I was born to a single teen mother. After she became pregnant, she was given an ultimatum by her boyfriend: “choose the baby or choose me”
My mom grew up in foster care and had experienced abuse, rejection, and neglect. Not wanting to be rejected again, she made an appointment at the abortion clinic, but just minutes before that appointment, she made a u-turn at the traffic light before turning into the clinic and returned home. Just a few months later, I was born. Every day, I live with gratitude that she gave me a shot at life.
Born and raised in Southern Oregon, I had an all-American childhood. I was a local newspaper boy, a junior police cadet, a junior firefighter, and my first job was at the local grocery store.
After graduating from Cascade Christian High School in Jacksonville, I met my wife, Julie, in October of 1999 and married the following October 2000.
Early Challenges
Diverse Experience
I started my career in the trades as a low-voltage electrical journeyman. Shortly after moving to the Lane County area for a union electrical job, I was laid off due to the housing crash. This put my family in what was already a challenge of living paycheck to paycheck in a tremendous need of help and assistance. It was the response of our community of friends and family that helped get us through.
Ever since, Julie and I have been at the center of Springfield’s business, faith, and nonprofit communities. I have served as a pastor and missionary, as Board President of Sparrow Clubs – a nonprofit dedicated to helping medically fragile kids overcome health challenges by empowering students in the community to see the power of compassion and actions of kindness, that then releases community funds to the child in need – as Co-Chair Community Engagement Board Member for our local Ronald McDonald House Charities - and as a business development manager for Hawaiian Time Restaurants and Corporate Black Rock Coffee Bar. We experienced having to navigate COVID lockdowns as a new small business owner shortly after we opened our own Black Rock Coffee Bar in Eugene.
I am currently a Business Development Manager, Estimator, and Project Manager for a local commercial contractor and serve on the Board of Directors for Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
While sitting in on a meeting with local church leaders and a city manager several years ago, another Portland area church leader made a point that has stuck with me: "the city's problems are your problems."
The decisions of the last decade have caused big problems for Springfield. They have broken trust, eroded rights, and diminished the Oregon spirit.
I want to help improve Springfield by connecting the dots between our current challenges and our full potential. By taking personal responsibility for the challenges we face as a community, I want to be a leader that doesn't just go to Salem and cast votes, but makes a meaningful impact on Springfield by being a part of the needed change.
