For over thirty-five years, Larry Terkel has balanced his life between devotion to his family, an extensive career in business, and an ongoing spiritual pursuit and practice.

As if to set the pattern for his unusual life, Larry was born Methodist, adopted and raised in a Jewish family, then found his birth mother and learned he was part Scotch Irish and part Cherokee Indian. After graduation from Cornell University in 1970, where Larry earned a BS (Engineering) and an MBA, he and his new wife, Susan, traveled for one year and studied Hinduism, Buddhism and yoga in India. When they returned to the United States, Larry earned an MA in Philosophy and Comparative Religion from Kent State University at the same time that he began his business career.

Larry began as production manager of a Midwest manufacturing company and rose to its president in 1980. In 1986 he expanded its operations to the Far East and later to Mexico. In 1995 he served as CEO of a public company and in 1996 founded Global Health Care, Inc., a distributor of rapid biomedical diagnostics with offices in the USA and Mexico. He continues to serve as its president.

Upon his return from India in 1971, Larry also began teaching yoga and meditation. Then, in 1978, Larry and Susan bought an old church on the town square of Hudson, Ohio. They founded The Spiritual Life Society, an inter-denominational center for spiritual and holistic studies. As its licensed minister, Larry has officiated at over 2.000 weddings for couples of all faiths. He also teaches yoga and meditation there and gives weekly talks.

Larry and Susan were married before their travels in 1970. They have raised three children and Larry has performed weddings for two of them. In 2005 they became grandparents. Larry also enjoys golf and skiing.

Larry and Susan are co-authors of the book Small Change: It's the LITTLE Things in Life That Make a BIG Difference! (Tarcher/Penguin) a finalist for the 2004 National Books for a Better Life Award. The book provides insight into Larry and Susan's remarkable life together, and presents their philosophy for self-improvement, which is based on bringing awareness to everyday habits.