Who Is Doug?

I, Doug Gulleson, have been blessed with an awesome life journey! Diving and underwater photography has been a dream of mine for many years and now I enjoy the pristine blue oceans, amazing fish and coral life, sunsets to die for, and white beaches that cry out for me to come back. I am no professional diver by any means but for sure I love traveling the world and have dived in amazing places like Bali, Komodo islands, Lembeh, PNG, and Bonaire to name a few. Meeting and spending time with amazing people from around the world on my travels is another perk that just is so much fun.

Back on the home front I had a dream to own a business when I was younger and now I am blessed to enjoy this dream come true with dad in our insurance business since 1997 with our 10 awesome associates. On the “lazy” side of me you can catch me on the couch enjoying a national geographic show and yes (don’t laugh) I am hooked on the “Good Wife” show. My Kindle is always close to me for my book readings and for sure you can catch me at Starbucks writing up some articles for our blog, reading business and health insurance magazines or just catching up with friends. I totally love “cooking” at restaurants but for some reason since catching the big 40 train it doesn’t like me to over indulge so I have become great friends with my local gym and trusty iPod.

As a MK I am blessed to have awesome parents who served in Indonesia for 32 years. Us boys (I am the oldest) were born at the southern Baptist hospital in Kediri, East Java. We were mostly raised in East Java (island of Madura, Madiun, and Surabaya), and moved to Jakarta go complete our high school education. I graduated from the Jakarta International School (JIS) in 1986 and realized what a third culture kid really meant when I came back to the States.

I spent a few years in the Army and I still remember my drill sergeant, Drill Sergeant Pea. He was the coolest guy after I finished Basic Training and the smallest and meanest person I met during Basic but I sure learned how to make that quarter do somersaults on that bed. Marriage brought my ex-wife and I the blessing of having a son and Andy is currently in his early 20's living in NC.

Moving was normal for a third cultured kid like me so this newly single guy in 1997 took wings and moved to Phoenix Arizona. Looking back now to the day I arrived in very hot Phoenix Arizona, I can say it was one of my best decisions of my life. My dad is my earthly hero who I highly respect and cherish and it has been a honor and privilege to work side-by-side with dad in our business. I have also been blessed to have an amazing bonus mom who has brought joy to dad and also gained a wonderful bonus brother who has showed me how to live in humility and I have high respect for him!

As I say to many "I am one day closer to Heaven or my next diving vacation, whichever one comes first I am very happy."

Cheers,

Diving Doug (AKA: Doug Gulleson)