OfficeR Duties

I’ve lived in Clinton county for about 15 years. Service to others is integral to who I am. Both my immigrant grandfathers fought in the U.S. Army in WWII. My parents met when they were both in the Navy and my father’s assignment to Vietnam eventually contributed to his death from cancer when I was ten. Even when she wasn’t sure how she would feed and clothe six children,
my mother found ways to give her time, talents, and our limited resources to others with greater need. With gratitude and humility we accepted help from others and from systems designed to lift up the struggling. So, from a very early age, I felt compelled to pay back and pay forward the gifts and encouragement that helped my family when we truly needed it.

I graduated from St. Louis High School and went on to earn degrees from MSU and CMU in Human Resources and Public Administration. My work experience has been primarily in labor and contract negotiation, performance management, coaching, and leadership development. This means I can lean deeply into analysis and strategy, and easily pivot to viewing matters from
the point of view of those I serve.

Prior to moving to Clinton County I held a number of elected and appointed positions including Council Member for the Village of Shepherd, and Isabella County Road Commissioner. In addition, I have worked on local campaigns and participated in political leadership programs designed to prepare me for a role such as this. As my youngest was wrapping up her senior year in high school in 2022, it was time for me to use the free time on my calendar to make
connections with others, like you, who want to make important and necessary improvements to the lives of others in our community. Now, six months after that, I am a Trustee on the St. Johns Board of Education, and extremely honored to be your new chair. Thank you for your faith in me, and together Matthew and I will work hard to be the leaders you need at this critical time. 

Having been born and raised here in mid-Michigan, I’ve called Clinton County my home for most of my life. I am currently employed as a Legislative Analyst with the Michigan Department of Corrections. My previous work includes serving as a Journal Clerk for the Michigan Senate, as well as interning in the offices of several State Representatives.

I graduated from St. Johns Public Schools in 2014, Central Michigan University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in political science, and am currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration Program at Grand Valley State University.

I love to stay active with causes I care about. I volunteered as a door-to-door canvasser for Elissa Slotkin’s 2022 congressional campaign. I’m also a volunteer at the Refugee Development Center of Lansing, where I assist in English language classrooms. I decided to take a dive into public service when I was appointed to the St. Johns Public Schools Board of Education in May of 2022–I was elected to serve the remainder of a four-year term at the November 2022 election.

In my free time I enjoy reading, running, cooking, practicing yoga, catching up on the latest streaming trends, and especially spending time with family and friends.

2022 was a huge year for Democrats in Clinton County and across the state. I am excited to be a part of the continued success of the Clinton County Democratic Party and am looking forward to helping take our organization to new heights!

I grew up in the small town of Cadillac, Michigan. I was active in Boy Scouts, attaining Eagle Scout status before I was a freshman in high school. My participation in the Debate and Forensic speaking teams led me to make the top five in the state my senior year in Impromptu speaking. I balanced academics with a love of baseball and computer games. A couple of years after graduating from MSU, I began working in computers, moving from a district manager’s position to work with an IT vendor. I now serve as Director of IT for Compass HealthCare in the greater Lansing area.

My wife Amy and I have a son, Lincoln, and my little family is all I could ever ask for. We have so much fun (even in a pandemic) and we embrace and look forward to all the adventures life presents us. Over the years I’ve enjoyed biking, kayaking, running, triathlons, and even a couple full marathons. 

Why am I politically active? Life thrusts many choices on us and whether we realize it or not many of the choices we make have political implications. Being actively engaged in public politics allows me to better understand my managerial role and enables me to make decisions that not only improve my life but the life of others as well. While I was not always politically active, my interest in politics ignited with Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. I also have been inspired by the perseverance and leadership of Bernie Sanders. 

I have served as a delegate to two national Democratic conventions. I’ve helped Clinton County Dems with technology issues and more for the past several years. Recently I was nominated and selected to sit on the Bath Township Road Committee.