Originally from the Chicago and Indianapolis areas Hal moved to the Evergreen area for his high school years and never left Colorado. Graduating from Mesa State College in 1994 Hal spent over 25 years working in IT for various companies. His passion for BBQ began over a decade ago when he purchased a small pellet cooker and started to make BBQ in his backyard. This sparked his interest in becoming a KCBS Certified Master Judge and he recently began competing in local backyard competitions. In his spare time Hal enjoys spending time with his wife Stacy and their two daughters, traveling, golfing and watching football. Go Bears!