My undergraduate degree is in Marketing Management and Entrepreneurial Studies and my Masters degree is in Counseling. During my graduate program at the University of New Mexico, I focused on multicultural, socioeconomic, and gendered issues, post-modern theories, gay, lesbian, and transgender concerns, adventure-based experiential counseling and Ecopsychology. Professionally, I have owned and managed several different businesses, including a steel fabrication and cultured granite company. I have also been a Licensed General Contractor for over 10 years, which has entailed gaining a lot of experience remodeling and building homes. My latest project involved building a green built home, which was awarded the Build Green New Mexico GOLD award. After working as an associate real estate broker for over four years, I decided to combine my experience as a business owner and passion for sustainable practices in real estate and opened up Earth Origins Realty LLC in 2006. Tell us more about Earth Origins Realty. First off, I want to make sure that readers know that although we specialize in green homes, Earth Origins Realty offers clients just as many services as any other conventional real estate company, whether or not "green" is a concern. (So you don't have to be a "tree-hugger" to employ our services:) What sets us apart from other real estate firms is our specialized knowledge in home construction, our commitment towards being of service towards our clients -- and not the dollar, experience with distressed properties (which are often affordable opportunities to recycle, remodel, and beautify), and finding homes which offer sustainable, green possibilities. Having remodeled a dozen or so properties, I can offer clients interested in remodeling their home recommendations and suggestions rooted in "live and learn" experiences. (My first words of advice are to double or triple your expected time frame for finishing a project!) I am a Certified EcoBroker and am forever learning about the latest-and not so new- "green technologies", which are often very basic, simple, and affordable ways we can make our homes more energy efficient, healthy, and peaceful. What guides your philosophical work perspective? I resonate with the idea that life is short and abundant. That all there really is, is the Now. So why do anything else but that which creates joyful meaning in our lives? I have chosen real estate as a career because, quite frankly, I truly enjoy working with people who are in the process of making decisions of what is right for them. A home is not only a physical structure which surrounds us, but it is embodies choices we make related to how to how we live. I am truly grateful to help clients make informed, confident, and "this just feels right" decisions when it comes to buying or selling their home. Also, I am very grateful for the flexibility real estate offers. What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? To be honest, I really love looking at homes-even during the "off work" times. I appreciate creative architecture, aesthetic inspirations, landscape design and the small surprises people deliberately place within their homes to create beauty, calmness, and peace. I really enjoy listening to audio-books, some of my favorites authors are Eckhart Tolle, Pema Chodron, Bruce Lipton, Wayne Dryer, and Allan Watts. And being with my family, my wife Bobbi, our sons Jamal, Eco, Sol and our baby girl Ivy, creates joy in my life. You will often find us reading books, visiting libraries, watching the boys play sports, cooking and baking, and taking walks outside with our dog Gizmo.