Early Years

I was born in Okinawa, Japan on July 30, 1969. My parents were both native New Mexicans and my father was a medic in the Army during the Vietnam conflict. I am the oldest of four siblings, two younger sisters and a brother.

I grew up attending St. Anne’s and St. Michael’s High School. St. Michaels High School was my mother’s dream for me. To fulfill it, I paid my own way. Starting at the age of eleven, I worked a variety of jobs. My first was working at Jackalope. I took on a total of three jobs for my remaining years in high school: Dunkin’ Donuts in the mornings so I could have breakfast; Mr. Steak in the evenings so I could have dinner; land surveying for a local surveyor to pay my expenses.

Military Career

At sixteen, my parents signed a waiver so I could join the United States Marine Corps. I graduated from St. Michael’s High School at age seventeen and became one of the youngest Marines in the Corps. They paid me to work out hard all day for years, I loved it.

The Marine Corps afforded me a great opportunity to travel including: San Diego, North Carolina, Florida, Hawaiian Islands; Okinawa, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo, Yokosuka, and Yokota Japan; Seoul, Pohang Korea, Subic Bay, Olongapo City Philippines, Wake Island, Midway Island, Guam, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. I was a member of the 1st Battalion, Third Marines and in my last year was 2nd Battalion, Third Marines, both Fleet Marine units. My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was 0331 and 0341, machine gunner and mortarman.

While in third marines, I did both the Reconnaissance and Surveillance and target acquisition (Snipers) indoctrinations, placing in the top percentiles for both. Rather than allowing me to advance, my captain kept me as section leader of my current platoon. The actions taken by my Captain at that time have shaped my leadership style and contributed to my success over the years. As a leader now, I would never hold anyone back from advancing just because they were great at what they were currently doing. During the Gulf War, my unit took over Kuwait International Airport. It was a major operation and vital for all types of supply and logistic reasons. While serving four years in the Marines, I was meritoriously promoted three times, a Sergeant and a combat veteran at age twenty-one. I was honorably discharged on July 26, 1991.

Toyota Career

I started working for Sauter Toyota in Santa Fe August 4th, 1991, working minimum wage, detailing vehicles. From there, I worked my way through most positions at the dealership: detail, parts, service and sales.

Toyota offers lots of great training which inspired me to also complete my college education in my spare time. I graduated from San Juan College in 1995.

When I became the General Manager of Beaver Toyota of Santa Fe, it was after I was the Parts & Service Director, Used Car manager, Sales Manager, and General Sales Manager . This August, I will have been with this dealership 25 years, making me the employee that’s been here the most consecutive years.

My Family

Over five years ago, I met and married the love of my life, Maria Trevizo Espinosa. We raise our children together in La Mesilla, NM.

Our daughter from my first marriage is now eighteen and graduating from St. Michael’s High School. She leaves for college in Denver, Colorado this fall. Our son, Santiago, is now eleven and attends Barranca Elementary in Los Alamos.