I first met Paul when he joined IBM as I was working on FEMA. A few years later, I switched roles and Paul become my boss for six years. Paul truly was a great boss: so funny with quips, spot on business advice, and always (and I do mean always) had your back. I literally can never remember when Paul told me "no." If he did not think my approach was the best idea, he would  "age it." His emails were never long, and I often had a side job as IT support with the numerous systems we had to use. When Paul spoke in a meeting, it was usually short and he would tactically wait for the right time to raise his point. I talked to Paul often several times a day, but usually each call was 1-2 minutes in length, and that time included some chit chat! While Paul was known for short discussion, you could get him talking when it was on his terms: waiting for a meeting or over a drink or two. So many fun times.

Paul was really entertaining. We talked often about our families as I am roughly the same age as Paul's boys and I also had a slew of kids. Paul's family was a constant focus for him, and he really enjoyed talking about Barbara's "constant" redecorating or remodelling. Yes, he was predictable with his sayings, like every time I took a day off, "you going part-time on me!" or how much he hated crossing a bridge after so many years sitting in traffic. Literally, I could get Paul to meet me anywhere in VA. Even Rosslyn or Crystal City were fine, but crossing a bridge to DC, I had to have a real strong reason why, otherwise I came to expect a call on why I could handle it by myself or Paul would join by phone. And don't even get me started on road construction, or as Paul would tell me, "I am going to start a business selling orange cones." Personally, I found Paul most entertaining when we interacted with people who did not know him well, either business partners or others at IBM. Same Paul always, but so much entertainment watching people respond to his short quips or one word answers after someone had been going on and on for ten minutes.

Paul had such a great business sense. He had this annoying habit of being right with those business insights. We would be pursuing an opportunity or working an existing issue. Paul would tell me what he thought the outcome would be, and I would say, "no way that is going to happen." I don't like admitting it but Paul was usually right and I was wrong.

Paul will live on in many ways. Personally, I still use his stories regularly and he really made me better at my job, teaching me to focus on the right items and not sweat the small stuff. I know I am not alone. I miss Paul and know that he will never be truly gone as he continues on in what he taught and shared with all of us.