I became a counselor in 1990, after eight consistent years of being in weekly counseling sessions myself. Yes, eight years – a very long time. Long-term counseling like that is rare these days. Needless to say, the counseling started because I was not happy. By the mid 1980’s, I had been divorced twice and, in the process, lost substantial contact with my children. And business challenges, successes, and failures didn’t make me feel any better. The counseling turned my life around. Typical of the therapy process, my good qualities were not changed – only the negatives and the problem areas were affected. I finally got my life together. I was truly happy for the first time in my life.

Then, one fateful night in December 1988, a stranger told me about the Masters Degree counseling program at the University of South Florida. I thought, “Maybe I can become a counselor and pass this experience of fulfillment on to other people.” Being slightly obsessive, I took immediate and rapid action. I promoted the Vice-President of my manufacturing company to President, and I walked away from business to enter USF in January 1989. I finished the Masters program with a 4.0 GPA in April 1990, and immediately opened a private counseling practice.

What this story means to my clients is this: I have been educated in the School of Hard Knocks. I know what it is like to struggle with family and career, with time management, with taking the time to nurture family relationships. I have experienced failures and triumphs in all aspects of my life. I can relate to the challenges and opportunities that real life provides. And, most of all, I have learned how to make life work: with career, relationships, health, and personal fulfillment.

So here’s my résumé:

BETHANY COLLEGE Bethany, WV

Bachelor of Arts - 1963
Major in Economics, minor in English

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Cleveland, OH

Master of Business Administration - 1966
Studies concentrated in Banking, Financial Analysis, and Management

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA Tampa, FL

Master of Arts - 1990
Counselor Education: Adult Track

Counseling Experience:

PRIVATE PRACTICE: PSYCHOTHERAPY & CONSULTATION (1990 to Present)
Counseling adults with issues concerning relationships, sex therapy, AIDS & terminal illness, anger, anxiety, depression, stress management, sexual orientation, and grief

• Specialize in brief/solution oriented approaches, incorporating primarily narrative, hypnotherapy, & cognitive/behavioral techniques
• With my wife, Deborah Weir, PhD, LMHC, the author of Controlling That Wild Inner Child: The Secret To Love, Sex & Intimacy
• Provide employee assistance and career counseling services
• Approved Supervisor of Mental Health Counselor Interns
• Consultation to businesses, medical practices, & organizations
• Consultation to Michele Weiner-Davis (author of In Search Of Solutions and Divorce Busting) on preparation of her book Change Your Life And Everyone In It
• Developed "Returning to Love" seminars
• Founder and Director of Academy of Executive Coaching
• With wife Deborah Weir, PH.D., LMHC, have presented over 35 Mars & Venus Workshops as well as various other workshops and seminars.

ACADEMY OF EXECUTIVE COACHING (1996 to Present)

• Provision of coaching services to executives and individuals.
• Training the process of coaching and mentoring to mental health professionals.

• Utah Licensed Professional Counselor, #6093125-6004
• Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor #MH 3268
• Board Certified Diplomate: American Board of Sexology #2562
• Board Certified Diplomate: National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists #R845
• Board Certified: National Board of Certified Counselors #35498
• Board Certified Distance Counselor: Center for Credentailing and Education, Inc. #DCC 00259
• Board Certified Sports Counselor: National Institute of Sports
• Certified Mars & Venus Counselor and Facilitator 1997-2002
• Member:
  • Tampa Bay Ass’n for Marriage & Family Therapy – Treas. –1995-99
  • Suncoast Mental Health Counselor's Association – Vice-Pres – 1994-95
• Tampa AIDS Network (1990 to 1999): Group facilitator and speaker's bureau

• Hospice of Hillsborough Patient Care Committee (1993 to 1995)
• Northside Community Mental Health Centers, Inc. (l980 to 1992)
  • Offices held: President, Treasurer, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Member of Executive and Nominations Committees
• Florida Council for Community Mental Health, Board of Directors (1989-90)
• Committee of 100, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce (1977 to 1982)
• Florida Real Estate License, (1978 to 1983; 1986 to 1993)
• University of Tampa: Continuing Education Advisory Board, (1978 to 1979)
• University of Tampa: Board of Counselors (1978 to 1983)
• Officer of Somerset (PA) Jaycees, Somerset County Industrial Development Council, Major Gifts Division of Boy Scouts Council, (1967 to 1975)
• Part-time instructor: Pennsylvania State University & American Institute of Banking (1967 to 1969)

MAGIC SYSTEMS, INC. Tampa, FL (1979 to1994)
Chairman of the Board and Owner

• Manufactured specialized printing equipment for sale by mail order
• In-house advertising agency, Mail Order Specialists of Tampa

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DYNAMICS, INC. Tampa, FL (1985 to1986)
Chairman of the Board and Owner

• Created and delivered training seminars

FLORIDA MERGER & ACQUISITION CONSULTANTS, INC. Tampa, FL (1976 to1980)
Chairman of the Board and Owner

• Brokerage of business (value range $200,000 to $5 Million)
• Acquisition analysis, facilitate negotiations, consultation, evaluation,
• Recommend financial and tax alternatives, advise on acquisition and transition procedures, assist in search for financing
• Established real estate subsidiary, Florida Suncoast Realty, Inc.

SOLAR FUEL COMPANY Somerset, PA (1966 to 1976)
President and Owner

• Mining, processing, and sales of Bituminous coal
• Directed all corporate activities including new mining operations, Construction of coal cleaning facilities, acquiring coal properties, union negotiations, and negotiating domestic and international sales contracts
• Sales offices in Baltimore and New York City
• Currently part of Paramount/Viacom/CBS

METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Tampa, FL
Director; Member of the Trust Committee (1978 to 1979)

AMERICAN GUARANTY BANK OF TAMPA, Tampa, FL
Chairman of the Board and Owner (1976 to 1978)

JOHNSTOWN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Johnstown, PA
Director; Member of Executive and Trust Committees (1972 to 1976)

COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA
Vice-President and Director (1967 to1972)