Erik was born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. While studying Chemical Engineering at The University of Illinois at Chicago, Erik was a Dockhand and Bartender for the architectural tour boats on the Chicago River. After Erik graduated, he worked as a Sanitation Engineer for the City of Chicago, when the city got to be too much, Erik and his Wife moved down to beautiful Port Orange Florida to start a life by the water. Erik was working as a dock hand at the time Windward acquired Adventure Yacht Harbor. He has since been promoted to Dock Master and has worked with Windward for over a year.