I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. My father was a career Naval aviator, and his first assignment after flight school was in Hampton Roads. We moved around throughout his career but kept returning to Virginia Beach, where I graduated from high school.
Education and early career
I attended Virginia Commonwealth University, and after graduation, had a brief but successful career in corporate public relations and advertising in Norfolk. Many of our clients were municipal economic development departments and convention and visitors’ bureaus, which was a valuable education.
Tradition beckoned, though, and I became the fourth generation of my family to attend Auburn University in Alabama. I fell in love with teaching there, and after graduating with my master’s degree in English, started a Ph.D. program at The College of William & Mary.
After 9/11, I felt obliged to continue the family tradition of military service and enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve. I deployed to many natural disasters, oil spills, and maritime accidents and served with wonderful people until retiring as a Chief Petty Officer.
In 2009 I graduated from William & Mary and was fortunate to start working at Longwood, where I’ve been privileged to teach thousands of hardworking young people.
Community involvement
Farmville has been kind to my family and me, and I have tried to re-pay its welcome by serving my community.
I’ve volunteered with many terrific non-profits, including the Farmville Downtown Partnership, Piedmont Habitat for Humanity, the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the Piedmont Area Veterans Council. I’ve been honored to assume leadership roles in these important assets to the community as well.
Service groups have been another opportunity for me to learn about and help Farmville. The Jaycees and Rotary have been instrumental experiences in fundraising, managing resources, and collaborating with other organizations to assist our neighbors.
My experience in local government began in 2015 with my appointment to the Farmville Planning Commission, which I currently chair. Land use is critical to the vitality of any town, and I’m proud of our recommendations to town council to help achieve balanced growth in Farmville. Perhaps our most notable achievement was helping establish that collective vision by shepherding the town’s comprehensive plan from public input to approval by council in 2020.
I briefly served on town council in 2018, completing the late Sally Thompson’s unexpired term, a valuable experience in municipal governance, especially finance and human resources. My more recent contributions in town hall include membership on the Board of Zoning appeals, for which I am also currently chairperson.
Hobbies
When I have a free moment, I enjoy hunting, fishing, reading, and working on my house, where I live with my wife, Larissa, and our pets.
Thanks again for your time, and if there is anything I can do to serve you, please get in touch, and please vote for me for the at-large seat on town council on Tuesday, November 3rd.
