Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1954 as the oldest of eight children, I grew up on a small farm near the South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa border. A pivotal moment in 1975 led me into the mineral world after rooming with a geology major and meeting someone recently returned from Nepal. These experiences shaped my path.
In December 1982, after losing my home and work in a fire while traveling, I decided to change course. A seven-week trek in Nepal’s Annapurna and Everest regions revealed my talent for traveling to remote mountains and adapting to local cultures. Shortly after, I attended my first Tucson mineral show, selling out quickly due to a market gap. This led to multiple trips to India, where I acquired notable green apophyllite specimens from Pashan Quarry, establishing my reputation in the U.S.
In 1985, I traveled to Pakistan amidst conflict, surviving bombings and visiting emerald mines in Swat. Later, I endured a severe winter storm in Nepal’s Makalu region, trekking through harsh conditions to remote tourmaline mines. This experience strengthened my confidence to travel anywhere, no matter the hardship.
By 1986, I explored South America, climbing peaks like Pisco, Huascarán, and Alpamayo using minimalist alpine style. In 1987, I ventured into East Africa, surviving cerebral malaria and living with its effects for over 25 years. My travels expanded in the early 1990s to over 90 countries, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and China.
With guidance from Bill Smith, I published my first mineral article in 1996 and contributed extensively to Mineral News and Gems & Gemology, becoming a leading name for new mineral discoveries worldwide.
In the late 1990s, I gained access to Burma’s Mogok region after 35 years of closure, enjoying rich interactions with local Nepali traders. I studied multiple languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Pashtu, Nepali, Vietnamese, Thai, Sinhalese, French, and Spanish.
One of my most dangerous trips was just after 9/11, traveling in Pakistan’s volatile regions during the Taliban war. I was detained but released after facing multiple charges and later published an award-winning article about the experience.
In Vietnam, I explored new tourmaline and aquamarine finds, often navigating language barriers and local challenges, including wrongful arrest and release, which inspired a published article in the French Gemmological Review.
Despite travel difficulties, including denied visas and regional violence, I continued exploring remote areas like Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan, documenting unique mineral finds and historic events.
In 2010, I helped a young Tibetan girl from a remote village access education in Kathmandu, co-founding the foundation Educate Nepali Children.
Throughout my travels, I maintained a rigorous running and triathlon regimen, winning national championships in trail running. I married Darunee Pisutadamongkol in 2014, a fellow runner and multilingual Thai woman.
I consider myself fortunate to pursue my passion, traveling frequently to the world’s greatest mountain ranges and remote villages. My survival and success owe much to my employees, loyal customers, mentors, and international friends who helped me navigate challenges and expand my mineral and gemstone pursuits.
