Breakfast with Herb & Mike

Accomplishments aren’t measured by awards or applause, but by the challenges we overcome, the kindness we extend, and the good we leave behind. This month, Herb and Mike reflect on their own journeys, sharing stories shaped by hard work, the support of others and a little humor. And so, the breakfast table conversations continue…

Mike: Let’s talk about accomplishments today. You’ve done a lot in your life. What are you most proud of?

Herb: I’d have to say my first real accomplishment was starting out as an eighth-grade dropout and ending up with a Master’s degree and the job of Plattsburgh’s police chief.

Mike: How did you get there?

Herb: When I went on the police force it was a provisional appointment. I had six months to get my high school GED and pass a physical. It turned out I was a good test taker so that was the easy part. Passing the physical was more difficult. I was just a skinny kid in those days and I didn’t reach the minimum weight requirement. Someone told me eating bananas would help add pounds, so I tried it. When it didn’t work, I put on a weight belt under my uniform and that got me through the running and agility tests.

Mike: How did you go from a GED to a M.S. and more?

Herb: I started taking classes at SUNY during the day. I’d work nights and then go to class in the morning. I had an arrangement with the Dean of Students that I would bring my gun to his office and he would hold it for me while I went to class. First, I made it through the Bachelor’s degree and then went on to get my Master’s. It took me 14 years to make it through.

Mike: While all that was happening, you were working your way up the chain of command at the police department.

Herb: Yes, first as a patrolman, then as a detective sergeant, a detective lieutenant, and then chief.

Mike: You were the youngest chief of police in New York State when you took the job in 1975.

Herb: You’re right. I was 36. Now let’s talk about you. What do you view as your greatest accomplishment?

Mike: After all the struggles I had when I was young, making the decision in 1989 to look at my drinking and drug use, and then go to treatment and begin the journey in recovery is certainly high on the list. I would likely not be alive today if I had continued the path I was on.

Herb: The strength you exhibited in seeking treatment was an inspiration to our family and in the years since it has become an inspiration to many people.

Mike: When I finally got my life together, the opportunities that opened up for me were too numerous to count. I was so grateful for the love and support I received from the people around me and the new friends I made. It was then I began to consider what I could do that would help others who were in same position I had been. When we learned the Clinton Community College dorms were up for sale, I knew I had found a way to fulfill my dream.

Herb: It was the right opportunity at the right time -- a family venture from the start -- one Mary and I never would have considered, but seeing what you had accomplished we were eager to be a part of it.

Mike: Starting MHAB took time and patience, but we were able to bring a variety of human service providers together and make it work. Our staff understands the needs of the people who come to us and are ready to work with them. In conjunction with Champlain Valley Family Center, we now have a recovery center and a crisis stabilization center on site. Through our partnership with Clinton County and NAMI we will have a warming center open this year. And through our partnership with BHSN, we are serving some of the most vulnerable populations in the area and helping them find their way to a stable life. When we opened MHAB my goal was to help people and get organizations to work together. I’m pleased we are well on the way to accomplishing those goals.

Herb: The MHAB Life Skills Campus has been up and running for more than six years now and it is a constant reminder of what can be accomplished with determination and hard work.

Mike: I’ve received a lot of accolades for MHAB, and I appreciate them all, but the real joy is in watching people come to us broken and then leave with a plan and excitement for their lives. It doesn’t get any better than that!!!