Bob graduated the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He has been a beekeeper for over 25 years and established and taught beekeeping classes as a volunteer at several locations in the greater Cedar Rapids area. Bob is an alumnus of the 2018 Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Program, and worked with Mandela Washington Fellow, Isaac Quaidoo in Etufu, Ghana. In Ghana, Bob led a number of train the trainer workshops on value-added beekeeping products from bee hives. Value-added products from beekeeping include the use of beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly used in the manufacturing of cosmetic products such as soaps, lotions, shampoos, and ointments.