Ross “Yergz” Yerger never really had a real job, not for long, anyway.  At the age of 12, Yergz started umpiring Little League Baseball in his hometown of Boyertown, PA.  By 13, he was officiating ice hockey, with aspirations of working in the National Hockey League.  By high school, he was “working” varsity games in both sports.  At Penn State University, where he studied History and Political Science, it was on to officiating college level athletics.  Even with two trips to the US Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, the NHL didn’t work out.  In 1996, however, Yergz worked his first of two seasons of professional baseball.

Knowing that the Major Leagues were not in his future, Yergz turned his focus to law enforcement, where in 1999 he attended The Reading Police Academy, in Reading, PA. Having interned at the police department in North Coventry Township, he was then hired as a patrolman, though that wouldn’t last long.  By July of 2000, Yergz was on to, as his recruiter put it, “the major leagues of law enforcement.” On July 17, 2000, Yergz started in the Philadelphia Field Office of the US Secret Service.  His 21+ year career would span Philly, San Francisco, Washington, DC (including 3 historic years with Hillary Clinton when she first ran for President), and finally Los Angeles.  It was during this time that Yergz became interested in both hospitality and day trading.

To establish additional income after retirement, Yergz started day trading and investing in crypto currencies.  With such an amazing first year, Yergz wanted to help others learn this same skill, so he started “The Doggy Traders,” inspired by the four dogs that he’s had through his lifetime.

But politics kept calling.  And in May of 2023, Yergz had enough of listening to so many others getting it wrong, and outright lying about the world around them.

Yergz comes from a good family, one with both conservative and liberal values.  This has always been a part of his entire life, especially fairness and impartiality while officiating and writing political science papers.  Never registered to any political party for that reason, Yergz decided to get back into the political realm with “Up The Middle,” a podcast on politics, and commentary on daily life.  He is also now telling his story and inspiring others through public speaking; stories from officiating, his life in the Secret Service, and what it was like to be gay in each.

Yergz lives in the Tampa area with his son, Zack, and with Matrix, the last of the above mentioned inspirational dogs. He spends his time on his SeaDoo GTX Ltd, watching the Rays and Bolts, and at the gym; but also hasn’t given up on love. He’s trying to also date, when the right guy comes along…