About Me
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me.
I was born here in Macon at Coliseum Medical Center, and some of my earliest memories are of driving into town with my parents for parades, the state fair, and the International Cherry Blossom Festival, visiting the “Pinkest Party on Earth” was just part of the rhythm of spring. Even though we lived in Crawford County, Macon was where life happened.
My mom grew up in Macon, graduated from high school here, and she loved bringing me downtown to share the places that shaped her. I still remember sitting with her at Nu-Way downtown, eating hot dogs and listening to her tell stories about what Macon was like when she was my age. When I was older, I heard stories about evenings out on the town at Grant's or "Sam's Club," where she would sometimes come across the Allman Brothers or Cher. Those simple trips, just a kid, a chili dog, and a mom sharing her memories, are a big part of why this city has always felt like home.
As I got older, Macon became the backdrop for weekends with friends. I spent more Saturdays than I can count at Olympia Skating Rink and at Time Out in the mall arcade, saving up quarters and staying as long as anyone would let us. My dad was a game warden, so we also logged a lot of hours at Lake Tobesofkee, fishing, watching boats, and just hanging out near the water while he worked the area.
Like a lot of families in Middle Georgia, our lives crossed paths with familiar local fixtures. I grew up seeing Dr. Kalay at Primary Pediatrics here in Macon, ironically, the same practice (and doctor) my wife went to as a child. We sometimes joke that we might have been in the waiting room at the same time and never knew it. My mom grew up here in Macon, and my wife grew up in South Macon, so between her side of the family and mine, just about every corner of this city holds a story for us.
So while may have grown up in Crawford County, I have always had a strong connection to Macon. That is why I moved here in 2007. Macon is now the place where my wife and I are raising our three children in downtown. That deep, lifelong connection is why I care so much about the future of our schools and our community.
Rooted in Service, Family, and Faith
My life has been shaped by a simple idea: if you care about something, you should be willing to work to make it better. That philosophy comes from home.
My grandfather was a Methodist minister, and my father devoted much of his life to serving others as a Sunday school teacher and certified lay speaker. I grew up in the church, Sunday school, youth group, church camp, church family dinners, if the doors were open, I was there. Church wasn’t just a place we went on Sundays; it was a community that showed up when life was hard and celebrated when life was good.
My family and I now attend Highland Hills Baptist Church, and we would love for you to visit and say hello. While I strongly support the separation of church and public education, my faith journey has taught me a lesson that applies everywhere: community matters. My church family created a support system that offered mentorship, accountability, and opportunities that shaped who I became. Those same kinds of community connections, religious or not, can help uplift our children here in Macon.
We need more caring adults, including non-parents, personally involved in the lives of our students, people willing to show up at games, volunteer at events, mentor a student, or simply listen. When kids know there are adults in their corner, everything else gets just a little bit easier.
Service has also guided my civic life. I’ve served for years as a Noncommissioned Officer in the Georgia State Defense Force, supporting missions across the state. Several of those deployments have been right here in Macon, working alongside local officials, nonprofits, and volunteers to help our neighbors in times of crisis.
After one major hurricane, I remember walking through a Red Cross shelter in Macon with then-Mayor Robert Reichert and Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, listening to families who had lost power, homes, and any sense of normalcy. Moments like that stay with you. They remind you that “government” isn’t an abstract thing; it’s people standing in a hot gym, trying to figure out how to get medicine, diapers, and a safe place to sleep for the night.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent weeks in South Georgia with my unit, disinfecting nursing homes and helping distribute food. Working closely with local food bank directors, I saw just how important our public schools are to making sure children are fed, and how tightly woven the relationship is between USDA nutrition programs, FEMA support, food banks, and local school systems, especially in an emergency. It drove home for me that when schools close or stumble, it’s not just learning that’s disrupted; for many kids, it’s their most reliable source of meals.
Our unit also regularly supports the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Academy, including graduations and family events here in Middle Georgia. At those large ceremonies, with hundreds of cadets and family members in one building, I had to get good at spotting potential gang-related issues, de-escalating tensions, and helping ensure everyone stayed safe. Supporting family days and graduations was always a proud moment for me, knowing I played even a small role in helping those young people cross the stage and step into a different future.
I also volunteer with the Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency and stay active at Alexander II through the PTA.
Whether it’s emergency response, large-scale events, or everyday school activities, the common thread is simple: when our community calls, I believe we should answer.
A Foundation in Education and Personal Experience
As a student, I was diagnosed early with a learning disability and received support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). That program was essential to my success and played a major role in helping me graduate high school. I remember the difference it made to have adults who didn’t treat me as “less than,” but instead asked, “What do you need to learn this in a way that works for you?”
Today, I’m the parent of children with similar diagnoses who also receive special education services. I’ve sat on both sides of the IEP table—as the kid who needed the support and as the parent trying to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Experiencing special education both as a student and a parent has given me a profound appreciation for individualized instruction, early intervention, and the teachers and specialists who support students with learning differences. I know firsthand how critical it is that every child gets what they need to succeed, not just what happens to fit in a standard box.
My own school years were rich with activity. I competed in District Project Achievement through 4-H, where I learned public speaking and presentation skills at a young age. I was active in the Technology Student Association (TSA), serving as president and building Rube Goldberg machines that competed at the national level. I also played football, basketball, and ran track in high school.
Those experiences taught me how vital extracurricular programs are to student development. They give children structure, mentorship, confidence, and belonging—things that stay with them for life. A good coach, sponsor, or club advisor can change the way a student sees themselves.
That’s why I believe so strongly in before-school, after-school, and seasonal programs that nurture students’ unique interests and strengths—academic, artistic, technical, and athletic. Not every child will follow the same path after graduation, but every child deserves the chance to discover what they’re good at and what they love.
A Career Built on Problem-Solving
Professionally, I’m a Lead Software Engineer at Cox Automotive, where I help build and maintain tools used by thousands of developers around the world. On any given day, that means thinking about reliability, security, performance, and how to make complex systems usable for real people trying to do their jobs. My work lives at the intersection of technology and people: if the people using the system are frustrated, the job isn’t done.
My first steps into what would become my career started back in high school. I was the kid teachers called when a printer wouldn’t work, a computer froze, or a gradebook program wasn’t doing what they needed. I even wrote small pieces of software to solve specific problems in their classrooms. In college, I kept going down that path, working in the IT department fixing and installing computers and networks. Those early years taught me something I still believe today: the best solutions come from listening carefully to the people closest to the problem.
After college, I went into public safety technology, helping law enforcement agencies across Georgia with their very specific operational and legal needs. That work often meant sitting down with elected officials—district attorneys, sheriffs, and other local leaders—translating between technical jargon and real-world concerns about evidence, court deadlines, reporting requirements, and public trust. I learned how to explain complex systems in plain language and how to work toward a solution when everyone at the table has a different priority.
I eventually came to work for the City of Macon as a Network Engineer. My first big project was a complete overhaul of the city’s network. It wasn’t glamorous, but it mattered. When the network is slow or unreliable, everything else becomes harder—payroll, 911, email, basic communication. Fixing it meant that a lot of those daily frustrations simply went away and people could focus on their actual jobs instead of wrestling with broken technology.
When consolidation was voted in and the new Macon-Bibb County government was formed, I was chosen to help design and build the new government’s systems to prepare for the transition. It was a massive undertaking: merging systems, data, and processes from multiple agencies, all while keeping essential services running. That work involved regular briefings with political leaders from different bodies, each with their own concerns and constituencies. My time in local government taught me how to navigate competing interests, surface tradeoffs honestly, and still move toward a working, valuable solution.
Nothing frustrates me more than seeing a problem and being told, “that’s just how it is.” Whether in engineering, community service, or education, I believe our responsibility is to keep asking: What’s not working? Who is it failing? And what can we do, together, to fix it?
I may not have previous experience as a politician, but I do have years of experience working with them—listening, translating, and problem-solving in environments where the stakes are high and the answers aren’t simple. That’s the mindset I would bring to the school board: practical, collaborative, and focused on making our systems actually work for the students, families, and staff they’re supposed to serve.
Family, Creativity, and Everyday Joy
Outside of work and service, I’m happiest spending time with my kids, usually building something together.
My interest in creative problem-solving started early and never went away. Today that looks like tinkering with 3D printers, working on DIY projects around the house, or brainstorming fun inventions with my children. We made a silly game together once and turned it into something other families could enjoy. Moments like that matter to me—kids seeing that their ideas can become something real.
I also run a small 3D-printing business, which has been a fun way to blend creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship. It’s taught me a lot about what it takes for small businesses to thrive in our community and how important practical skills are for young people who may not see themselves on a traditional four-year college path.
Our house is full of half-finished projects, LEGOs, art supplies, and the normal chaos of raising kids. We read together, play games, build strange contraptions, and get outside whenever we can. Those everyday moments are where I’m reminded why this work matters so much: every policy debate we have about education shows up eventually in a real child’s life.
And as a proud father, you can rest assured that if you spend enough time around me, you will eventually enjoy one of my excellent dad jokes—for better or worse.
Check out some cheesy adventure videos we made together.
Why I Care
About Our Schools
Our public schools are the foundation of Macon-Bibb’s future. A strong school system strengthens our economy, makes our neighborhoods safer, and gives every child a chance to build a life they’re proud of. My passion for education comes from experience, as a former special education student, as a parent of children with IEPs, as a volunteer, and as someone whose life was shaped by educators and mentors.
Thank you again for taking the time to learn about me. I believe in this community, and I believe in what our students can achieve when all of us, families, neighbors, and community partners, work together.
Finally, I know policy disagreements will arise as we walk this path, but walk it together we shall.
Will you join me?