Biography

Growing up in the western part of Michigan among rolling farmland and fresh air, I spent summers water skiing and sailing and winters ice fishing with my dad. His love for the outdoors instilled in me a great appreciation for nature that has been a constant throughout my life.

I’ve been involved in my community early on, first as high school student body president. While still in high school, I helped start a teen center that became a magnet for students throughout our city. After college, I moved to Boston to experience an urban environment, but quickly followed the sun to Honolulu. The rain in Seattle made the decision to move to California an easy one. I chose the Bay area to get a combination of the beach, the urban life in San Francisco and the changing leaves on the Peninsula. This was where I met my wife Sunny.

Fifteen years ago, Sunny and I moved to Palo Alto for its schools, tree-lined streets, and downtown charm. Our younger son Devon went to Walter Hays Elementary, Jordan Middle School, and Palo Alto High School, where he was in student government and Youth Community Service, and served as the Paly representative to the school board. Our older son, Louie, and his wife Maria own a home in San Jose. Louie served on the 2004 Palo Alto Black and White Ball committee.

Sunny shares my passion for Palo Alto. Her activities and enthusiasm never wane, juggling work and board meetings for non-profits, including the Palo Alto Family YMCA and the Chamber of Commerce.

As you can see, we are a family of volunteers!

Education

Graduate of Michigan State University, Bachelor of Arts, Communication Arts and Sciences

Experience

Eighteen years in technology industry management: customer support, marketing and sales, and creative services

Twenty years as a real estate broker

Owner of a marketing communications consulting company

Community Leadership

For the Schools

President and Executive Vice President, district-wide Palo Alto PTA Council
President and Executive Vice Present, Palo Alto High School PTA
Site Council Liaison, Palo Alto High School
PTA Council Liaison, Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN)
Member, PAUSD Program Review Committee (20-year facilities master plan)
Member, Campaign for Excellence Committee for Measure A (school parcel tax)

For the Community

Board Member, Palo Alto Recreation Foundation
Co-Chair,  Palo Alto Black and White Ball (2004 and 2006), which funds recreation, after school programs and city events and has given substantial funds to Partners in Education
Member, Blue Ribbon Task Force, Palo Alto Public Safety Building
Member, Steering Committee, Midtown Residents Association
Board President, Rubicon Children’s Center (residential treatment homes for abused and neglected youth)
Volunteer, Measure D, library bond
Member and volunteer, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors