I’m a husband, father, son, brother and friend.

My wife, Brittany, and I are celebrating 19 years of marriage. We have two children, Mica (age 11) and Blaise (age 8) who are both students in the Osseo School District.

My wife and I both work for non-profits and are very value-based people. When I was approached by a few friends to consider running for School Board I was surprised. To be honest, the thought had never crossed my mind. I’ve spent many conversations with friends and strangers alike advocating for public school, my wife and I both went through public school and worked hard to get an advanced education. We spend time urging people to look for ways they can make a difference for good in their local community. So, when the challenge was turned back to me, I decided that I had a moral obligation to say YES to running and serving if the people would have me.

I believe that we can live our lives by design or by default. To live by default means to sit by and “let things happen”. It comes from an opaque understanding of how we have come to enjoy the benefits we have in the first place. These benefits of strong education, and vibrant opportunity did not come by default. They came by design. To live by design means that we take responsibility for what is within our power to influence and we work to make a difference for the benefit of society. We all have power to influence things in our lives. What will we do with it? I think the best placed energy is for our young people—investing in their future.

For me, the more I investigated the duties and function of the School Board the more I began to see how well equipped I may be for it. I am conditioned for long, difficult conversations that require deep listening, critical thinking, regulated emotions, and tireless pursuit of winning decisions.

I am used to non-profit Board Meetings, examining finances, scrutinizing spending, weighing decisions and discerning the right questions to reveal any veiled motives (innocent or misguided). I am an optimistic person by nature, who sincerely loves people and easily finds the good in all, even those I disagree with.

The mission of the school board resonates deeply with me: Our mission is to inspire and prepare each and every scholar with the confidence, courage and competence to achieve their dream; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning.

I WANT TO EARN YOUR VOTE. HERE’S WHY.

I’m a busy guy, as I know are many of you. I love to work hard, I love to play hard. And I also know where my priorities are as a husband, as a leader, and maybe sometimes most significantly, as a dad. I want to work hard to serve the mission of the Osseo School District and to help all 34 of our schools provide the very best education in the state of Minnesota. Let’s create a safe environment where your kids and mine can get the education and support they deserve.