I was born in Virginia, MN where my parents both worked at MinnTac for US Steel.
My family moved to St. Cloud in 1987 and I attended St Cloud public schools until I graduated from Tech High School in 1998.
After high school, I attended SCSU while working full-time – graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems. I’ve always been interested in technology and this degree was an obvious fit.
In 2006, I purchased a house in west St. Cloud with my now-wife, Rachel, and have lived in the same location ever since.
I’ve been employed by Stearns County as an IT Project Manager since 2009. This job has given me a lot of insight of how governments operate as well as the role technology can play in enhancing and improving operational performance. It has also shown me that a lot of good people work in government.
From 2009 – 2020, I had the honor of serving on the St Cloud Planning Commission. During my eleven years of service, I was chairperson twice, served on sub-committees, and participated in the development and adoption of the 2015 comprehensive plan. These experiences were invaluable, and I learned a lot about how government functions. I believe those who served with me appreciated my commitment to doing the best I could and putting in the effort the people of St. Cloud deserved.
My political viewpoints are often moderate and I tend to look for data to justify positions. I am not afraid to change my views on things when presented with reliable data or persuasive arguments. I tend to think that sticking to rigid ideology is counter-productive and destructive.
When I’m not working, I enjoy playing trivia, listening to podcasts, engaging in conversations, stand-up comedy, binge-watching series, and walking my golden retriever, Ruby.
Perhaps I will see you on one of my daily walks in the Westwood Parkway area. I’ll be the guy walking the dog that has to carry something.