, sanitation systems, aqueducts, etc when the British came to liberate Ethiopia and kept him as prisoner until the end of WWII using his language skills, like Amharic and Swahili, for interpretation. He then joined our family in San Diego until the Marshall Plan began to rebuild Europe and Germany. He was given the task of overseeing the rebuilding of Kaiserslautern. My mother was a classical pianist. She was being groomed to become the first female concert pianist to play at Carnegie Hall when she and my father met and she gave up her career to be with him. She was with my father in Ethiopia when he was taken prisoner. My mother was able to make a very brave trip, with her four young children, traveling by freighter from Djibouti to Bombay, and then getting passage on a passenger ship to the United States to rejoin her family in San Diego. This is where my life in San Diego begins. Since then, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to watch San Diego grow over the years like a time elapsed photo of a flower as it blooms. Prior to graduation from San Diego State University, with a B.A. degree, (Business Administration, History and Psychology), I served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Upon graduation my aunt, who was chair of the Marketing Department at San Diego State, stronly advised I get into banking and become a bank officer. Two years later I decided business was more attractive and challenging, which appealed to the entrepreneurial spirit. I became a franchisee owner/operator of Sambo's Family Restaurants in Old Town (now Perry's Cafe). The owner of the Royal Inns Hotel chain, Earl Gagosian, wanted me to come over and run his flagship 24 hour restaurant, Jolly King Family Restaurant, which was located directly across from the iconic Anthony’s Seafood. It was very high volume and operated with approximately 55 employees.
As the hotel and restaurant chain expanded I was appointed V.P./Director of Operations for the 28 unit chain, and remained there until I decided to go into business for myself. My first venture was a college pub called Andy's Saloon, located near San Diego State. It became the "go to" place for the students and Andy's was #1 in beer keg sales in San Diego at the time. I eventually ended up owning and operating 9 various restaurant/bar/entertainment facilities. Four of them I built from scratch...yes, Mr. Obama and Elizabeth Warren..."I built that." I exited from the hospitality business, obtained a real estate license, and specialized in Business Sales and Acquisitions for a number of years. I joined C.W. Clark, Inc, a commercial real estate company and developer of properties, and engaged in retail leasing as well as Business Sales and Acquisitions.
Daniel has been a participant in the Robotics International event held in St. Louis each year and he was a team member in the national finals in Maryland for Cyber Patriots.
My grandparents made the courageous migration west to San Diego from McMinville, Tennessee in the 1880’s. Grandfather was a “brain” surgeon as they were called in those days, versus the distinguished title of neurosurgeon today. He served during WWI in France as a medical captain. My father received doctorate degrees in both physics and civil engineering. Studied at MIT and University of Rome. As a civilian engineer for the Italian government he was in Ethiopia overseeing the building of roads, sanitation systems, aqueducts, etc when the British came to liberate Ethiopia and kept him as prisoner until the end of WWII using his language skills, like Amharic and Swahili, for interpretation. He then joined our family in San Diego until the Marshall Plan began to rebuild Europe and Germany. He was given the task of overseeing the rebuilding of Kaiserslautern. My mother was a classical pianist. She was being groomed to become the first female concert pianist to play at Carnegie Hall when she and my father met and she gave up her career to be with him. She was with my father in Ethiopia when he was taken prisoner. My mother was able to make a very brave trip, with her four young children, traveling by freighter from Djibouti to Bombay, and then getting passage on a passenger ship to the United States to rejoin her family in San Diego. This is where my life in San Diego begins. Since then, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to watch San Diego grow over the years like a time elapsed photo of a flower as it blooms. Prior to graduation from San Diego State University, with a B.A. degree, (Business Administration, History and Psychology), I served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Upon graduation my aunt, who was chair of the Marketing Department at San Diego State, stronly advised I get into banking and become a bank officer. Two years later I decided business was more attractive and challenging, which appealed to the entrepreneurial spirit. I became a franchisee owner/operator of Sambo's Family Restaurants in Old Town (now Perry's Cafe). The owner of the Royal Inns Hotel chain, Earl Gagosian, wanted me to come over and run his flagship 24 hour restaurant, Jolly King Family Restaurant, which was located directly across from the iconic Anthony’s Seafood. It was very high volume and operated with approximately 55 employees.
As the hotel and restaurant chain expanded I was appointed V.P./Director of Operations for the 28 unit chain, and remained there until I decided to go into business for myself. My first venture was a college pub called Andy's Saloon, located near San Diego State. It became the "go to" place for the students and Andy's was #1 in beer keg sales in San Diego at the time. I eventually ended up owning and operating 9 various restaurant/bar/entertainment facilities. Four of them I built from scratch...yes, Mr. Obama and Elizabeth Warren..."I built that." I exited from the hospitality business, obtained a real estate license, and specialized in Business Sales and Acquisitions for a number of years. I joined C.W. Clark, Inc, a commercial real estate company and developer of properties, and engaged in retail leasing as well as Business Sales and Acquisitions.
Over the course of my restaurant/business career I have had great enjoyment in hiring and training hundreds of young people, many for their very first job. I watched them become mature, confident young men and women, who got the invaluable foundation for forging ahead in their chosen careers.
I have had a very fulfilling business career. I wish to use my knowledge, experience and hard work ethic in Sacramento to help stop the damaging policies that hurt all Californians and businesses on a daily basis.
My wife, Alis, and I have been married for 25 years and have an amazingly brilliant son, Daniel, who finds computers to be his primary passion. Alis has her doctorate from U.S.C. and I can proudly say she is the best pharmacist in town, with a caring spirit and heart of gold.Daniel has been a participant in the Robotics International event held in St. Louis each year and he was a team member in the national finals in Maryland for Cyber Patriots.
I will be very grateful to have the honor of your vote June 7.
