10 Things You Need To Know About Scott

1. Scott is proud of where he comes from!

The great men and women of Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania gave our lives direction. We know who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.

2. Scott was reading and writing when he was just 4 years old!

The Electric Company, Sesame Street, and Mr. Fred Rogers gave me a running start!

2. Scott flew his first airplane when he was 14 years old!

My Uncle, Paul Rhoades, was the manager of the airport in nearby Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. After an airshow, he put me in the left seat of a Cessna 172, handed me the controls, and opened my eyes to a whole new world. When we landed, I was greeted by the infamous French Connection Aerobatic Pilot, Montaine Mallet, who invited me to help taxi her CAP-10 aircraft to the hangar. It was a day I’ll never forget.

3. Scott started his healthcare career when he was 16 years old!

My Dad was a volunteer firefighter and I got to hang out at the firehouse all the time, but one day I saw the paramedics in action and it sealed the deal. I enrolled in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program and took evening classes at a local vocational-technical school. After long days at school, my mom would drive me to class and wait in the car while I learned basic lifesaving skills.

4. Scott has prepared U.S. Astronauts and Russian Cosmonauts for spaceflight!

I was invited to visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center and was extended the opportunity to sit in on astronaut medical training for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. The instructor pulled me into the process and all of a sudden there we were teaching a U.S. astronaut and a Russian Cosmonaut about medical procedures they might need for their missions. THAT was beyond awesome! After my visit, I was asked to contribute to their training as a Subject Matter Expert. I later completed a graduate internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and served as a Nurse Reservist for 4 Space Shuttle launches.

5. Scott listens to Christmas music…in September!

If you think that’s crazy, let me tell you more. When I was a kid, I used to listen to Christmas music in the summer! Seriously, I pull out holiday tunes early because the message is relevant for the entire year (“its not the things you do at Christmastime, but the Christmas things you do all year through”) and as I grow older, time passes more quickly and before you know it, the holidays are over.

6. Autumn is Scott’s favorite time of year!

There’s just something about changing colors, the smell of burnt leaves, the sound of chainsaws, the playing of football, the donning of sweatshirts, and the brewing of warm apple cider and hot chocolate. I love it!

7. Scott loves to get alone in the great outdoors!

Everyone needs to disconnect from this noisy world! I turn off the technology and head to some favorite outdoor spots to get perspective. Nothing beats a backpack and a good book or just complete silence!

8. Scott is an exceptional navigator!

I’ve always had a great sense of direction. One year a colleague and I entered an orienteering competition and won first place!

9. Scott is a very selective reader!

I don’t read every book that comes along. I read books that convey prinicples I can apply to my life.

10. Scott has a Personal Board of Directors!

I’ve always had a select group of individuals to whom I’ve looked as examples for me to follow, but never considered the concept seriously until reading Andy Andrews book “Mastering the Seven Decisions” in which he recommends “creating a personal board of directors and not telling them they are on it. That way, it doesn’t cost you a dime…but it also doesn’t cost you any embarrassment; you get honest answers.”