About Me

Rick Turko.com - About Me

	Born in Peterborough, Ontario during May of 1956 to Douglas and Margaret "Peggy" (Stanley) Turko.
	Immigrated to Seattle, Washington on December 31, 1956 (my father worked as an Electrical Engineer with the Boeing Company for 31 years.)
	My only sibling, a brother named David, was born in March of 1959. My mother frequently referred to him as her "damn Yankee."
	Grew up in the Robinswood community in Bellevue, Washington.
	Attended Robinswood Elementary, Tillicum Junior High, Sammamish High School (class of 1974.)
	At Sammamish High, I was active in student government (Student Body President), journalism (Managing Editor of Totem Talk) and Young Life. I also frequented a pizza parlor called Yazzolino's (which, I believe to this day, had the best pizza on the planet.)
	Graduated from the University of Washington in 1978 with a bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.
	My claim to fame while attending the "U-Dub?" - I was in Accounting 495 with Ken Gorelick who would later take the professional name of Kenny G. I went to lunch with him a couple of times...and I'm sure he remembers me - NOT!
	While attending school I worked at Glendale Country Club (where my mother was the General Manager) and the John Danz and Bel-Vue Theatres (both owned by Sterling Recreation Organization (SRO).)
	Following graduation, I was employed by Sterling Recreation Organization (SRO) from 1978 to 1986 as Internal Auditor, Property Accountant, Project Manager and Accounting Manager.
	Claim to Fame Number Two - my "office mate" during my first days at SRO was the Tax Accountant named Peg Phillips. She smoked four packs of cigarettes a day (at a time when it was still acceptable to smoke at your desk at work.) During work breaks she could be found working on the New York Times crossword puzzle in the lunch room. She became my at-work mother/grandmother. Peg left full-time employment at SRO in 1983 or so to attend the University of Washington in order to get her drama degree. She would become "Ruth Ann Miller" on the CBS "dramedy" Northern Exposure. Peg passed away in November 2002. Without a doubt, Peg is one of the most unforgettable and life-affirming people I have ever had the privilege to call "friend."
	Attended University Presbyterian Church in Seattle from 1983 to 1986 where I was actively involved in the Cornerstone fellowship.
	From 1986 to 1989 I was employed by McCormack & Dodge (a software company owned by Dun & Bradstreet) in Irving (Dallas), Texas as a Support Consultant.
	In 1989, I transferred with McCormack & Dodge to their offices in Markham (Toronto), Ontario. I worked there as a Support Consultant and Manager of Customer Support. In 1990, Dun & Bradstreet purchased Management Science of America (MSA) and merged the two software companies into a new entity called Dun & Bradstreet Software.
	While living in Ontario, I had the opportunity to connect for the first time with my mother's brothers, Watson (Cambridge, Ontario) and Bill (London, Ontario) and my aunts and cousins.
	Returned to Seattle in September 1990 by automobile, during which time my car (a 1980 Mazda RX-7) broke down in Bozeman, Montana. It was repaired by a gentleman who said "I ain't never worked on one of these rotary engines things but I give 'er a try." I returned to Bozeman six weeks later to pick up the car with a newly rebuilt engine.
	Worked from 1990 to 1993 for Pacific First Bank (purchased by Washington Mutual in 1993) as Financial Systems Manager.
	I purchased my first (and current) home in the Portage Bay area of Seattle during April 1991. It's a craftsman bungalow built in 1922. My brother Dave served as general contractor on it's renovation/restoration. It was during this time that I realized that the movie The Money Pit was a documentary and not a comedy.
	For 12 weeks in 1993 I commuted from Seattle to San Mateo, California where I worked as a consultant to Visa International. It was there that I met my friend Ron. Later, I would encourage Ron to join me at Oracle and Amazon.com. We (Ron, his wife Miren (pronounced ME-den, not MY-run) and I) would later purchase a condo on Birch Bay (near Blaine, Washington) together.
	During October of 1993 I joined the Oracle Corporation as a Principal Consultant. I was assigned to a two year engagement at Seattle Metro.
	On April Fools Day 1995 I met my partner Rob, with whom I've had the honor and pleasure to share my life for the past ten years. Rob has introduced me to the following, which have become my passions / addictions / hobbies: red wine, the iPod, and gardening. I, on the other hand, have introduced him to Mother's Taffy Cookies and the use of ATM machines.
	My engagement at Seattle Metro ended in September 1995. I then transferred to the Customer Education division at Oracle. I was on the road nearly 100% of the time teaching software classes. It was during this time that I discovered my "inner ham" and the joy I receive from "performing" in front of people.
	Received a call in January 1999 while in Chicago from a co-worker at Oracle named Carl (who, we later came to discover, lived on the same street in Bellevue when we were children - my brother had a crush on his older sister.) He had left Oracle and joined an internet start-up called Amazon.com and wondered if I'd be interested in doing the same.
	I joined Amazon.com on February 8, 1999 as Director of Finance Systems & Training.
	In 2002, I was ordained by the Universal Life Church. Since then, I have performed two wedding ceremonies. In both cases, I met the couples at Amazon.com (and, as a matter of fact, they met each other there as well.)
	Sometime in late 2003, a co-worker at Amazon.com named Paul left a voicemail message saying that my voicemail greeting sounded "very professional" and that I should consider voiceover work.
	During February 2004, I attended 3 "Break Into Voiceover" classes sponsored by Discover U. After the first class, Pat French, the instructor, called me and encouraged me to "pursue this." I studied with Pat during February and March 2004.
	While searching the internet one day I discovered The Seattle Acting School. The instructor, "Mr. Coburn," offered voiceover classes on Wednesday night in Seattle. I attended a complimentary class as an observer and was immediately impressed by JD Coburn's teaching style, methodology and his ability to effectively coach his students. I have trained under JD since April 2004.
	On April 1, 2005 I "retired" from Amazon.com in order to pursue my Voice Acting career full time.
	Moved to Napa, California on July 1, 2007.