Describe your business. Did you find it, or did it find you?

Dos Rios Divers is a year-round, youth/adult, springboard and platform diving club. We train at both our new gym in Roseville and at the Folsom Aquatics Center. We have had divers qualify for the U.S. Diving National Championships, and have had divers go on to dive at Division I colleges. The club began out of my frustration as a high school diving coach. I wanted to have a diving board with an overhead spotting belt, with attached ropes. I felt this was the safest and best way to teach kids to dive. School district insurance would not allow me to do this at school. As a result – I formed the club, obtained insurance through USA Diving, and began in my back yard. That has evolved into a 2,400-square-foot gym with a diving board, four trampolines and a platform.

How are you involved with both the community and your customer?

My customers are the club members. I am involved in their lives outside of the club by coaching their high school teams, teaching the recreational diving classes at the Folsom Aquatics Center, and by assisting the divers in selecting colleges where they might be able to continue diving.

What life accomplishments are you most proud of?

Attending graduate school and earning my masters degree from Stanford University.

Who is your role model in business or in life, and why?

My role models were the teachers/coaches who were so supportive and helpful to me as I was growing up. This is the reason that I became a teacher (retired now) and a coach.

Where do you go when the going gets tough?

The Bible.

What’s your biggest job perk?

My biggest job perk is being with the young people whom I coach. They keep me young at heart, even though I am officially a senior citizen.

What’s your favorite place to eat out locally?

Dos Coyotes.

Where do you and your family go locally to have fun?

Wherever my son’s band is playing – Marilyn’s, Shady Lady, or The Distillery.

If you could be any other profession what would it have been?

I have always thought that I would like to have my own bait shop on a houseboat in the Delta. I would anchor, sell bait, beer and sandwiches. When I didn’t have customers, I would fish.

And finally, customer service is…?

Helping the kids whom I coach to meet their goals, not imposing my goals onto them.