I was born in Benton Harbor and spent my formative years in Watervliet, Michigan. When I was 14 years old my parents, siblings and I moved to St. Joseph where I graduated St. Joseph High School in 1968. In 1972 I became a full-time employee of my father’s company, Parrett Business Machines, Inc., although I had been working weekends and summers there since its beginning in 1961. In 1991 I was named Vice-President and in 1997 I became President and owner. In 2005, it was decided that it was time for a name change and so the company became simply, Parrett Company.
I have three adult children: Geoffrey, who has worked for Parrett Company since 1992 and is Vice-President and Sales Manager, Christopher, a former Marine who served in the 2nd Iraq War and Elizabeth, a part-time student.
Most of my spare time has been and is spent as a spectator at my grandson’s, Tristan, Kaleb and Kole, sporting events although I have coached various levels of Rocket Football and am currently Vice-President of Baseball and All-Star Tournament Director at the North Lincoln Baseball-Softball Association. I am a dog “rescuer” and currently have two rescues, a Mini-Dachshund, Copper, and a Papillion, Thomas. A third rescue, Willy, a Mini-Dachshund, passed away in late December of 2013. My motto is the same as Parrett Company’s: Do the right thing – always.