My wife, two children, and I have lived in Yamhill County since 2002.   We love this part of the world.  All of my life, I’ve been an athlete and outdoor enthusiast, and I’ve conveyed that love to my children. 

I grew up in Minnesota, spending most of my time outside playing sports, skiing, skating, and running. I went to Vermont for college, where skiing, hiking and athletics were part of my everyday.  I was captain of the track team and I earned a degree in economics.

I’m the son of an accountant and a school teacher.  My aptitude for math and degree in economics led me to get a Masters of Accountancy, and to get my CPA license.  I maintain my CPA license to this day.  I focused on business valuation and consulting throughout my career.  I’ve always believed thriving businesses need thriving communities and vice versa.

My wife and I married in 2001 and moved to McMinnville when she was hired by Linfield College as a professor of Psychology.  I found work as an investment advisor to institutions and eventually to pension funds.  More recently in my career I’ve worked with venture and growth stage companies.  I believe in capitalism and economic opportunity.

My kids were born in 2004 and 2006, attended McMinnville schools, and are both in college.

I started running Hood-to-Coast in 2002, which started my love affair with running year round in Oregon, rain or shine. You can often see me running around McMinnville.  I run, bike, ski, hike, dance, and do cross-fit. 

While skiing in the valley doesn’t work, and there is nothing I can do about that given the elevation, outside recreation activities are many!  I had resources to drive my kids to the mountains to ski (Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor), hike, and mountain bike (Sunriver, bend). Skiing, hiking and biking provides opportunities for kids to experience autonomy, vital in a world dominated by screens. 

I said to myself, why are these recreational activities not available in Yamhill County?