The Liberty Pen Interviews: Mr. Gino DiSimone

Running for Governor of Nevada 

 

I had distinct pleasure of interviewing Mr. Gino DiSimone, an Independent running for the office of  Nevada State Governor. While reading this interview you may conclude that there were questions I neglected to ask, or perhaps offered no substantive rebuttal to those answers you feel required it.  I can only say that time is limited and an interview can only be so long. If you have additional questions I encourage you to contact Mr. DiSimone, there will be a link at the end of the interview to do just that.

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The Liberty Pen: Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself, as well as your experiences within the professional community.

Mr. DiSimone: Regarding me in the professional community, my resume is on my website as well as my bio.  You can glean anything you like. However, what is not well known is the work I did outsourcing and off-shoring technology and manufacturing to Asia and Mexico. This comes with mixed emotions.

On the good side, I was proud of my accomplishments. I was able to take some of the most sophisticated technologies and transfer them to facilities that neither had the expertise nor the tooling to manufacture, and I did it with the language barriers in place.  These efforts resulted in several hundred million dollars of business contracts that I negotiated and serviced to closure.  I met with industrial leaders and political leaders of Korea, China, Singapore, Indonesia, and other countries.  I still remain friends with many of them.

On the down side, these successes were foundational to domestic layoffs. I am not proud of that at all.  Because I was so good at what I did, we closed factories in the US. I needed the job and always worked hard to give my utmost to my employer. It is a work ethic thing.

“The purpose of Government is to guarantee the security of its citizens and to facilitate their prosperity. Indeed, lets be clear, Government must ‘facilitate’ prosperity, not ‘legislate’ it or ‘tax’ it.”  Gino DiSimone

However, there is some good news. Being on the inside of this off-shore activity, I know full well what it will take to bring manufacturing back. Yes, it is a challenge, but I have been there before and am very experienced at it. I know the players and I know their needs. I am committed to get those factories back and employing Nevadans and Americans.

A little about me personally, aside from my professional life, is something I typically do not share. However, it may be time to open up a bit.

I am one of seven children and grew up predominately in Colorado. I was an all star athlete in High School.  I met my wife in Stockton CA, when I was 23yrs old, and married there. She is an angel and the woman of my dreams.

Shortly after marriage, I joined the Navy and had great experiences overseas. I can tell you our Seal Team is the greatest group of professionals I have ever run with. (I am not a Seal.)  After 5yrs in the Navy, my mother contracted cancer and the Navy offered me a humanitarian discharge to allow me to care for her during her terminal months/days. I accepted. We had two small children at the time, ages 2 and 3, both boys.  The VA was supposed to help me get a job, but did not live up to their responsibility.  We ended up on welfare, food stamps and WIC – I was broken and ashamed. Here I was, a Navy Vet, participated in combatant activities for my country and now on welfare, food stamps and WIC. Yes, I was ashamed and broken. My wife was the strong one at that time. God bless her.

My mother died and I was lost with my life. I had no direction and three mouths to feed, clothe and shelter.  I was on welfare and could not get a job, pay rent, or care for my family. My wife stood in line for food subsidies – I could not do it, I was too ashamed. She went to the Salvation Army to get our utilities paid. She was strong willed and not ashamed to do what was necessary for her kids.

I had a friend that lent me his BMW 320i (small cheap model) so I could get around. I went to the Social Services Office to turn in my list of job applications (required to get welfare assistance).  The service person saw me park in the front of the building. When it was my turn with her, she told me she was terminating my assistance because I drove a BMW.  I explained it was not mine and explained a friend was letting me use it to find a job and get around. I showed her the registration and begged her not to terminate my assistance.  She said if I had a friend that could loan a BMW, then I have friends that can support me; and I do not need welfare.  She was good to her word. I was escorted out of the building.

I could go on with more details because there are more trials we endured, but maybe another time.  By the grace of God, I got a newspaper route. From there I decided, if I was going to deliver newspapers, I would deliver anything.  My wife and I started a delivery service and did just that. We picked up three other newspapers, a hospital account, a mail delivery account and several others.

"I know what it means to ask my wife to skip a day without eating so our kids have plenty.  I know the pain."

While running the delivery service, I applied for college grants and loans. We worked my way through college at University of Kansas in Lawrence Kansas.  I slept about 3-4 hrs per day with an occasional cat nap or two between classes. My wife would take the kids and do the delivery service while I was in school. When I got out of school I would take quick nap and then get going to do the night deliveries. Sunday was church, homework day and rest if possible. The church knew of our struggles, but because I did not believe in signing church membership, they would not help. We went to several churches and always received an excuse not to help.

RESUME at a GLANCE:

EDUCATION & TRAINING

 

Graduate Certificate, Executive Development; 2002

University of California, Irvine / UCI ; Irvine, CA

Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering / BSEE; 1994

University of Kansas / KU; Lawrence, KS

 

AWARDS

 

Samsung Electronics, Conexant Systems Quality Excellence Award

National Semiconductor Corporation, Platinum Service Award

United States Navy, Award, Meritorious Service; USS NavComSta Sicily

United States Navy, Citation,  Professional Achievement; USS Holland (AS 32)

 

PATENTS

 

US05976950  Polysilicon coated SWAMI (sidewall masked isolation)

Methods for semiconductor isolation structure

US06118167  Polysilicon coated nitride lined shallow trench

Methods for semiconductor isolation structure

 

PENDING: Wireless Biometric Deadman Device

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

RESULTS DRIVEN INNOVATION  Petroleum Technology Quarterly, May 2006

Exposition of an innovation driven success that drives fiscal improvements

 

BALANCED BURNER YIELDS BIG BENEFITS Oil & Gas Journal 2006

Analysis of furnace performance through balanced combustion in the radiant section

 

TDMA to SSMA Kansas Engineer, Vol. 78, May 1994

Exposition of TDMA, SSMA and DS CDMA techniques and limitations

Somehow I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. It took 5 years.  Shortly after graduation, Texas Instruments interviewed me. Again, by the grace of God, I was hired.  The rest is in my resume.

I share this story because I know what it means to lose everything. I know what it means to be down and out. I know what it means to skip a day or two without eating so my kids could have plenty to eat. I know what it means to ask my wife to skip a day without eating so our kids have plenty.  I know the pain.

I have been very very poor and I have been quite well off.  I have been left destitute with no one to offer a helping hand, not even the church.  I have been wealthy enough to offer a helping hand, to buy a car and give it away to someone in need, and to feed the poor.

What I have shared is the first time I lost everything, and we recovered. There was a second.  Ill keep that one to myself for now.

I have seen the spectrum of life and I refuse to allow any government to rob its people of their opportunities for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  Nevada is my home and it is hurting and broken and without a credible plan for recovery. I have been there and I know how to get us out. I have a Revenue Plan and I want to be the next Governor.  It will only take me one term.