Piers left the Westin Hotel, his first employer as a permanent American resident, in 1998. Unionization issues and long hours at the hotel contributed to this decision, as did his desire to leave the hotel industry.

He got a job at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as a catering manager, but only stayed for a year due to a large employee exodus as soon as he arrived. Piers returned to hotels, working at the Copley Marriott (and the Cambridge Marriott) in a total of four positions between 1999 and 2013.

Leaving the hotel industry for good, Piers got a job at Boston College in the event management department in early 2013, and is still at BC today. He's gotten bachelor's degree and a master's within the past two years there.

While at Beth Israel, Piers was introduced to Karen Kuwayti, my mother, through a mutual colleague. They got married in Ottawa, Canada (where my mom is from), on September 17, 2000.

Shortly before meeting my mother, Piers adopted a one-eyed cat from the South End's Animal Rescue League, appropriately naming her Monster. She was part of the family until 2020!

I was born in November 2004, shortly after my parents purchased their first house together, located in Needham Heights. We still live there today.