Just your average guy trying to understand life and having fun living it to the fullest. Live in Southfield, MI (a Detroit suburb) with my wife of 20+ years and love spending time with our three kids (OK, they're actually three CATS but can be just as fun and challenging at times as human children! LOL) and slowly renovating a 60 year old house on three wooded acres.
I have enjoyed working in the IT industry the past 10 years for companies such as BMW, Compuware, Ford, IBM, and Visteon. Recently, I worked at Ford again after a two year abscence and branched out into Video Production and Broadcasting, both via satellite and streaming/VOD over internet/intranet. I'm now back in the IT world working for NCI Information Services as an Information Specialsit for the US ARMY at the Detroit Arsenal Garrison.
My real passions, though, are performing at Renaissance Festivals and doing Stage Combat (sword fighting). The last four years (2005 - 2008), I was part of the Resident Cast of the Michigan Renaissance Festival (MiRF) where I portrayed Sir William Sargent , Sgt Major of the Queen's Royal Guard. As Sir William, I even had a small part in a video for Little Ceasars Pizza (see below)! Sir William also made appearances the past three years (2006 - 2008) at the Mayfaire Renaissance Festival . See my Photos section for pictures from MiRF and Mayfaire.
In early 2006 I pursued my interest in Stage Combat and was accepted to the MiRF Fight Team (a.k.a. the Guild of Grunt). As Sir William, I performed sword fights in several Fight Shows over the past three years (2006 - 2008) at MiRF. My Photos section has "action" pictures of these performances!In late 2006 I also became a member of the Stage Combat & Performance Group Theatrical Combat Network (TCN) and now have several credited performances and sword fights with them in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area, including performing with FIRE! My Photos section has a few pictures from TCN as well and more will be added as performances occur.
Starting last year (2008), I'm now on the Resident Cast of the new Mid-Michigan Renaissance Festival near Frankenmuth (see the "Mid-Michigan" Blog above). I portray the lead role of KING HENRY VIII and had a wonderful first year. We had great attendance, the financial backers essentially broke even (unheard of for a first year Festival!), and received overwhelmingly positive comments from Patrons and our Rennie friends alike. Dozens of excited people in an extended Rennie Family came together to make MMRF a reality and it's only going to get better every year! This year my role at MMRF has expanded to include Royal Court Director and being a member of the Production Staff working with the Festival Partners/Owners. Please, come and join us October 10 - November 1, 2009, for the second season of the Mid-Michigan Renaissance Festival. This season we will have a BEER, WINE, & MEAD TENT with featured musicians the GUTTERPUPS and CONOR SAVAGE , as well as a HOOKA & CIGAR TENT with both mild and strong TURKISH COFFEE & TEA! We invite EVERYONE, Patron and Performer alike, from ANY other Festival, ALL are welcome within the gates of Kleves! Please vist our website for more information by clicking the Festival's name above. Also, my Photos section has pictures of me and others at MMRF 2008 and will be updated with 2009 photos as they become available. Until then, please enjoy this short video of His Most Royal Majesty inviting you to visit the Village of Kleves for the Mid-Michigan Renaissance & Fantasy Festival!
Check out my Videos (scroll bar above) for two short clips of fellow TCN fighters practicing with the now infamous FLAMING CONDOMS OF DEATH!!
Below is a video montage of TCN's Stage Combat work at the 2007 Michigan Renaissance Festival (look for the guy in a black and red doublet with a white shirt, that's ME!)....
LITTLE CAESARS VIDEO WITH RENNIES!!
Also, here is a rather humorous "training video" from Little Caesars Pizza. Why am I posting this here? Well, watch it and look for the third segment of the video titled "1588 A.D.", you'll see myself and several fellow Cast members from MiRF! We filmed our segment in August 2007 on the MiRF grounds and the entire video was later shown at the Little Caesars Franchise Meeting in Las Vegas.
