ABOUT

Mission

I will positively impact every life I encounter by leveraging my strengths, passions, and values, creating meaningful connections and leaving the world better than I found it

Vision

I envision a world where every life I touch is uplifted, strengthened, and inspired. Through reliability, integrity, and trust, I will create meaningful connections that foster peace, growth, and innovation. Guided by perseverance, curiosity, and generosity, I will embrace challenges and new ideas with confidence, always striving to make a difference. With empathy, kindness, and humor, I will bring joy and understanding to every interaction, ensuring that my presence leaves the world better than I found it.

Values

I strive to be a reliable and trustworthy presence in the lives of others, embodying integrity in all I do. Guided by the principle of Shalom, I foster peace and harmony through kindness, empathy, and generosity. With perseverance and curiosity, I embrace innovation and growth, always seeking new ways to uplift and inspire. My confidence allows me to lead with conviction, while my loyalty ensures I stand by those who need me. Through humor, I bring light to every interaction, knowing that joy is just as vital as wisdom. By living these values, I aim to create a lasting, positive impact on the world.

Passions

Technology, cars, travel, relationships, and teaching are not just interests to me—they are avenues through which I fulfill my mission of positively impacting every life I encounter. Through technology, I embrace innovation and progress, using it to connect, empower, and improve the world around me. My passion for cars represents precision, engineering, and the thrill of movement—an appreciation for both the journey and the mechanics that drive it. Travel fuels my curiosity, broadening my perspective and deepening my understanding of diverse cultures, people, and experiences. Relationships are the foundation of my life, built on trust, loyalty, and a desire to uplift those around me. Teaching allows me to share knowledge, inspire growth, and foster meaningful connections, ensuring that the wisdom I gain is passed on to others. In all these passions, I find purpose—creating, learning, exploring, and connecting in ways that leave a lasting, positive impact on the world.

My Story

I grew up in a small Kentucky town, the second son of hardworking parents. Mom worked in the family grocery store, which was owned by my uncle, while Dad was an owner-operator of a big rig. My brother, who is nine years older than me, has been a mentor throughout my life.

At just nine years old, I started working in the family grocery store, a business founded by my grandparents. Today, my cousin proudly carries on the tradition as the third-generation owner of Anderson’s Grocery. My parents passed away in 2014 and 2015, and I miss them dearly. Their loss left me with many unanswered questions, which inspired me to write this note and encourage others to ask questions while they still can.

I’ve been married to my best friend, Linda, since 1982—we were just 20 and 21 at the time. Together, we’ve built a life filled with love and adventure, raising two wonderful children who are each pursuing their own passions.

Linda has always been everything to me. Initially, we were friends for two years, and even when we started dating, it felt like a natural extension of that friendship. Before our senior year of college, she called me and said, “I’m not going back to school if we don’t get married.” That was all I needed to hear—especially since I had wanted to marry her since we met in 1979. Less than three months later, we exchanged vows in a field on her parents’ farm.

We’ve shared countless unforgettable experiences together. One of the most meaningful was when Linda first persuaded me to travel to Haiti in 2007. At first, I was reluctant, but over time, our trips turned into a powerful ministry that we now help lead. Another cherished memory was taking my first-ever two-week vacation in 2019—Linda and I drove 4,400 miles, completing a lap of the western United States.

Our children, Lauren and Henry, are unique in their own ways, and what I admire most is how self-taught they are in their crafts. Lauren, our daughter and firstborn, is a talented professional photographer and writer. Her gift with words never ceases to amaze me. The photos on this site are her work (laurenneal.com). As for our son, Henry, I often say I’m living out my dreams through him. He is a gifted mechanic working in the Road to Indy and other professional racing series. Along with his business partner, he owns a BMW repair and performance shop in Cincinnati (o2uned.com).

Technology has shaped my entire career. My first year in college, I discovered computers, and from that moment, I was hooked. I’ve witnessed nearly every major milestone in computing—from punch cards and mainframes to early personal computers from Apple, Tandy, and IBM. I’ve seen the rise of the internet, email, cloud computing, cybersecurity challenges, and even the launch of the iPhone.

I’m passionate about racing—anything with an engine captivates me. I grew up watching delayed broadcasts of the Indy 500 in the ‘70s with my uncle Robert because we didn’t have cable. My first live Indy 500 experience was in 1976, when I attended the race with my brother. Over the years, we camped out and watched many races at Mid-Ohio. When Henry started racing go-karts, I was thrilled—it was a dream bigger than our budget, but I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything. I still love the sights, sounds, and adrenaline of a racetrack on race day. Since 2006, I’ve had the privilege of riding across the country with Brock Yates, Jr., in One Lap of America (OneLapofAmerica.com), a yearly highlight for me.

Road trips have always been a love of mine, whether short or long. Being the son of a truck driver, it’s probably ingrained in me. One family trip to Florida in a 1965 Plymouth Fury stands out—Dad preferred driving at night, my brother occupied the entire back seat, and I somehow managed to sleep on the floor, stretched across the hump. Seat belts weren’t much of a priority back then, and I don’t recall ever sitting in a car seat.

In 2003, I intentionally bought a 20-year-old BMW in San Jose, CA, just to drive it home across the country. I made that trip with my dad and my racing pal, John Casella (click here for the story). I’ve purchased many cars from far-away places, and when people ask, “Can’t you find a car closer to home?” I always respond, “Where’s the fun in that?”

I look forward to connecting with you.

Favorite Car Brand: BMW (Bimmers)

First Car: 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Golden Eagle (wish I still had it). V8 power, headers and no top in the summer

First Time Flying: 1979 to visit my brother in Germany

First Auto Race as Spectator: 1976 Indianapolis 500

First Job: Working in the family grocery store at 9 years of age, started by my grandmother, operated by my Uncle Earl (who I miss greatly)

First Motor Bike: 5HP Rupp Mini Bike, because my dad loved American brands

What I Wanted To Be as a Child: Owner/Operator of Big Rigs or the owner of a chain of grocery stores, never did either. I love the open road and visiting grocery stores though

Favorite Sports Team: Atlanta Braves (because my parents loved the Braves and we saw games at the Fulton County Stadium)

Sports on TV: Open Wheel Racing, Final Games of Playoffs(sometimes)

Favorite National Park: Glacier (so far)

Something That Might Surprise People: I was a runner in the 70’s and early 80’s before running was popular. Everything from 5K to marathon distance

Hobbies: Hosting My Podcast, One Lap of America, Driving, Kart Racing

Favorite Places to Visit: Beaches, Mountains, Haiti, Race Tracks, Chicago

Serving: Board of Jesus in Haiti Ministries, Assisting people and organizations with technology, leading marriage events with Linda, helping people sell and buy cars